The Nation Media Group, very soon in Burundi

The Kenyan Nation Media Group has entered into negotiations with Burundi Government to implement a new television channel and radio. Our correspondent in Switzerland, Lassila Nzeyimana, met Linus Gitahi, the CEO of the group.–Written by Lassila Nzeyimana, translated by Diane Uwimana.

Tom Mshindi, Chief Operating Officer of Nation Media Group during the Burundi media session at Gitega ©Iwacu

Creating a television and radio station in Burundi is the new goal of the Kenyan Nation Media Group. “We are filling an application form to get licence and right. Now, one of our directors is in Bujumbura to discuss terms with Burundi Government,” says Linus Gitahi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenyan Group during the 44th edition of the “Symposium of St – Gall”.
Annually organized by the Swiss University of St-Gallen – one of the best schools of business in Europe – this conference brings together hundreds of personalities from the economic and political sectors as well as academics from the world to discuss a specific topic. “The clash” generation was at the center of the symposium which took place on 8th and 9th May 2014.

Unique Platform

“When we create a support in a new country, we do not export our Kenyan model. Each media is unique and independent; we take account of the specificities of the country in which it is launched. This will also be the case in Burundi”, underlines Mr. Gitahi. If the Burundi authorities give us the permission, it is expected that the radio and television broadcast in the Swahili language. “We do not yet know when. It will depend on Burundi Government.” Created in Kenya in 1959 by the millionaire Aga Khan IV, the Nation Media Group (NMG) is also present in Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. The Company is listed on the Kenyan (Nairobi) Stock Exchange. In total, the NMG has 9 newspapers among them “The East African” also sold in Burundi, 3 TV channels and 5 radios.
Funds
The main source of income for the group is advertising. “The sale of our newspapers covers only a small portion of our expenses”, says the CEO. Diversifying its receipts, the regional group including embarked on the money transfer. “We also intend to invest in the tourism sector. Our readers or Netsurfers could book their plane tickets on our websites.” The NMG put emphasis mainly on the quality of its media content to attract many readers and advertisers on its sites.
“This is the reason why people will not pay our blogs on the internet,” concluded Linus Gitahi.