Nation Media Group shuts down three stations and merges two

Nation Media Group shuts down three stations and merges two

Nation Media House. Photo/Professional Consultants

By MUSYOKA NGUI

Nation Media Group has shut down three stations and merged two. NMG closed down Kenya’s Nation FM, QFM and Rwanda’s KFM. QTV has been merged with flagship brand NTV which will assume bilingual Kiswahili and English.

According to a memo sent out, the decision to shut down the multiple stations was attributed to embracing digital media and consolidating the East African market where the NMG operates.

The memo reads in part: "We are cognizant of the changing trends of how our products are being consumed. In line with this new reality, we are reorganizing ourselves with the aim of transforming NMG into a 21st century company by embracing digital as the business model,"
The whole idea, it seems is to stream live radio which again cuts against the grains of your regular radio listener who mainly is the rural population whose internet connectivity is to say the least, pathetic.

Nation Memo announcing clsoure of its stations. Photo/ Steve Mbego

It is this statement that leaves observers wondering how many online listeners can Nation have to command strong advertorial and editorial following. "We will also scale down our radio business (QFM and Nation FM) in Kenya and K FM in Rwanda. We will keep our signal alive and maintain an online presence in line with our new digital strategy,"
Kenya Union of Journalists has threatened to sue the NMG citing breach of Kenyan labor laws citing Section 40 of the Employment Act.

But those who remain hardly hit by the rationalization are the journalists who have been sacked effective being rendered jobless and redundant even as NMG promises that it will cushion them as they transition.

A journalist working for the media firm who spoke under the mask of anonymity said that he fears that the axe might be turned to him and others, adding that the sacking of top journos at the institution will send shockwaves across the media of Kenya ahead of 2017 polls.

“The top scribes leaving the Nation will come out here and take our jobs, hinder our promotion and hiring of fresh graduates.” The major players set to benefit from the exit of multiple channels owned by Nation are Royal Media and Radio Africa as well as Standard groups.

Elsewhere,  the Presidential Strategic Communication Unit has been disbanded sealing the fate of four staff majority former journalists safe for current State House Spokesman Manoah Esipisu. Dennis Itumbi, a top blogger and former journalist is among those affected.