Royal Media Services launches the Citizen Digital app

For the first, the app brings together all the offerings of Royal Media Services on one platform. 

At no cost, consumers of the app shall now enjoy a wide range of diverse offerings including  digital exclusive stories, extended coverage of news events, a range of podcasts  and a portal for you to file your own stories to be known as ‘wananchi  reporting’ 

When COVID-19 hit the country in March 2020, Kenyans rushed to the Royal Media Services television, radio and digital brands for all their news updates, education and entertainment needs. 

And after a period of significant and extensive market research, Kenya’s leading media house, has upped the ante by unveiling a new home for its products, the Citizen Digital app.

A one-stop shop for news, events, business, sports, entertainment as they happen in Kenya, Africa and the world. 

“What we are doing now is consolidating our position by embracing and exploiting the opportunities that are presented by the digital revolution. We currently have 2 TV stations and 13 radio stations. We have plans to expand our offering and this will have a very strong digital component. And in this environment the Citizen digital app will be central because all our digital apps will come under one roof and provide a seamless engagement with our content,” RMS Group MD Wachira Waruru says

The app which has been in development for months will give users access to unlimited possibilities including unfettered access to breaking news, live TV , blogs, podcasts and so much more in an easy to access and easy to consume manner. 

All RMS properties  are under one roof, a fresher consumer experience, we have refined the journey for the consumer, fresh new look and feel, more variety in terms of content offering, there will be podcasts and so many categories on offer, 

“This is a recognition that the ground has shifted considerably as a responsible media house we must move in that direction because that is where the trends point to. It is an exciting space. Audience needs are a moving target but there is no doubt that the present and the future is digital.” Joe Ageyo, Editorial Director, RMS said on Wednesday. 

The team behind the new app says it is a direct result of deep market analysis and understanding of today’s news and information consumer. 

“We began by talking to our consumers and listening to them to understand what they find exciting in this business. They said fresh consumer experience, exciting look and feel, cutting-edge content. So we wanted to go deeper and offer exciting content across board. In terms of the variety of content that is offered now.,” Carol  Wachira-Wanyama, Marketing Director, RMS says. 

According to Geopoll, a mobile survey platform Kenya’s mobile penetration is higher than the average of the rest of sub-Saharan Africa and continues to snowball as more and more previously unconnected people, and regions in the country get access to mobile services. 

The Citizen Digital app seeks to add value to the users of these nearly 60 million sim-cards in the country. 

This digital revolution has even changed how we work. Whereas in the past I would’ve needed two or three people to do this now the right equipment allows you to collect your content and even your piece to camera single-handedly. 

And whilst technology has been touted as the domain of Kenya’s youthful population, the citizen digital app builds on the principles of royal media services, providing services for Kenyans from all walks of life and ages. 

“When the question of target market or ideal user comes to us. We simply define them as Kenyans. Employer or employee. Whoever you are. 18 or 80. Employer or employee. We are defined by common things that make us Kenyan. Every Kenyan across the board can feel at home on the app. We will bring Africa and the world to this Kenyan,” Ms Wanyama added.

The app is only the latest in a series of innovations at Royal Media in the wake of a changing media landscape and growing diversity in audience needs, and will create possibilities for news and current affairs consumers from every part of the world.

“RMS has been on the cutting edge for a long time. We haven’t had a problem of innovation to move in a new direction. The DNA of RMS is agility and response to changing market trends. We believe we have what it takes. We are retooling our people to ensure that the objectives we are looking at are actually met,” Ageyo added. 

News consumers can now download the app and log-on to Citizen Digital and experience the new possibilities.