Standard Digital scaled a milestone when its KTN verified Facebook account likes hit 2 million plus towering above its competitors. The highest number of any media publishing brand in the East African region.
The KTN page, which was the first Kenyan owned account to hit the 1 million mark, has continued it’s upward growth in the rapidly growing internet landscape.
“The cutting edge content we post on the KTN page is meeting the growing demand that is evident in this time and age, which is why more people are liking the page,” Wesley Kipngeno, a standard digital sub-editor noted.
Content is king is a phrase that was once regarded as a buzz word but has remained the constant rule in digital publishing. Standard Digital has established itself as the core of all content created in the oldest media house in Kenya.
From TV content produced in KTN home and KTN news, Print media from The Standard to The Nairobian, Radio content from Radio Maisha and content exclusive to digital, this division has created a content aggregation system of its kind.
As internet penetration in Kenya continues to grow, more and more users have adopted digital as their primary source of information, key being Facebook which is now more than a social networking platform.
According to Social bakers, a social media analytics and publishing company, the largest page in Kenya is Lupita Nyong’o which boasts more of an international fan base, followed by KTN Kenya which has more of a local following.
Uhuru Kenyatta’s page comes in third with 1.95 million. Other media houses follow with Citizen at 1.9 million and NTV’s 1.8 million.
David Ohito, the Standard Digital editor pointed out the hard work put in by the digital team.
“We have a committed team of young journalists who implement our content strategy and look at trends and best practices. I am proud we are the biggest in East and Central Africa. I salute our audiences who continue to show confidence on our content, interact with it and give us invaluable feedback.”
“We are ready to look at competition straight in the eye and compare ourselves. We are Standard Digital we are the best!” he reitarated.
Edward Macharia one of the social media administrators pegged the Facebook growth on hard work and creativity.
“Ours is a job that cannot deal with beauracracy. We need to think on the fly and use the reader feedback to create content that they are looking for. It also helps that we are on the job literally 24 hours a day,” he said.
Hassan Juma a KTN host and senior sports editor has applauded the milestone terming it a drive in the right direction.
“We know our audiences are very active on facebook and it helps to get the feedback from them before, during and after the show,” the Zilizala Viwanjani host said.
KTN’s managing editor Joe Ageyo said, “This is great. It is one more testament to KTN's long running reputation as a pioneering brand since its inception 25 years ago. The future is digital and we're excited to be on the cutting edge of what is rapidly becoming the new normal in media.”
“KTN has always been bold and authoritative Channel and the kind of support from viewers illustrates exactly that. Viewers have grown to trust KTN because it goes out of its way to do stories that no other station does,” reporter Rushdie Ouida maintains.
Kenya continues to lead in terms of internet use and digital content uptake as compared to its regional neighbours.
Uganda’s biggest facebook page is Comedian Anne Kansiime at 1.2 million followed by the media publisher Daily Monitor at 700,000 followers.
Tanzania on the other hand has Jamii Forums leading with 1.2 million and telecommunication company Tigo Tanzania at 0.9 million.
Standard Digital also runs the Standard Media, SDE, Game Yetu, EveWoman and Ureport facebook pages.
