EXCLUSIVE: The Africa Channel (TAC) has unveiled an AVOD option for its streaming service, a range of FAST channels and signed agreements with several content providers.
Revealed in a packaged unfront announcement was the “significant expansion” of TAC’s streaming business, which will see its subscription streamer Demand Africa add a free, ad-supported streaming tier of top news from the Black content company’s 2024-25 Upfront.
So will launch later this year and was built on the back of a successful Upfront last year, when TAC saw a 140% increase in inventory sold, with a 155% increase in advertising revenue and an increase in advance commitments with 57% of companies in sectors such as pharmaceuticals. , retail, automotive, financial and CPG.
On the FAST front, Afro-Cinema is the first channel to be added to the Demand Africa platform, launching this spring with a curated selection of films, documentaries, series and cultural programs from established and emerging filmmakers. Music, travel, cooking, home and beauty channels will follow, and the suite will be offered to other FAST platforms in the coming months.
Additionally, TAC revealed that it is in “active discussions” with third-party FAST channel operators to add Demand Africa.
A previously announced partnership with Whoopi Goldberg and Larry Adams’ BLKFAM will see a block launch of the BLKFAM brand on the TAC cable channel and Demand Africa, with a BLKFAM FAST channel also set to debut “in the near future.”
Currently, TAC has approximately 1,000 hours of new and renewed programming across a variety of genres in its library, and the company has signed several new agreements ahead of the 2024-2025 season. The most notable of these is a deal with the leading brand TED Talks. This will see the launch of TED talks about TACfeaturing Serena Williams and Shonda Rhimes, among others.
A deal with urban music, entertainment and sports content brand Trace TV will add shows such as reality series #I’m Serge Ibakaabout the Congolese-Spanish NBA champion and fashion icon, and Afrobeat: from Nigeria to the worldwhich is a deep dive into the musical phenomenon.
From Hong Kong-based distributor Lightning International, exclusive U.S. broadcast rights to the 71st Miss World pageant for the cable channel;, and a deal with Carol Bouwer Productions adds Miss World South Africa Finalist Special And Final of the Miss World South Africa pageant.
A partnership with African pay-TV and streaming giant MultiChoice for hundreds of hours of programming has been renewed, including drama Lockdownlifestyle series Date my familyand soaps The wild And Battlefield. Likewise, TAC will continue to do business with BBC Africa through shows such as Focus on Africa And Africa eye. Further content renewal deals have been signed with Cardova Trading, which produces a long-running breakfast show Expressoplus e.tv, Wild Africa Fund, FilmOne, ACI, the MTV Staying Alive Foundation and Ruby Rocket.
“There continues to be a strong demand for diverse content that targets Black audiences and we are filling that gap not only by presenting programs from across the continent, but also by finding new ways to connect with viewers on every platform,” said TAC COO Narendra Reddy. “Our approach is working, as evidenced by the content and brand partners we are fortunate to work with, and we are confident that our focus on community engagement, not only in cable, but also in SVOD and FAST, will provide greater depth and breadth adds to our offering. on the market.”
The TAC cable channel is offered on Charter’s Spectrum, Comcast and Cox Communications pay-TV services, as well as in Canada on Rogers Ignite and Bell Fibe and in the Caribbean through the Caribbean Cable Cooperative. The Demand Africa streamer is available worldwide and has offices in LA and Johannesburg.
