Bounce TV is using agreements with established broadcast television groups and digital side-channel capability to bring the first African-American broadcast network onto the scene this fall. Nexstar is the third group to offer entrée into its markets, bringing ten more into the collection begun by Raycom and LIN.
Nexstar says this is its first foray into large-scale digital side-channel deployment, and will be adding the network on stations in Little Rock, Rochester, NY, Jacksonville, Peoria/Bloomington, Beaumont, Monroe and other markets.
“Nexstar Broadcasting stations have always been innovators of change within their local communities and for Nexstar to choose Bounce TV as their first major use of their digital spectrum speaks volumes,” said Bounce exec Jeffrey Wolf. “The instant demand for Bounce TV and the rapid growth we’ve seen in just a few weeks underlines the overwhelming need for free over-the-air programming for the African American community.”
“Bounce TV is a very attractive programming option for our digital spectrum. It is a meaningful network that will serve the tremendously underserved African American audiences in our communities,” commented Perry Sook, Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. Chairman, President and CEO.
Raycom Media kicked off the construction of the Bounce market list, providing channel capacity Cleveland/Akron, Charlotte, Cincinnati, West Palm Beach, Birmingham, Memphis, Louisville, Richmond, Columbia SC, Huntsville, Shreveport, Jackson MS, Baton Rouge, Savannah, Charleston SC, Myrtle Beach/Florence SC, Tyler/Lufkin TX, Augusta GA, Montgomery AL, Columbus GA, Wilmington NC, Albany GA, Biloxi MS, Hattiesburg MS, Dothan AL and Lake Charles LA.
LIN Media added Indianapolis, Hartford/New Haven, Norfolk, Dayton and Mobile/Pensacola.
RBR-TVBR observation: This emerging story is one of the best arguments out there for making sure that the quest for mobile broadband spectrum moves forward without doing any damage to the broadcasters already there. The collaboration of television groups and Bounce is pure evidence of service to the concepts of diversity and the public interest, and puts a spotlight on the ongoing and still-growing value of broadcast service to America.
