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 | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | New York City, U.S. Orlando, Florida, U.S. |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Picture format | 480i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Soundview Africa |
| Links | |
| Website | www.afrotainment.us www.afros.tv |
| Availability | |
| Streaming media | |
| Roku | YEBO Mizik OYEEE AFRICA24 Music NAIJA Music CAMER Music |
| Apple TV | YEBO |
| Amazon Fire TV | YEBO |
Afrotainment, often branded as simplyAfro, is an American media company based inNew York City, founded by television producer Yves Bollanga in 2005,[1] and owned by Soundview Africa. The company operates linear television channels and digital properties that targetAfrican American viewership. Its productions include budgeted films, television series and talk shows.
On June 22, 2005, Afrotainment launched3A TELESUD, its first channel onDISH Network. Initial launch was followed by 3 more carriage agreements between 2008 and 2011 forAfrotainment Movies,Afrotainment Music,TV9JA, andOUI TVOn.[citation needed]
On October 13, 2011, Afrotainment launchedAfrotainment Plus, its first cable channel. It was made available on IO Africa on Channel 1101.[citation needed]
On September 19, 2013, Afrotainment launched 4 new channels in Canada onBell Fibe TV; marking the company's first expansion outside of the United States.[2]
On December 5, 2014, Afrotainment launchedHaiti HD a network targeting the Haitian community onBell Fibe TV Canada.[3] On October 30, 2016, the channel began onVideotron in Canada.[4]
In August 2015, Afrotainment launchedYEBO, an OTT music video on demand app onAmazon Fire TV,Roku,Apple TV.[5]
On March 3, 2016, Afrotainment launchedAFRO, its Polycultural Black channel, andABO onVerizon FIOS.[6][7]
On June 28, 2017, AFRO was made available onSling 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]
Afrotainment programming is produced for, or acquired from, the African and Black diaspora. The company produces its programming from its Orlando TV Studios[citation needed]: includingPoint 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 theConfederation of African Football, such as theCAF Champions League,CAF Confederation Cup, CAF African Nation Championship, and CAF Youth Championship.[citation needed]
TheAfrotainment Museke Online Africa Music Awards, which is held every September, is simulcasted across Afrotainment's US channels and online platforms.
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 fromNollywood 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).
[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37]