Kenya Television Network (KTN) is a Kenyan free-to-air television network that was launched in March 1990 by Jared Kangwana. It is headquartered at Standard Group Centre, Nairobi. It was the first privately owned free-to-air television network in Africa, and the first to break Kenya Broadcasting Corporation's (KBC) monopoly in Kenya.
KTN became famous for activist journalism in the 1990s.
History
After its launch in 1990, KTN rebroadcast programmes from CNN International, "Cable news boosts Kenya TV", Africa Film & TV Magazine, nº. 1, July-September 1993 MTV Europe and other European, American and Australian television channels, in addition to TV networks from other African states. KTN started out as a pilot project for a 24-hour subscription-television channel in Nairobi and its surroundings. However, plans to scramble its signal were abandoned, and for most of the 1990s, KTN derived its revenue from advertisement and TV production services. Founded by Jared Kangwana, its early success attracted bids for joint ownership from London-based Maxwell Communications, South African MNET, and the then-ruling party Kenya African National Union (KANU). The station won the bid to carry the 1992 Summer Olympics, as well as the rights to several other international events. In 1992, M-Net planned to buy the network, but these plans were denied by its staff, as they demanded M-Net to provide technical co-operation instead. "South Africa's giant on media safari", Africa Film & TV Magazine, nº. 1, July-September 1993
While Jared Kangwana planned to expand KTN, and had built new facilities to house the station, he granted KTN's news division free rein. KANU functionaries are said to have frequently called the newsroom and editors on behalf of the president of Kenya, Daniel arap Moi, in order to censor news stories. This control was said to have been sanctioned by Moi himself, who had developed the habit while he was still vice-president under president Jomo Kenyatta. As vice-president, Daniel arap Moi had grown used to make regular calls to the offices of The Standard which was foreign-owned at that time, and to other media outlets, to demand that they drop stories or modify them. The practice was revived when KTN was established.
In October 1993 security officers boarded a commercial airliner, seized the passport of KTN Director Jared Kangwana, and prevented him from leaving on a business trip. Kangwana said that the act was part of a government intimidation campaign to force him to relinquish control of KTN to the then-ruling party, KANU. The government took no action to institute criminal proceedings against Kangwana but ultimately succeeded in forcing him to cede the company to KANU. The station is since 9 December 1997"Kenya TV Network taken over by Standard Newspapers Group", Africa Film & TV Magazine, nº. 16, January-March 1998 part of The Standard Group, which also publishes The Standard newspaper.
In March 1998, KTN started airing a four-hour block relaying South African network Channel O. The channel was aiming to introduce a new schedule effective 4 May 1998. "KTN re-launch", Africa Film & TV Magazine, nº. 17, April-June 1998
The channel started nationwide broadcasts in 2002; until then, it had only covered Nairobi due to expensive costs of expansion."Kenya Television Network goes on Satellite", Africa Film & TV Magazine, nº. 36, February-April 2003
Programs KTN was well known for entertainment shows but now programming consists of soap operas, long talk shows and CNN night time streaming. Entertainment including sitcoms, thriller/detective, drama, action series and children's classics are no longer carried.
Listed below are some of the shows the network was famous for;
Former
Imported shows children's Adventures from the Book of Virtues Alvin and the Chipmunks Angel's Friends Animaniacs Art Attack Barney & Friends Justice League (TV series) Superman The Animated Series Batman of the Future Batman: The Animated Series Beast Machines: Transformers Being Ian Bob in a Bottle Braceface Captain Planet and the Planeteers Casper the Friendly Ghost Count Duckula Denver, the Last Dinosaur Doug The Fairly OddParents! Felix the Cat The Flintstones Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? Hi-5 Jackie Chan Adventures Jim Henson's The Hoobs The New Adventures of Nanoboy Mr Bean: The Animated Series Fat Dog Mendoza Johnny Bravo Kim Possible Farhat: The Prince of the Desert Get Ed Samurai Jack SpongeBob SquarePants The Little Rascals Mission Top Secret The New Adventures of Kimba The White Lion New Captain Scarlet The Odyssey Out of the Box The Puzzle Place Phineas and Ferb The Emperor's New School The Pink Panther Show The Real Ghostbusters Recess The Road Runner Show Saban's Adventures of the Little Mermaid SilverHawks Sky Dancers Star Wars: Ewoks Tom & Jerry Kids Tracey McBean What's New, Scooby-Doo? X-Men: Evolution American Dragon:Jake Long The Proud Family Atomic Betty Jacob Two Two 6teen Fatherhood The Wild Thornberrys Lilo & Stitch Johnny Test The Boy Justice League My life as a teenage robot Danny Phantom Braceface Hey Arnold! Ned's Newt Legion of Super Heroes
Drama 7th Heaven 24 Alias Angel Baywatch Being Erica Buffy the Vampire Slayer Charmed Cold Case The Commish Dawson’s Creek Desperate Housewives Ed ER Jacob's Cross Judging Amy Kung Fu: The Legend Continues Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Lost L.A. Law Monk Murphy Brown Prison Break Renegade Time Trax
Reality The Rebel Billionaire: Branson's Quest for the Best Beyond Chance Survivor Endurance Nanny 911 How Clean is Your House? The Apprentice Ride with Funkmaster Flex
Soap Opera Days of Our Lives Egoli: Place of Gold Fashion House Melrose Place Neighbours The Stepdaughters The General's Daughter The Promise A Love to Last Lost Hearts Doble Kara A Mother's Guilt Prima Donnas Los Bastardos
Comedy 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd 227 All of Us Amen The Benny Hill Show The Bernie Mac Show The Coconuts Desmond's Diff'rent Strokes Eve Everybody Hates Chris Family Matters Friends Full House Golden Girls Good Times Hangin' with Mr. Cooper Herman's Head How I Met Your Mother The Jamie Foxx Show The Jamie Kennedy Experiment The Jeffersons Just for Laughs: Gags Just Kidding Kate & Allie Less than Perfect Martin Men Behaving Badly The Muppet Show Nurses The Parent 'Hood Perfect Strangers Phil of the Future Romeo! Sanford and Son Scrubs The Simpsons Sister, Sister The Steve Harvey Show The Soul Man The Wayans Bros.
Talk Shows The Oprah Winfrey Show Tyra Banks Show The Martha Stewart Show Steve Harvey
Game Shows You Bet Your Life So You Think You Can Dance Dance 360 Don't Forget the Lyrics! Total Wipeout Ninja Warrior American Ninja Warrior Junior
Anthology This Is the Life
References
External links ktnkenya.tv museum.tv KTN Live Stream - Kenyan TV