Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) has secured the broadcasting rights for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), scheduled to run from January 13 to February 11, 2024.
The official announcement of this acquisition was made during the unveiling of the agreement, where Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba emphasized the importance of providing widespread access to the tournament.
During the event, CS Namwamba highlighted the initiative’s significance in enabling those without pay TV access to follow the AFCON proceedings in Ivory Coast through a broadcaster with extensive reach.
Expressing gratitude to President Ruto for supporting such initiatives, CS Namwamba emphasized that the move aligns with the principles of inclusivity and the “hustler spirit.”
“This is a very special announcement that the football exhibition will be broadcast live to the Kenyan audience free of charge. To us, this is bottom-up; this is the hustler spirit,” stated the CS.
The partnership is part of a broader strategy to position KBC as the premier sports broadcaster in the country. This follows a recent deal where the public broadcaster exclusively secured rights to broadcast free-to-air matches of the Football Kenya Federation Premier League.
Broadcasting and Telecommunications Principal Secretary Professor Edward Kisiangani shared that the plan is a collaborative effort by the Kenya Kwanza government to foster talent development in the country.
Sports counterpart Engineer Peter Tum echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the arrangement reflects the aspirations of the president.
KBC’s Acting Managing Director, Paul Macharia, assured the audience that KBC is committed to providing the best experience for viewers and pledged to deliver high-quality broadcasts.
“To our audience, we thank you for trusting us as ‘Your True Sports Partner’; we shall deliver quality broadcasts of the best African Football products to you,” Macharia affirmed.
As per the contract signed with rights holders New World TV (NWTV), the AFCON matches will be broadcast on KBC Channel 1 and Y254. The corporation’s online platforms will also simulcast the matches, and all 14 KBC radio stations, including Radio Taifa, KBC English Service, Pwani FM, and others, will air the live coverage of the tournament.
