Afrotainment Explained

Afrotainment
Headquarters:New York, NY, United States (also has office in Orlando, FL)
Country:United States
Language:English
Picture Format:480i (SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
Owner:Soundview Africa
Website:www.afrotainment.us
www.afros.tv
Online Serv 1:Roku
Online Chan 1:YEBO
Mizik
OYEEE
AFRICA24 Music
NAIJA Music
CAMER Music
Online Serv 2:Apple TV
Online Chan 2:YEBO
Online Serv 3:Amazon Fire TV
Online Chan 3:YEBO

Afrotainment is an American mass media company based in New York, NY that was founded in 2005 by Yves Bollanga[1], and owned by Soundview Africa.

Afrotainment operates linear television channels and digital properties targeting African Americans, and produces films, talk-shows, comedies.

History

On June 22, 2005, Afrotainment launched 3A TELESUD, its first channel on DISH Network. Initial launch was followed by 3 more carriage agreements between 2008 and 2011 for Afrotainment Movies, Afrotainment Music, TV9JA, and OUI TVOn.

On October 13, 2011, Afrotainment launched Afrotainment Plus, its first cable channel. It was made available on IO Africa on Channel 1101.

On September 19, 2013, Afrotainment launched 4 new channels in Canada on Bell Fibe TV; marking the company's first expansion outside of the United States.[2]

On December 5, 2014, Afrotainment launched Haiti HD a network targeting the Haitian community on Bell Fibe TV Canada.[3] On October 30, 2016, the channel was began carriage on Videotron in Canada.[4]

In August 2015, Afrotainment launched YEBO, an OTT music video on demand app on Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV.[5]

On March 3, 2016, Afrotainment launched AFRO, its Polycultural Black channel, and ABO on Verizon FIOS.[6] [7]

On June 28, 2017, AFRO was made available on Sling TV in its Lifestyle Plus package.[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] The channel was removed on June 26, 2019.[13]

On November 15, 2018, Comcast announced an agreement to launch AFRO on Xfinity.[14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25]

Programming

Afrotainment programming is produced for, or acquired from, the African and Black diaspora. The company produces its programming from its Orlando TV Studios: including Point of View, a daytime woman talk show; Afrotainers, an Entertainment News show; Afrohits Top 10, a chart of the ten best Afro-centric music videos; The Lowdown, a late night comedy show; Journey, a talk show.

Afrotainment also broadcasts soccer matches of the Confederation of African Football, such as the CAF Champions League, CAF Confederation Cup, CAF African Nation Championship, and CAF Youth Championship.

The Afrotainment Museke Online Africa Music Awards, which is held every September, is simulcasted across Afrotainment's US channels and online platforms.

Channels

The company currently owns and operates the following 8 TV channels:

AFRO TV – Polycultural Black Television channel.

Afrotainment – Afro-centric general entertainment service, broadcasting in High-definition; programming includes TV series, films, talk shows and reality series.

Afrotainment Plus – Cable centric service featuring the best programming from Afrotainment & Afrotainment Music.

Afrotainment Music – Afro-centric music service featuring music from the African continent. Programming includes music videos, live performances and entertainment programs.

Africa Box Office (ABO) – Afro-centric movie service featuring the best in film from the African continent. It airs over 100 new movies every year from Nollywood and other movie houses throughout Africa.

TV Naija – General entertainment service aimed at Nigerian community, airs TV series & music from Nigeria.

Oui TV – Cameroonian, Ivorian and African sitcoms and dramas in French.

YEBO – Afro-caribbean music video on Demand (Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku).

