The Bloomberg Media Group, a division of Bloomberg L.P., has lunched Bloomberg Africa Television to strengthen its position as a leading supplier of global business and financial news television across the African continent.
Bloomberg TV Africa was launched on October 10, 2014 at an event in Washington DC, and was attended by African business leaders. The Washington event is the first in a series of global launches, which will also see the new brand berthing in Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria.
Bloomberg TV Africa is a partnership between Bloomberg Television LP, the global media brand with core focus on business and economy reportage, and Optima Media Group, a Lagos-based media company.
Optima Media Group will produce three to four hours of business programming per day which will be available to African viewers across the continent via Bloomberg’s English-language EMEA feed. Optima Media Group will engage its existing content and distribution channels to supplement Bloomberg’s English-language international news and analysis across Africa.
Rotimi Pedro, Chairman, Optima Media Group said: “For too long, people who don’t understand the intricacies and peculiarities of African businesses have been telling our story in a way that doesn’t adequately represent what we stand for. This news channel seeks to address this.”
“We will unearth the business leaders who are positively affecting the economy of the continent; highlight the investment opportunities and partner with the business policy-makers for the overall economic wellbeing of the continent,” he added.
Pedro explained that the channel will provide up to five hours a day of African business programming, aimed “at C-Suite executives, high net-worth individuals, policy makers, businesses and finance executives across the continent.”
In his word, Rick Plata, International Commercial Director, Bloomberg TV Africa, said the global network would give in-depth business news reporting, adding that with Optima Media’ Group’s knowledge of the African media landscape, Bloomberg TV Africa was positioned to become the definitive name in business news dissemination across the continent.
Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, expressed her support for Bloomberg TV Africa in the country. Okonjo-Iweala who was at the launch of Bloomberg TV Africa, said the establishment of the media unit in Nigeria was a welcome addition to the country’s growing economy.”This will be the first station – TV station – from abroad to be based in Nigeria and I think you’ve got it right,” the minister said.
The Bloomberg TV reaches over 310 million households worldwide.
