Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has announced Azam TV as its broadcast partner after agreeing a seven-year deal worth Sh300 million annually with the Tanzanian pay TV service.
The partnership, effective immediately, ends FKF’s long search for a broadcaster and signifies a welcome injection of funds into the Kenyan game.
The agreement covers the FKF Premier League which will have a dedicated channel on Azam TV with decoders available for sale in Nairobi and in select regions across the country.
Azam TV, on their social media platforms, confirmed the news, indicating that Thursday’s event will be beamed on one of their channels – Azam Sports 1 HD.
Early indications of the FKF Premier League securing a deal with Azam as a broadcast partner happened late last season, when the Tanzanian broadcaster aired two KPL games – Tusker vs Kariobangi Sharks on 13 May 2023 and the Mashemeji Derby between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards on 14 May.
The two games were successfully televised, with the Kenyan federation later releasing a statement that indicated ongoing engagements with the broadcaster over a longer partnership.
“The federation is grateful for this partnership and wishes to thank Azam for their support and commitment in the commercial development of Kenyan football, even as both parties continue to engage on the possibility of entering a long-term partnership that is mutually beneficial,” read the statement from FKF then.
The Sports Ministry and Football Kenya Federation (FKF) have also been working hand in hand to ensure that Kenyan football is back on TV, and CS Ababu Namwamba has countless times insisted that the 2023–24 season will be on TV and that clubs will benefit financially both from broadcast partnerships and title sponsorship.