WMBD-TV, channel 31, has been the only terrestrial television station in the Peoria market not to offer a digital subchannel — until today. Starting today, WMBD will begin broadcasting Bounce TV, “the nation’s first-ever over-the-air broadcast television network designed exclusively for African-American audiences.” Here’s part of the new network’s press release:
The new network […] will target African Americans primarily between the ages of 25-54 with a programming mix of theatrical motion pictures, live sporting events, documentaries, specials, inspirational faith-based programs, off-net series, original programming and more. Bounce TV will air twenty four hours a day, seven days a week as a digital terrestrial network designed for carriage on the digital signals of local television stations. […]
Live sports and events will be part of the Bounce TV schedule and the network today announced a multi-year rights agreement with Urban Sports Entertainment Group (USEG) to televise both football and basketball games from the nation’s largest African American athletic conference, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA.) Bounce TV will air the CIAA Championship football game and select quarter- and semi- final CIAA tournament basketball games as part of the agreement.
Bounce TV’s Founding Group includes two legendary figures of recent American history and the network’s leadership team is filled with veteran entertainment industry executives. The Founding Group is led by Ambassador Andrew Young, Martin Luther King III and Andrew “Bo” Young III. Rob Hardy and Will Packer, co-founders of Rainforest Films, one of the top African American production companies in the world, will also play important roles with Bounce TV. Hardy will serve as Chief Content Officer while Packer will be Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer. Former Turner Broadcasting executives Ryan Glover and Jonathan Katz will serve as Executive Vice Presidents. Bounce TV will be majority owned and operated by African Americans, with Ambassador Young, Andrew “Bo” Young III, Rob Hardy, Will Packer and Ryan Glover part of the initial ownership team. The network is leveraging the marketing, digital, post production and operational resources of Atlanta-based CSE, one of the country’s leading independently-owned sports, entertainment and television production agencies. […]
Bounce TV will be an ad-supported network with half of that time being available for insertion of local advertising by affiliates. Former EVP of U.S. Syndication Sales for Sony Pictures Television, Jeffrey Wolf, currently head of The Lobo Group, will handle network distribution of Bounce TV.
Wikipedia says the name “Bounce” was chosen to signify “a network that is ‘going somewhere with energy,'” and lists 56 channels on which Bounce TV will premiere, including WMBD. The following digital terrestrial channels are now available in the Peoria area:
19.1 WHOI-TV (ABC)
19.2 The CW
25.1 WEEK-TV (NBC)
25.2 WEEK-WX Weather First
31.1 WMBD-TV (CBS)
31.2 Bounce TV
43.1 WYZZ-TV (FOX)
43.2 The Cool TV
43.3 The Country Network
47.1 WTVP-TV (PBS)
47.2 PBS World
47.3 Create TV
59.1 WAOE-TV (MyNetworkTV)
59.2 Antenna TV
Bounce to this, everybody just bounce to this…… Bounce to this, everybody just bounce to this!
Wow, what’s next the Hispanic network?
Point: Naw. WET is next. White Entertainment Television
Comcast already carries dozens of Spanish channels.
It would be racist to have WET.
We do have white television. It’s called the Golf Channel.
Nice one Billy. 🙂
I definitely have to look into this “Bounce TV” more closely. Wonder if the local affiliates are allowed time for local programming that target African-Americans?
Billy, missed that one, maybe when I saw Tiger Woods?
It’s true–most do not understand “turn about is fair play.”
I am pretty sure CMT stands for Caucasion Music Television. I know I see a hell of a lot more White people on BET than Black people on CMT.
I also get Channel 50 – TBN out of Quad-Cities. Only have Dish on one TV, so I appreciate the variety on Antenna TV. I will gladly watch some films like The Wiz or a Denzel Washington, Eddie Murphy, Morgan Freeman film, reruns of Bill Cosby and several other shows. Race doesn’t doesn’t make good television, but a good production is a good production. I am glad to have an alternative.
Herman Cain for President!
CAPtions, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, will discuss with guests on the topic “Reflecting on Dr. King. Guests include Alma Brown, Rita Ali, Agbara Bryson, and 3 young African-American men, 2 of which are students at Illinois Central College.
Topics include the upcoming MLK Holiday events, including the 20th
Annual MLK Luncheon, the Freedom March, and the Commemorative
Service and Awards. CAPtions then goes on location to ICC and discusses
King’s impact on the young men, and how King would react to the minority youth of today. Rounding out the hour is a clip of Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech.
Host of CAPtions is Andre Bohannon.
CAPtions will air Sunday, Jan. 8th at 5 pm, Wednesday, Jan. 11th at 7 pm, and later at Midnight on Comcast Cable 22. It will be available on YouTube
and FaceBook beginning Monday, Jan. 9th.
CAPtions is produced by the Peoria Citizens Committee for Economic Opportunity, Inc. Media Services Department. It is
funded in part by a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce
and Economic Opportunity.