StarTimes has cautioned its rival SuperSport International to prepare for heightened competition in the market for Kenyan sports broadcasting rights.
Recent days have seen tensions rise between the two foreign-owned pay-TV channels as they vie for broadcast rights to Kenya's national football team's continental matches.
The relationship between the two broadcasters deteriorated further following the announcement of a multi-million shilling sponsorship agreement between Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and StarTimes, leading to a significant standoff prior to the African Nations Championships (Chan) qualifying match between Kenya and Ethiopia at the Nyayo National Stadium.
Despite SuperSport ultimately securing the rights to air the match, StarTimes Director of Sports Gary Rathbone warned his former employer to anticipate a fierce battle ahead.
Rathbone, a former SuperSport executive, took to Twitter to assert that StarTimes is committed to establishing a strong presence in the market.
Both SuperSport and StarTimes have substantial investments in Kenyan football, with SuperSport holding exclusive rights to broadcast Kenyan Premier League matches and the GOtv Shield, valued at approximately Sh 250 million annually.
In contrast, StarTimes has recently secured a five-year sponsorship deal for the national football teams, worth Sh 100 million per year.
Azam TV, another foreign media house, holds broadcast rights for the second-tier FKF Premier League, with a deal valued at Sh 223 million over three years.
