Nairobi, Kenya — November 12, 2025:
Switch Media Limited has signed a cooperation agreement with China Media Group (CMG), the parent company of CGTN and CCTV+, to strengthen collaboration among media organizations across the Global South. The same agreement was also signed by the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), represented by its Managing Director, Ms. Agnes Ngune.
The signing, held in Nairobi on November 11, 2025, was attended by senior representatives from China Media Group, including Mr. Gao Wei, Chairman and CEO of CGTNC, and Chairman of CCTV+; Mr. Zhang Xiongfei, Director of China Media Group Africa; and Mr. Zhou Jinxi, Social Media Manager of China Media Group Africa.
This agreement follows the Global South Media Partners Mechanism Inauguration and the 13th Global Video Media Forum held in Xi’an, China, on November 6, 2025. The events brought together media leaders from developing nations to explore how Global South stories can be better told, shared, and represented in international spaces.
The new partnership builds on Switch Media’s longstanding relationship with China Media Group, which spans over four years. Through the Kenya China Hotline (KeCH) platform — jointly run by the two organizations — Switch Media has consistently produced and shared stories, documentaries, and cultural features that highlight Kenya–China cooperation. The signing therefore marks a continuation and deepening of that collaboration, expanding it to include wider content sharing, professional training, and technological innovation.
Under the new arrangement, Switch Media and CMG will engage in joint production, content exchange, and capacity building. The partnership will also promote dialogue, research, and cultural exchange, strengthening storytelling capacity and supporting media innovation within the Global South.
As part of the cooperation, Switch Media and CCTV News Content Co., Ltd. will share and distribute news, documentaries, features, and other media content through a joint digital platform that fosters cross-border collaboration and visibility.
Speaking at the signing, Mr. Kibisu Mulanda, Acting Head of Switch Media Limited, emphasized the importance of the partnership in amplifying African voices and empowering local storytellers.
“There are countless untold stories across Africa that, through this partnership, can now be told,” said Mr. Kibisu. “This collaboration will empower young creators to tell their own stories, even using basic tools like mobile phones.”
The agreement also includes training programs covering content creation, brand marketing, digital communication, and innovation. Participants will benefit from exchange visits, seminars, and internships designed to strengthen skills and foster South–South media collaboration.
The partnership between Switch Media, China Media Group, and KBC marks a significant milestone for Kenya’s media industry and underscores Africa’s growing role in shaping narratives within the Global South.
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