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1,200 Hours of Original and First Run Television Programming to Include Popular Genres: News and Information, Travel, and Lifestyle, Music, Feature Films, Documentaries, Soaps, Talk, Reality and Event Specials

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–whose high-profile backers include Ambassador Andrew Young, as well as entertainment and sports notables–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.

The launch of the 24/7 commercially supported channel represents a significant achievement and milestone in the history and growth of the U.S. cable television industry and the industry at large. For the first time ever, the medium of television will connect U.S. viewers with the richness and promise of an entire continent on a daily basis; including the fascinating lifestyles of the people who inhabit its 53 countries, their incredible stories, their daily lives, their successes, celebrations and challenges; all of this via the broad-based appeal of a general entertainment network.

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. The company’s exclusive program distribution agreements provide the kind of flexibility to tailor programming that continually meets the tastes and preferences of a broad and nationally diverse audience. In fact the channel will have strong appeal for both African Americans and general American audiences–all of whom are interested in learning about the continent and its people.

“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. With our pro-social agenda firmly rooted in education, the Africa Channel will be a highly visible participant in the local communities of each market where it is available.”

“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.

Original and First Run Programming

As of June 2004, The Africa Channel has concluded binding, long-term, exclusive distribution agreements with the major content suppliers in Africa and has leveraged its longstanding and close relationships with Africa’s major television producers and program distributors to create daily programming blocks across a wide variety of entertainment and informational genres. The vaults of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Summit TV (Johnnic Group/BDFM), M-NET, Endemol and other suppliers are full of outstanding content, including many award-winning shows that have never been seen outside of Africa.

“James, Jacob and I have all spent a considerable amount of time in the television business here as well as in Africa, and are keenly aware of the high quality of television produced there,” said Richard Hammer, a 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. This will be an entertainment channel that serves a large, demanding audience.”

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.” Original series include “Conversations with Felicia,” hosted by author, entrepreneur and icon Felicia Mabuza-Suttle, “Africa This Week,” a weekend news wrap-up series, and “AfricaMusic!,” a VJ hosted music series that will serve as the launch pad for a new wave of music from across the African continent.

Founders and Partners

The Channel’s co-founders are accomplished veterans of the media and television industries.

Mr. Makawa, originally from Zimbabwe, is one of the few executives from Sub-Saharan Africa to have enjoyed a successful career in both local and network television in the U.S. A reporter and anchor, he also served as a correspondent with NBC Network News in New York and Chicago. Mr. Makawa co-founded the African Barter Company (ABC), Africa’s first barter syndication company, in partnership with Grey Advertising Worldwide. He cleared hundreds of hours on television stations across the continent reaching an audience topping 150 million. Mr. Makawa co-founded the African Broadcast Network (ABN) and served as a board member and as EVP for program acquisition and distribution dealing with NBC, CBS, MGM, Columbia Tri-Star, Endemol and Paramount.

Mr. Arback has over 20 years of international business, pay television, and media experience, much of it focused on Africa and the Middle East. Mr. Arback has advised a number of media and satellite ventures including: Afrisat Networks, the Modi Entertainment Group, Arab Radio and Television, the H.T. Telesis Group, Sterling, Ltd., New Skies Satellites, PanAmSat and Intelsat. As president of Business Research International (BRI), he advised Fortune 500 companies in the international pay television, broadcasting and satellite businesses. He also served as a VP at DirecTV International and was responsible for establishing DTH television businesses in Africa, the Middle East, India, Southeast Asia and Central Europe.

Mr. Hammer, with over 20 years of entertainment industry marketing and promotion experience, has held senior marketing positions with industry giants such as Buena Vista International, WTBS, Paramount Television and Columbia Pictures. In 2001, Mr. Hammer was selected as part of a strategic team assigned to launch a new television network, the African Broadcast Network (ABN), in Johannesburg, South Africa. There he was responsible for corporate and network branding, marketing, promotion and media relations. He was also the supervising producer in charge of re-editing content for local broadcasts. Mr. Hammer has also spent significant time in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, serving as a consultant for the East African television station ITV.

The channel’s initial partners–in addition to Ambassador Young and his company, Goodworks International–include Weller/Grossman Productions and National Basketball Association (NBA) players Dikembe Mutombo and Theo Ratliff.

For more information about the channel, please visit www.theafricachannel.com.