Channel O set to shutdown as BET Africa comes in

08:27 by tsup ug
Viacom Africa will launch a BET syndicate channel on  DStv next month.
The channel has been designed to elevate the rich variety and positive values of African and African – American culture, thus putting a local touch to the international channel.
Going live April 2, 2015, BET Africa will be exclusive to Multichoice and specifically DStv on channel 129, premium bouquet.
Most of the programming schedule that Tsup Ug has at least seen is not really different from that on the BET channel that’s largely accessed on Channels 135 (DSTV) and 23 on GOtv; from the likes of Being Mary Jane, The Wendy Williams’ Show to Kevin Hart’s spoof reality hit Real Husbands of Hollywood, there are a couple of new shows like Martin Lawrence’s 1st Amendment Stand-Up and the only African show at the moment, a South African reality series, Top Actor.
The viewers of BET Africa will though have a chance of watching many of these shows including live events like award shows, way before they air on the current channel, which will by the effect of April 2 become BET2.
The communication about the new BET comes barely a day after it was revealed that Pan African music TV Channel O would be shutting down to concentrate on the South African market.
So is BET coming with opportunities and a new platform for African content producers? Well we can too just watch the space.
According to the Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks Africa, Alex Okosi, BET will connect viewers with international trends, talent and thought leaders, whilst simultaneously celebrating Africa’s talent and creativity.
“This evolution for the BET brand on the continent significantly broadens our general entertainment offering and provides a dynamic and compelling new destination for viewers.”
BET has in the past year been recognizing African music exploits in the annual BET awards where the likes of Radio and Weasel, Diamond from Tanzania, Kenya’s Camp Mulla as well as Mafikizolo and Donald among others have been nominated.
All of the awards have gone to Nigerians with the exception of one that was won by Ghana’s Sarkodie.
The channel has also come under fire many times for presenting the Best International Act: Africa before an empty auditorium and thus never broadcasting it as part of the live show but with the launch of a sister channel, there's hope that Africa may actually get a chance for even a performance at the show this year.
The move comes as VIACOM Africa celebrates ten years of operations on the continent which started with the launch of MTV Base in 2005. 

1 comment:

  1. Does this mean that even Channel O awards are no more???

    ReplyDelete