The Africa Channel Signs Deal With Cox Communications for U.S. Cable Carriage

Target Market News

(July 21, 2005) The Africa Channel, a new independent cable television network showcasing the rich and diverse perspectives of the people of the African continent, has set its launch for the third quarter of this year. The network has already secured a corporate agreement with Atlanta-based Cox Communications Inc. and anticipates it will conclude additional carriage agreements shortly.

The goal of The Africa Channel is to amplify the African experience through a daily window into modern African life and build bridges of understanding between U.S. television viewers and the people of Africa.

"Our network will serve an important cultural need, while providing diverse, entertaining programming that demystifies Africa to the American television audience," said James Makawa, CEO of The Africa Channel and one of its trio of founders.

"We couldn't have picked a better launch partner than Cox Communications," said Jacob Arback, President and a co-founder of The Africa Channel. "Cox is a first-class company with particularly strong ties to the local communities they serve. This is key to our mission both here and in Africa.”

Richard Hammer is the third co-founder and Executive Vice President, Communications for The Africa Channel. "These shows have the production and entertainment value of top American shows, which is not surprising considering that many people in the African television business got their training here.”
 
The Africa Channel will launch with more than 1,200 hours of original and first run English language programming, including news and information, travel, and lifestyle, music, feature films, soaps, talk, reality and special events. Flagship series include "Carte Blanche Africa," a weekly one-hour investigative journalism program now in its 17th season on M-Net; "Africa Within," a vibrant weekly hour that takes viewers from Cairo to the Cape; the reality series "Big Brother Africa" and "All You Need is Love," and the soaps "Generations" and "Isidingo."

"We anticipate The Africa Channel will provide our Cox Digital Cable customers with a new diverse destination on the line-up that entertains and informs," said Bob Wilson, Senior Vice President, Programming, Cox Communications.

The channel's initial partners are former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young and his company, Goodworks International; Weller/Grossman Productions and National Basketball Association star players Dikembe Mutombo and Theo Ratliff.

For more information about the channel, please visit The Africa Channel.