For the last two years, one channel has been working to dispel the common misconceptions TV feeds Americans about this much maligned continent.The Africa Channel was founded with a mission to dispel a lot of the myths about Africa. Its target audience is one that's unfamiliar with African culture and its not just a black audience.
But getting the station broadcast to the people in every city in America has apparently been the biggest challenge.
The Africa Channel has its corporate headquarters in North Hollywood, Calif., and has made it on the air in cities like Atlanta and New Orleans, but still has a lot of growth potential in the U.S. Cities from New York to St. Louis to Sacramento are still missing out until cable providers decide to pick the channel up.Not long ago, the channel launched in the U.K. and Ireland, but its reach in the U.S. is still relatively low, about 2 million households, through the Cox and Comcast Cable providers.
The international TV service has plans to expand its reach into the rest of Europe, including France and Belgium.
James Makawa, co-founder and CEO of the Africa Channel and a native of Zimbabwe, said not long after the station was founded the interpretation Americans are given of Africa on television is flat wrong.
"The whole idea is that it comes to you from an African perspective, which has been missing from so much news coverage and, yes, entertainment related to Africa," Makawa told Reuters.
With entertainment as it primary focus; taking nearly 80 percent of all programming, the channel wants to introduce viewers to shows from an African viewpoint. They have dramas and daytime soaps. There are also news segments and documentaries, which are reminiscent of the content produced by the National Geographic Channel or the Discovery Channel.
Given the fact that Africa has become an increasingly difficult topic for the news to ignore, the arrival of a channel completely dedicated toward Africa is a relevant and timely idea.
What about your city? Take the poll.
Comments: (51)
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By: JC on 11/13/2007 5:07PM
I Would Love To See The "Africa Channel" In My City! I Have Time Warner Cable. Before We All Raise Our "Black Voices" In Protest, Let's Remember that "AOL" Is Part Of "Time Warner".
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By: Michele C. on 11/14/2007 8:55AM
I would love to have "The Africa Channel"I have Time Warner Cable and it is time they stepped up their game!
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By: bobbyBargainer on 11/14/2007 7:18AM
all is well
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By: Joanna on 11/14/2007 8:21AM
It is a good news for me. I come from Africa. I made many friends at http://www.interracialconnect.com and we build a special forum for this area. I will copy this news there and inform each one.
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By: Njoya on 11/14/2007 9:31AM
I would love to have Africa Channel! When I was in Africa visiting last year as I watched the news I realized how isolated and narrow the focus is outside of Africa..., especially coming from this country! As an educator we need this channel to broaden our perspectives and allow for a global viewpoint! I will calling Time Warner Cable soon as I'm done with this email!
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By: Andrea on 11/14/2007 3:18PM
This is a great move for brining better awareness about Africa and its cultural richness. I support this as so many individuals of the African Diaspora are deprived from learning about their heritage. However we should not downplay and then forget about the problems that are plaguing Africa. I hope that this move by The Africa Channel will not cause people to think that the problems of Africa are anywhere near solved.
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By: Bradie on 11/15/2007 1:41AM
As African Americans it is time for us to wake up to the fact that we have a home outside of the USA. A home way too many of us have never seen, nor have a clue as to the richness and depth of our culture. We need this channel broadcasted in every city where the Diaspora resides so we can begin to connect to our brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins in Africa. Once we realize that Africa is NOT all poverty and AIDS, we will begin to take back what has been lost and claim our home like the Jews claimed Israel.
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By: MS. VICKI on 11/16/2007 6:09AM
I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC AND ALONG WITH BEING EDUCATIONAL FOR ALL.......OUR CHILDREN NEED TO SEE THE VALUE IN US AS A PEOPLE AND OTHER PEOPLE NEED TO SEE OUR VALUE AS WELL. I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS PROGRAM BEING AIRED ALL OVER THE WORLD....IT'S NEEDED AND PASS DUE.
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By: Faith on 11/16/2007 8:09AM
I like the channel and feel like it would shed a more postitive like on Africa. But I will say this with regards to black americans and our connection to Africa, although I believe we have a claim and should be able to call it our home. Many of Africans born and raise in Africa don't share in the idea that we have a claim to Africa. Every other group accepts their people,but here again we find division. We have Irish americans, Mexican american, chinese americans and then when we say we are afro-americans, you get stuff like "your not african, your a black america" Stupid things like that. I support the channel and despite what many African believe I still consider myself to be Afro-American and a daughter of Africa
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By: Aziyza on 11/16/2007 5:48PM
This is a great channel. We had it in our area as a preview recently. I loved the channel. I also have visited the continent of Africa and have seen with my own eyes the disparity of accurate news reporting from there. There is so much going on there, everyone is not starving and aid-infested as this country would like you to believe. I love the continent and one day will return to live and work.
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