The new multicast channel targeted to African Americans gets its first big carriage deal. Starting this fall, when the network launches, Raycom will carry it in 26 markets covering 10% of U.S. TV home and nearly 19% of African-American TV homes.
New Net Bounce TV Lands Raycom Deal
Bounce TV, a multicast channel for African Americans, has landed its first distribution deal and it’s a big one — Raycom Media.
Starting this fall, when the network launches, Raycom will carry the new diginet in 26 markets covering 10% of U.S. TV home and nearly 19% of African-American TV homes.
Bounce TV said it expects to be in at least 50% of TV homes at launch with more distribution agreements to be announced shortly.
The markets: Cleveland; Charlotte, N.C; Cincinnati; West Palm Beach, Fla.; Birmingham, Ala.; Memphis, Tenn; Louisville, Ky.; Richmond, Va.; Columbia, S.C.: Huntsville, Ala.; Shreveport, La.; Jackson, Miss.; Baton Rouge, La.; Savannah, Ga.; Charleston, S.C.; Myrtle Beach-Florence, S.C.; Tyler-Lufkin, Texas; Augusta, Ga.; Montgomery, Ala.; Columbus, Ga.; Wilmington, N.C.; Albany, Ga.; Biloxi, Miss.; Hattiesburg, Miss; Dothan, Ala.; and Lake Charles, La.
“Bounce TV is the right network at the right time for our stations,” said Raycom president-CEO Paul McTear in a prepared statement.
“Bounce TV will allow us to better serve our communities, giving underserved African-American consumers a new local television brand designed specifically for them while also providing our local stations an ideal companion network for their digital spectrum.
BRAND CONNECTIONS
Bounce TV distribution chief Jeffrey Wolf said that landing the contract with Raycom “instantly validates the mission of Bounce TV.The Raycom stations will be able to localize our network and have it serve as a perfect complement to their primary channel.”
The deal earned the blessing of NAB President Gordon Smith. “In launching the new Bounce TV network, Raycom is utilizing digital spectrum in a very smart and truly meaningful way by serving African-American television viewers with a free niche programming service,” he said in a statement.
“Local TV stations across America are using TV airwaves to deliver on the promise of digital television, and we fully expect that other broadcasters will support Bounce TV and other unique program services.”
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