This archive report was first published on 21 August 2019.
On August 21, 2019, the Communication's Authority of Kenya published a notice regarding the application for a commercial free-to-air television licence by Dubai-based investor Ricardo Badoer.
Badoer's Badoer Investment Limited, which owns the local Wazito Football Club, has been streaming the club's games live on the MGTV Channel.
The firm also streams Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) tournaments and the SportPesa Shield semi-finals matches after acquiring broadcast rights earlier in the year.
At the beginning of the year, the firm signed a five-year deal worth Sh100 million with KBF, granting it broadcast rights on the online and expected free air TV channel.
According to the notice, if granted the licence, the MGTV will join the over 80 free-to-air television channels currently available locally.
Director General Francis Wangusi stated in the gazette notice, 'The licences, if granted, will enable the applicants to operate and provide the services as indicated above (commercial Free to Air television). The grant of these licences may affect public and local authorities, companies, persons or bodies of persons within the country.'
Wangusi also notified the public that any legal or natural person or group of individuals who wish to make a representation or objection to the applications should do so via a letter.
