THE ANGELS, December 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Africa Channel (TAC), the longest-running independent minority-owned media company focused on bringing pan-African content to U.S. audiences, announces that in 2021 the channel experienced explosive growth with launches in 103 new markets. With programming that includes scripted and unscripted series, movies, documentaries, news and information shows, TAC’s latest partnership with Cox Communication (Cox) brings the channel to viewers in 100% of Cox markets, including Las Vegas, New Orleans, Phoenix, San Diego, cleveland and Norfolk/Hampton Rds VA.
Africa Channel continues to grow viewership with the Cox partnership following expanded distribution to millions more Charter subscribers in the company’s 41 states and Comcast Xfinity TV customers, where the channel is now available in 60 new markets.
New commitments supporting greater diversity from multi-channel video programming distributors (MVPDs) and major brands reflect demographic change in the United States, with ethnic diversity increasing by 11% on average and up to 70% in some regions, as highlighted in the 2020 Census Report. Meeting the entertainment and content needs of this audience represents a tremendous opportunity. With less than 1% of black-owned media stations, MVPDs and brands recognize that supporting minority-owned networks like TAC allows them to engage with this underserved but influential audience.
“This is a particularly exciting time for us at The African Channel which, despite prevailing trends in the industry where audiences seem to be cutting the cord in favor of OTT and digital broadcast options, has seen impressive growth in interest. , audience and distribution in our traditional transmission offer”, said narendra reddyExecutive Vice President and General Manager of The Africa Channel. “We attribute this success to our belief, now backed by a growing number of studies showing that the diverse, multicultural and niche audiences that traditional media have often ignored will gravitate toward platforms, traditional or not, when content is personalized to your unique viewing needs.”
Launched in 2005, The Africa Channel presents leading English-language television series, feature films, documentaries and news about Africa and its influence in the world. Its mission is to build bridges between cultures while reinforcing positive narratives of Africa through various content and programming. The channel expands the reach of African-American entertainment in general while specifically catering to black immigrant families, who make up more than 20% of the black population in the US, with culturally relevant programming.
Viewers will be able to catch TAC’s popular originals and first-run programming from major distributors, including:
- Expresso Daily Morning Show – Broadcast live from your awesome Cape Town studios on the west coast Africathe Expresso morning show offers a fresh mix of international culture and lifestyle daily. airs Mon-Fri 7-8:30 a.m. & 10-11:30 a.m. Oriental.
- Popular game and dating shows
- My design rules: Three competing design duos battle it out in the name of great design. Aires Mon-Fri 08:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. Oriental.
- Go out with my family: Singles find love by hanging out with their potential partner’s family. Can you trust your family to help you find love? Mon-Thu 20:00-21:00 & 1-2 a.m. Oriental
- The best of BBC Africa shows – Timely, authentic, relevant and provocative programs that connect even more Africa to the world in exceptional BBC quality. Titles include Focus on Africa Daily News Program: the most important stories from everywhere Africa and around the world; Sport Africa: A sports show about people, including high-profile African sports stars and the talent of tomorrow, plus a weekly Armchair Expert fan quiz; smart money: Inspirational business stories and practical advice from from Africa more enterprising business entrepreneurs. Mon-Fri 6-8pm & 23:00-01:00 Oriental
- Movie Showcase: Hundreds of hours of Nollywood movies and everything Africa introduce American viewers to the widest range of talent the continent and diaspora have to offer
- black history month premiering an all-new series that celebrates stories that encourage viewers to connect with their heritage and highlight the rich and distinct connections between Black cultures in Africa and the USAincluded:
- The story of Africa – Complementing our stories of the black experience in America are the achievements of black Africans in this 20-part series. zeinab badawi travel through Africainterviewing historians, archaeologists and citizens who paint a vivid picture of their continent’s past and how that history informs the present.
- african royal – Premiering in February, this fresh new original series stars Abimbala Fernandez, a young Nigerian-American and heiress to a fortune of one billion dollars. In African Royale, we follow Abimbola as she navigates the nuanced, contemporary cultural connections that new generations of Black singles are discovering today across the diaspora and, in this case, the Angels, ParisY Lagos, Nigeria.
- American Civil Rights Documentaries – Our programming includes a curated collection of stories that uniquely define an American people with a powerful heritage; a story of fighters who have worked for equality and a better life for future generations.
“Africa Channel provides a unique opportunity for traditional distributors of multi-channel video programming to retain their subscribers and a perfect solution for brands and advertisers to engage with the African diaspora more directly and authentically with culturally relevant programming, while that allows for true inclusion of broader black audiences.” said narendra reddyExecutive Vice President and General Manager of The Africa Channel.
Through programming and partnership with Cox Communications, The Africa Channel aims to educate and connect all Black Americans to their heritage and serve a rapidly growing Black immigrant population. Most of TAC’s content has never been seen on North America. Now, with network distribution with Cox Communications, millions of new viewers will be able to access this vast catalog of culturally relevant content.
Africa Channel is now available to Cox Communications customers. For more information on how to subscribe and local channel listings, visit www.cox.com
Visit www.theafricachannel.com for more information and follow TAC on YouTube, Facebook, Twitterand Instagram.
About The Africa Channel www.theafricachannel.com
Africa Channel and its production arm, TAC Studios, showcase the most prominent television series, specials, documentaries, feature films, music, biographies, and cultural and historical content from the African continent. The channel’s mission is to open a daily window into modern African life and, in the process, help demystify Africa for viewers worldwide. The Africa Channel, with offices in the Angels Y Johannesburg, South AfricaIs available in North America and the Caribbean on cable systems such as Comcast, Charter’s Spectrum brand, Rogers Ignite, and Bell Fibe (Canada), and the Caribbean Cable Cooperative.
TAC is represented in its dealings with US distributors by HotHouse Media, a sales representation and business development firm specializing in product licensing for independent media companies.
SOURCE The Africa Channel
