Switch TV Ceases On-Air Broadcast

A promotional poster of Switch TV's new presenter lineup.
A promotional poster of former Switch TV presenters.
File
Switch TV

Switch TV is making a radical change in its business model that will see it transition from on-air to digital broadcast.

The media house stated that it will be ceasing on-air broadcast operations.

In a statement dated Friday, December 10, the media group Chairman, Sahil Shah, stated that they will be focusing on the digital space.

Shah explained that Switch Media decided to fully transition to the audio-visual and digital space in line with market demands and that the media house will be building the new strategy around being 'digital-first.

File image of a news set at Switch TV studios in Nairobi
File image of a news set at Switch TV studios in Nairobi
File
Switch TV

Switch Media further announced that it will be launching new and thrilling services and products as it expands into the digital space.

"In character with our core philosophy of being responsive to the needs of the youth and with the ambition to become the go-to media platform for the emerging generation, Switch Media has made a conscious decision to build a new strategy around being 

digital-first," Shah stated.

"In view of this, Switch Media will be launching new and exciting services and products in this expanding digital space. We hope to grow this brand together with the technology that comes with it. We assure our stakeholders of our continued presence and support."

The announcement comes amid a digital-first shift for major news media houses in the country and around the world. Last year, the Nation Media Group launched its flagship digital media brand, Nation.Africa.

The digital media brand was established in a move geared at making the media house a modern digital content company. This launch signalled the beginning of the group’s digital transformation journey and aimed at taking up leadership in the mobile publishing landscape in Africa.

The media house went ahead and launched the country's first paywall and registered impressive subscriptions on its digital platforms. 

The Standard Media Group followed suit and launched its digital-first approach.

The shift to digital space has seen competition in the industry grow and the success of the digital platforms has been visual. Kenyans.co.ke, the leading digital media news outlet in the country, was this year ranked among top online news brands in Kenya edging out legacy media houses such as KTN News, NTV Online and BBC online.

According to Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2021, Kenyans.co.ke, was ranked third in the country's top brands behind Citizen Digital and Nation online.

Kenyans.co.ke scored an impressive 52 per cent, behind Nation online (55) and Citizen Digital (57). 

Kenyans.co.ke employees pose for a photo at the company's offices in Westlands
Kenyans.co.ke employees pose for a photo at the company's offices in Westlands, Nairobi.