 Channels Television logo | |
| Country | Nigeria |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | UK Africa |
| Headquarters | Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | John Momoh (Executive Chairman)[1] Olusola Momoh (Executive Vice-Chairman) |
| History | |
| Launched | 1992 (1992) |
| Links | |
| Website | channelstv |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| UHF | Channel 26 (Benin) |
| UHF | Channel 31 (Abuja) |
| UHF | Channel 39 (Lagos) |
| UHF | Channel 45 (Kano) |
| Streaming media | |
| channelstv.com/live | Watch live (Available worldwide) |
| TVPlayer | Watch live (UK only) |
Channels Television is a Nigerian independent 24-hournews and mediatelevision channel based inLagos,Nigeria. The parent company, Channels Incorporated, was founded in 1992, a year before the Nigerian government deregulated the broadcast media. It began broadcasting in 1995. Its primary focus is producing news and current affairs programs on Nigerian domestic issues. The Channel's mission is to act as awatchdog on governmental policies and activities.
Channels Television was founded in 1995 as aprivate television station[2] with only 15 employees by Nigerian veteran broadcaster and entrepreneur John Momoh and Sola Momoh, also a broadcaster.[3] The company commenced operations in Lagos, south western Nigeria and has since grown to include three other stations inAbuja,Edo andKano states. It also has bureaus in almost every state in Nigeria, including stringers and affiliates in other parts in Africa, as well as strong relationships with international media organizations which allows access to information around the world.
The channel was licensed in June 1993 and allocated a frequency on UHF (Channel 39). It began transmission two years later under the name, "Channels Television", and the first terrestrial broadcast was on 1 July 1995, with John Momoh reading the first news bulletin. Channels TV currently broadcasts to an audience of over 20 million people.
The channel was an affiliate ofTVAfrica. In 2000, it wanted to broadcastUEFA Euro 2000, but it and other interested broadcasters in Nigeria faced legal issues from the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission over the legality of the network, which, according to the regulator, was not registered in Nigeria.[citation needed]
In September 2008, Channels Television was shut down by PresidentYar'Adua, who sent Nigeria'sState Security Service (SSS) to shut down the station and to arrest its senior staff due to channel's report of Yar'Adua's bad health. The report by Channels Television was attributed to information received fromNews Agency of Nigeria (NAN). However, after the investigation, NAN announced that the channel did not issue any statement regarding the President stepping down, but instead, its computer was hacked into. In protest, Channels TV discontinued its use of the NAN wire service up to this date. It was proven that the e-mail received by Channels TV was a hoax sent from a computer in theIvory Coast. Nigeria's Minister of Information,John Odey, gave the statement to theBBC emphasizing the government was angered by the report.[4][5]
Channels Television's team has produced feature programs, which have received commendation throughout the country. Video footage of events and happenings in Nigeria, shot by the Channels Television news crews have been used widely by broadcast organizations such asBBC,CNN andITN. Its flagship program, "News at Ten", is considered as the most popular and most watched news in Nigeria.
Since 2009, Channels Television organizes and hosts "Channels National Kids Cup", a sport event for school children from sixteen Nigerian states held inTeslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.[6] General Manager of Channels Television, Steve Judo, stated that Channels Television is socially responsible media and as such chose to engage in the development of football from the roots.[7]
In January 2012, journalistEnenche Akogwu, who worked as a correspondent in Kano for Channels Television, was shot and killed while reporting on coordinated attacks there claimed by the radical Islamist sect known asBoko Haram. According to his colleagues, Akogwu had shown up after a bombing and began filming a crowd gathered there without knowing they were armed sect members.[8]
in 2019, Channels TV launched "Gist Nigeria", its first co-production withBBC withWale Fakile and Ajoke Lijadu-Ulohotse as hosts.[12]
On 22 March 2014,Tezuka Productions partnership with Channels TV to broadcast 8 episode spin-off series ofAstro Boy,Little Astro Boy, which was aimed for preschoolers on Channels TV's children's block.
On Friday, 14 August 2015,Deutsche Welle said it had signed a partnership agreement with"Channels TV" to demonstrates the long tradition of airing a positive view of Africa.[13]Peter Limbourg, the Director-General ofDeutsche Welle describeChannels TV as a great television station and a perfect partner forDeutsche Welle. Limbourg said "We atDeutsche Welle think that we have to report the great things that happen in Africa, especially in Nigeria.[14]
John Momoh, the Chief Executive Officer ofChannels TV described the partnership as "Made from heaven".[15] He said, "This is part of our strategy to tell the African story, especially that of Nigeria, from the African perspective so that we do not leave this key element of definition of who we are, what we do and why, to other people to tell on our behalf".[16][17]
In August 2015,Channels TV signed a memorandum of understanding with theUnited Nations on News coverage. The United Nations was represented byBan Ki-moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations.[18][19]
| Program | Air days | Time | Presenters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunrise Daily | Weekdays | 7 a.m. | Chamberlain Usoh Maupe Ogun Bukola Samuel-Wemimo Kayode Okikiolu Ayo Makinde |
| Sunrise Saturday | Saturdays | 9 a.m. | Ayo Makinde Alero Edu |
| Business Morning | Weekdays | 10 a.m. | Ini John-Mekwa/Ladi Williams |
| Politics Today | Sundays | 8 p.m. | Seun Okinbaloye |
| Sport This Morning | Weekdays | 9 a.m. | Cecilia Omorogbe Austin Okon-Akpan Yemi Adebayo |
| Earthfile | Fridays | 4.30 p.m. | Ayoola Kassim |
| Community Report | Fridays | 12:30 p.m. | Dare Idowu |
| Channels Book Club | Tuesdays | 3:30 p.m. | Olakunle Kasunmu |
| Diplomatic Channels | Mondays | 8:30 p.m. | Amarachi Ubani |
| Network Africa | Mon-Fri | 4.30 pm | Layo Olarinde |
| Law Weekly | Saturdays | 3.30 p.m. | Shola Soyele |
| Diaspora Network | Saturdays | 6.30 p.m. | Teniola Oyetayo |
| Tech Trends | Saturdays | 5.30 p.m. | Olayemi Odunuga |