References

[26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Meet Yves Bollanga, The Man Televising African Home Entertainment in the USA. Gundan. Farai. Forbes. 2018-02-16. en.
  2. Web site: Afrotainment launches 4 channels on Bell Canada. Channels. Afrotainment. PRLog. 2018-02-16.
  3. Web site: Afrotainment Channels - AFROTAINMENT launches Haiti HD on Bell Canada. Webmaster. Afro. www.afrotainment.tv. 2018-02-16.
  4. Web site: Afrotainment Channels - Afrotainment expands in Canada with the launch of HAITI HD on Videotron. Webmaster. Afro. afrotainment.us. en-gb. 2018-02-16.
  5. Web site: Afrotainment Channels - Afrotainment launches YEBO, an OTT music video on demand app. Webmaster. Afro. afrotainment.us. en-gb. 2018-02-16.
  6. Web site: Afrotainment Channels - The Afrotainment Family of Channels launches 2 HD channels on Verizon.. Webmaster. Afro. www.afrotainment.tv. 2018-02-16.
  7. Web site: Verizon Launches Afrotainment Channels Multichannel. www.multichannel.com. 3 March 2016. en. 2018-02-16.
  8. News: AFRO brings polycultural television to Sling TV's Lifestyle Extra - What's On Sling. 2017-06-28. What's On Sling. 2018-02-16. en-US.
  9. Web site: Afrotainment Channels - AFRO, a Polycultural Black Television Network, debuts on Sling TV. Webmaster. Afro. afrotainment.us. en-gb. 2018-02-16.
  10. Web site: AFRO, a Polycultural Black Television Network, debuts on Sling TV. 10 December 2022.
  11. News: Sling TV Adds a New Channel to Its Lifestyle Extra Add-On - Cord Cutters News. 2017-06-29. Cord Cutters News. 2018-02-16.
  12. News: Sling TV Welcomes All-Black Television Network AFRO-SRMagOnline. 2017-06-28. Soul Reflectionz. 2018-02-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20180207175054/http://srmagonline.com/2017/06/28/sling-tv-welcomes-all-black-television-network-afro/. 2018-02-07. dead.
  13. Web site: What happened to the Afro Channel?. www.sling.com. en-gb. 2019-06-26.
  14. Web site: Comcast Sets TV One's Cleo TV, Afro as Latest Independent Channel Launches. 15 November 2018.
  15. Web site: Comcast to Add Two New African-American Owned Channels in January. 15 November 2018.
  16. Web site: Comcast to Launch Two New Black TV Networks in January. 21 November 2018.
  17. Web site: Comcast to Launch Two New African American Majority Owned Nets. 16 November 2018.
  18. News: Comcast Launching African-American Cable Networks Afro and Cleo TV. Deadline . 15 November 2018. Hayes . Dade .
  19. Web site: Comcast to Add Two Networks Geared Toward African-American Viewers in 2019. 15 November 2018.
  20. Web site: Comcast Unveils Winners of Competition to Launch Cable Networks Dedicated to Black Media Consumers. 18 November 2018.
  21. Web site: Yves Bollanga's AFRO TV finds new home at Comcast in historic move. 19 November 2018.
  22. Web site: Comcast adds 2 African-American networks to lineup. Tribune Staff. Report. The Philadelphia Tribune. 10 December 2022.
  23. Web site: Comcast Announces Agreements with Two New African American Majority Owned Independent Networks - MarketWatch . 2018-12-18 . 2018-12-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181219001119/https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/comcast-announces-agreements-with-two-new-african-american-majority-owned-independent-networks-2018-11-15 . dead .
  24. Web site: Comcast to add AFRO, CLEO TV to Xfinity platforms. www.spglobal.com. 10 December 2022.
  25. Web site: Comcast Partners with CLEO TV and AFRO to Promote Diverse Content – Naturally Moi . 2018-12-18 . 2018-11-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181118201457/http://naturallymoi.com/2018/11/comcast-partners-with-cleo-tv-and-afro-to-promote-diverse-content/ . dead .
  26. News: Cowboy, Afro Join Sling. 2017-07-05. The Savvy Screener. 2018-02-16. en-US.
  27. Web site: Afrotainment Expands to Africa with the Launch of OUI TV On Startimes | Balancing Act - Africa. www.balancingact-africa.com. 10 December 2022.
  28. Web site: Afrotainment provides a bridge between Africa, Europe and the New World to spread Black Culture. www.linkedin.com. 10 December 2022.
  29. News: Africa 24 partners with Afrotainment Family of Channels NexTV News. 2015-03-05. NexTV News. 2018-02-16. en-US.
  30. News: Afrotainment to launch Oui TV on StarTimes platform. 2015-08-12. Digital TV Europe. 2018-02-16. en-GB.
  31. Web site: Cablevision Buttresses International Channel Lineup With Pair Of African Channels Multichannel. www.multichannel.com. 18 October 2011. en. 2018-02-16.
  32. Web site: AFRO debuts on Sling TV. www.triangletribune.com. 2018-02-16.
  33. Web site: Cameroon-Info.Net:: Forbes Magazine Presents Yves Bollanga, The Man Televising African Home Entertainment in the USA. www.cameroon-info.net. fr. 2018-02-16.
  34. Web site: Cameroon-Info.Net:: Cameroun/USA - Télévision: Le cinéma camerounais s'exporte aux Etats-Unis grâce à "OUI TV". www.cameroon-info.net. fr. 2018-02-16.
  35. News: Yves Bollanga, Bringing Afro-Caribbean Content to Mainstream U.S. Television. 2013-05-07. ACRAH. 2018-02-16. en-US.
  36. News: Yves Bollanga. 2014-01-07. BizNis Africa. 2018-02-16. en-US.
  37. Web site: dish-network-adds-french-african-channel Dish Network adds french african channel. 10 December 2022.