KPL TV deal in the offing: Broadcast rights. Kenyan Premier League in talks with Radio Africa to beam live matches

BANDARI FC, RANGERS FC Post Rangers' Abdulrizak Mohamed (left) and Kunga Shaban of Bandari during KPL Match against Posta Rangers FC at Kasarani Stadium on Saturday, Oct 29, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Negotiations at advanced stage to have Bamba televise local league.

The Kenyan Premier League is on the verge of a deal with Bamba Sports to beam live the remainder of the matches beginning next month, Standard Sports can reveal.

Barring last minute hitches, KPL matches will be live on television as early as the first week of July according to insiders.

Bamba, a subsidiary of Radio Africa, is said to have picked up the free-to-air segment of the KPL broadcast property while the pay TV option is still up for grabs.

Already, Bamba through its Bamba Sports channel is broadcasting live the second tier league, the National Super League.

KPL and Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier would neither confirm nor deny the possibility of Bamba Sports coming on board, but Standard Sports understands it is a done deal only awaiting formal announcement, which has been pushed to July 6.

“It will be an initial six-month deal,” a source at the KPL intimated.

South Africa’s SuperSport ended abruptly a near decade-long broadcast deal with KPL, putting paid to a multi-million shilling relationship.

It is understood Bamba could splash upwards of Sh40 million for the half season. Although it is way below Sh350 million-a-year SuperSport paid to KPL for the broadcast rights.

KPL is seeking Spanish League, La Liga which they recently signed a partnership with to help it underwrite the cost of production.