Ebru TV was launched in Kenya in 2012 by a Turkish media investor linked to Samanyolu Broadcasting Company (SBC). The parent company operated international channels in the US, Germany, and Azerbaijan. However, after the failed coup in Turkey in 2016, SBC was shut down, leaving Ebru TV in financial distress.
With the original owner exiled and unable to support the station, the company was put up for sale. Several local investors expressed interest, but Kenyan Somali businessman Ali Jamah eventually took over. Reports suggest the deal was worth hundreds of millions, though the exact figures remain undisclosed.
Following the acquisition, management changes were made. Former CEO Nadir Kilic was replaced, and Jamah’s wife, Anab Mohammed, left her position at USIU to become Operations Manager. These moves helped restructure the station and stabilize its operations.
Since then, Ebru TV has carved out its space in a market dominated by established media giants like Royal Media Services and Standard Group. It gained popularity through shows such as My Perfect Match and has hosted notable personalities including Kamene Goro, Chipukeezy, and Dr. Ofweneke.
By 2020, the Communication Authority of Kenya reported that Ebru TV had captured a respectable market share of 3–4%, proving its resilience and growth under new ownership.
Link: https://whownskenya.com/ali-jamah-the-secretive-kenyan-somali-tycoon-who-owns-ebru-tv/#google_vignette
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