Kenya Media - Attitude Toward Foreign Media & Broadcast Media
Kenya is a diverse media scene that is supported by a large middle class that sustains a substantial advertising market. A handful of major players dominate the industry. One of them is the Nation Media Group which has extended its operations to neighboring countries. Television is the main news source in cities and towns. The spread of viewing in rural areas has been slower, hampered by limited access to mains electricity. The main satellite pay-TV platforms are South Africa's MultiChoice and its Kenyan rival Wananchi Group, which operates Zuku TV.
Before founding one of the Nation Media Group (NMG), Kenya individuality rose into a “three tier system” to categorized media in its sectors. One of the media was television. Television has not made an impact in Kenya's countryside (Mytton; Ochieng; Bourgault; De Beer et al). Although electricity remains an important factors in Kenya yet complicated in that region, many manages to use batteries and solar system to receive their broadcast.
It is mention that Kenya requires foreigners to have work permits in order to work internationally in media or local media houses, and for those who hold any international license can begin to work in Kenya as long as they do not report on Kenyan politics. It is reported that Kenya deal is the fourth broadcast-related acquisition in Africa by Times Media Group in about seven months. In addition, it is reported that about 32.26% stake in Ghana’s Multimedia Group for R144m. Times Media plans utilized Radio Africa Limited (RAG), which is one of Kenya’s top three media groups in East Africa. RAG includes the media in broadcast which includes Kiss FM, Classic FM, Radio Jumbo and Kiss TV.
According to a source, Radio Africa has sold a 49% to Times Media Group (TMG) to increase the company's financial revenue and offset debts. TMG will now become a shareholder in Radio Africa to lead multi-media house in the East African region. Moroever, TMG has print as well as electronic media and the Internet which attracts a regular readership quite in the region. On the financial front, the Group's performance over the years has been outstanding even in the leaner economic periods in the country and shows continuous growth and profits for the company as well as the shareholders.
Kenya’s media industry has witnessed growth in recent years with the creation of more newspapers, magazines, radio stations and TV channels. Although few Kenyans can claim to own a small radio station, magazine or shares in a listed media house, the real kings are few. According to chief executive Patrick Quarcoo, he stated TMG "will be good to the company, for the staff, and the shareholders.”