Kenya’s FIFA injunction on broadcasters
June 26, 2014
By Chris Forrester
Kenya’s High Court has issued injunctions against StarTimes Media and Wananchi Group (which broadcasts as Zuku TV) ordering the two broadcasters to cease and desist from transmitting World Cup games.
The action was brought by Kenya’s Broadcasting Corp (KBC), arguing that it was the sold TV rights-holder for the matches.
Justice Ogolla, in a 47-page ruling, said he noted the arguments of both parties in the dispute, but pending a full hearing, the transmissions had to stop.
StarTimes and Zuku had argued that insofar as they were already carrying KBC’s transmissions, they should be allowed to carry the FIFA matches. The judge said KBC would lose goodwill from FIFA if the unauthorised transmissions were permitted.