Raycom renews the African-American-targeted network in 26 DMAs, adds network in Knoxville and Panama City; LIN renews four markets, launches in Buffalo, Providence and Grand Rapids; Belo renews in Houston; WVUE renews in New Orleans; WBDT renews in Dayton; WYTV launches in Youngstown
Bounce TV Sets 1st Renewals, More Launches
After 21 months on the air, Bounce TV, a broadcast television network for African Americans, today announced a range of renewals and new launches by major station groups representing coverage in 40 markets:
- Raycom Media has renewed its original distribution agreement for Bounce TV in 26 markets (Complete list below), just launched the network in Panama City, FL (WPGX) and will add it in Knoxville, TN (WTNX) shortly.
- LIN Television extended its Bounce TV agreement for WNDY Indianapolis; WTNH Hartford-New Haven, Conn.; WAVY Norfolk, Va.; and WFNA Mobile, Ala.-Pensacola, Fla., and recently launched the network on WNLO Buffalo, N.Y.; WPRI Providence, R.I.; and WOOD Grand Rapids, Mich. In addition, two of the Bounce TV affiliates that LIN Media services have agreed to renew (WBDT Dayton, Ohio); and launch (WYTV Youngstown, Ohio).
- Belo Corp. has renewed its deal to carry Bounce TV on KHOU Houston.
- New Orleans’ WVUE, owned by Louisiana Media Co., whose owner Tom Benson owns the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, has also renewed Bounce TV.
These renewals and additional launches will drive Bounce TV’s penetration to 88% of African-American television homes and 70% of the total United States.
“It’s extremely rare in our business that carriage agreements are renewed and extended this early in a network’s life-cycle, but that is the case here and it is a resounding vote of confidence in Bounce TV,” said Jeffrey Wolf Bounce TV EVP of distribution. “From the beginning, these major stations and groups believed in our mission and embraced the promise of the network. Now they will continue to reap benefits from the enormous value we bring their viewers and their sponsors for years to come.”
Raycom has extended its original agreement to carry Bounce TV in Cleveland-Akron, Ohio (WOIO/WUAB); Charlotte, N.C. (WBTV); Cincinnati (WXIX); West Palm Beach, Fla. (WFLX); Birmingham, Ala. (WBRC); Memphis (WMC); Louisville, Ky. (WAVE); Richmond, Va. (WUPV); Columbia, S.C. (WIS); Toledo, Ohio (WUPW); Huntsville, Ala. (WAFF); Shreveport, La. (KSLA); Jackson, Miss. (WLBT); Baton Rouge, La. (WAFB); Savannah, Ga. (WTOC); Charleston, S.C. (WCSC); Myrtle Beach-Florence, S.C. (WMBF); Tyler-Lufkin, Texas (KLTV); Augusta, Ga. (WFXG); Montgomery, Ala. (WSFA); Columbus, Ga. (WTVM); Wilmington, N.C. (WECT); Albany, Ga. (WALB); Biloxi, Miss. (WLOX); Hattiesburg, Miss. (WDAM); Dothan, Ala. (WDFX); and Lake Charles, La. (KPLC).
Comments (3)
mike tomasino says:
July 15, 2013 at 12:32 pm
Okay, Bounce may be Afrocentric but it’s audience isn’t limited to that demographic. It runs a good selection of Movies that may feature African American actors, but have a much larger appeal. Also, the game shows they have, have much broader appeal. The production quality is good, and the compression is less than some competing channels (at least on KFTD Denver). Overall I’ve got to give them a good solid “A” on their endeavor.
Brian Bussey says:
July 15, 2013 at 4:16 pm
I have to agree. I have sen a number of movies that featured Black Americans in leading roles but were not remotely ‘black movies”. If the stations and the network invested in more promotion, Bounce would be the number one digital broadcast network in America.
Keith ONeal says:
July 15, 2013 at 9:57 pm
I looked at the schedule for Bounce and it looks better than This TV, Movies!, Retro TV, and Antenna TV for sure! Right now, I’d rate Me TV as 1 and Bounce TV as 2. Still waiting for Bright House (TWC) to put Bounce TV, Movies!, and Live Well Network on the cable here in Orlando. STILL WAITING for WOPX 56 ION to move from “must carry” to “retransmission consent” so that we can get Qubo and ION Life!