TalkTalk ramps up TV offering with launch of African Boost

TalkTalk, Britain’s fastest growing TV service has launched a new suite of African TV channels, bringing hit shows from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Uganda to its one million TV customers.

The new African TV Boost will include eight channels - Nollywood Movies, EbonyLife TV, Soundcity, Channels, Silverbird, Citizen, Metro TV and Bukedde. The package will bring viewers a variety of Nollywood movies, 24-hour news, music, fashion, talk shows and lifestyle programmes for £10 a month on a monthly basis with no ongoing commitment.

The Boost builds on the success of TalkTalk TV’s existing world TV packages, which offers viewers popular Bollywood, Arabic, Afrikaans and Japanese channels.

Tristia Harrison, Managing Director for Consumer at TalkTalk said: “YouView from TalkTalk is going from strength to strength every day and this new Boost is a great addition. We’re pleased to be extending our partnership with THEMA to be able to offer TalkTalk homes a wealth of fantastic family entertainment from across the world”.

TalkTalk will work in partnership with THEMA to provide the service. THEMA aggregates foreign TV channels into TV bouquets targeted to diaspora communities. The company provides content, as well as legal, technical and marketing expertise. THEMA clients are major pay-TV platforms in Europe, Asia and North America.

François Thiellet, CEO of THEMA said: “We are very glad to make our channels available in a country where international communities thrive. And there is no better partner than TalkTalk to reach our audience.”

The channels included in the new African Boost are:

• EbonyLife TV: exclusive African original programming, featuring big African names, movies and popular series like Moments with Mo, EL Now, Screen Divas
• Soundcity: 24 hour Nigerian music and lifestyle channel with a mix of culture, music and entertainment
• Channels: Leading 24 hour news channel broadcasting live from Lagos, Nigeria, with up-to-date news on politics, health, current affairs, entertainment and sports
• Silverbird: General entertainment Nigerian TV channel
• Nollywood movies: 24 hour movie channel. Exclusive titles and the latest Nollywood movies on early release, including a daily premiere everyday at 7pm, as well as Africa’s no. 1 soap, Tinsel
• Citizen: general entertainment Kenyan TV channel broadcasting news, sports, business, soaps and entertainment shows in Swahili and English
• Metro TV: Ghana’s leading entertainment, sports and news channel. Channel offers local, regional and international news, talk shows, sitcoms and game shows
• Bukedde: Ugandan 24 hour general entertainment channel broadcasting news, soaps and local information in English and Luganda