Kenyan Premier League: Kariobangi Sharks venture into online broadcasting

Vihiga County FC's Edwin Mukuya (left) and Eric Kapaito of Kariobangi Sharks during KPL match at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos County on Sunday Feb 11, 2018. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

 

Faced by financial challenges Kenyan Premier League (KPL) clubs are looking for innovative ways to survive.

One such club is Kariobangi Sharks, who have now resorted to exploit their media rights online in a bid to attract advertisers and with it revenue.

The KPL has not been able to land a broadcast partner since SuperSport left last year and the situation has led to untold suffering by some clubs who were used to monthly Pay TV grants from the league company.

According to Kariobangi Sharks chairman Robert Maoga, they have started streaming their matches online and the first one was last Saturday’s match against Ulinzi Stars at Camp Toyoyo.

“We do not know when next KPL broadcast partner will come on board and instead of complaining we made the decision to start exploiting our media rights online. It is something we have been working towards for the last eight months and finally it came to fruition last Saturday,” he said.

Maoga said they received very positive reaction during the Ulinzi Stars and this has inspired them to broadcast more matches online. “We had 2,000 views which is commendable considering that we did not do any major marketing ahead of the match.

“We are confident that the views will keep going up and in a few months we can start attracting advertising as a way to sustain the club,” he said.

The club, which is associated with Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa has bought one camera and set up an ultra-modern studio. “We want to acquire a second camera to assist in showing replays and also show the matches in more angles.”

Maoga said even when KPL eventually gets a broadcast partner, they will continue to stream some of their matches online.

“The broadcast partner normally shows just a few matches in a season and so we intend to maintain the trend even when a new partner comes on board. Perhaps other clubs should also exploit the same.”