Standard Group, Cape Media clash over English Premier League broadcast rights
Standard warns any unauthorised broadcasting will be deemed a breach of our rights and shall attract immediate legal actio
The Standard Group and Cape Media Group are embroiled in an ownership dispute over broadcast rights for the 2025/26 English Premier League (EPL) matches.
In a statement, the Standard Group announced that it has secured exclusive rights in Kenya to air the EPL matches for the next five seasons, while Cape Media, which owns Radio 47 and TV47, has claimed to have air rights for next season’s matches.
The Mombasa Road-based media company warned that any breach could lead to legal action.
“The Standard Group hereby formally announces that we hold the exclusive radio broadcast rights for the 2025/2026 English Premier League (EPL) season within the territory of Kenya. This exclusive license grants Standard Group the sole authority to transmit and broadcast EPL matches on the radio in Kenya,” it said.
“No other radio broadcaster is permitted to air or attempt to air any English Premier League matches during this period. Any unauthorised broadcasting will be deemed a breach of our rights and shall attract immediate legal action,” Standard Group added.
However, in the continued tussle between the two media companies, Cape Media journalists said they would be broadcasting the EPL matches, which kick off on Sunday on Radio47.
Last month, Cape announced that Kenyan football enthusiasts are set to enjoy unprecedented access to top-tier European football after TV47 announced a simulcast partnership with SportyTV to broadcast major leagues on free-to-air television.
The deal, which covers the coming 2025/26 season, will see matches from EPL, La Liga, Serie A, and Bundesliga available to millions of Kenyan households who cannot afford pay-TV subscription fees.
In the arrangement between the two, Sporty TV has the rights to broadcast the various league matches, and TV 47 will be simulcasting with them.
Standard Group has previously had the exclusive rights to broadcast the EPL in Kenya, which is does on its Radio Maisha station, and is set to enjoy the same for the next five seasons.
