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Are you watching Bounce TV?

Very little of its existing programming actually appeals to me at this time, so I’m not an avid viewer of the relatively new network. But clearly, a good number of you are, and more continue to discover it apparently, according to the press release from the network that I received yesterday.  

With a lineup comprised of primarily old TV shows and movies (although it also boasts its own roster of new and original programming – both scripted and unscripted), Bounce TV, the nation’s fast-growing and only broadcast television network for African Americans, continues to rack up ratings and viewership gains in all key demographics, across all dayparts in the just-completed May ratings period.

Highlights include:

· Primetime viewership increases of +67% in delivery of P18-49 and + 74% for P25-54 compared to last year.

· Bounce TV continues to surge as the clear-cut #2 most-watched African American-targeted network in television, posting gains of +65% in A.A. viewership in Total Day. Bounce TV was also the only African American-targeted network to register year-to-year growth:

· Ranked alongside all ad-supported cable networks, Bounce TV ranked 9th in the delivery of African American Adults, beating BRAVO, OWN, WE, Lifetime, TBS, Oxygen, TRU, TV One and 88 other networks.

· Bounce TV ranked 3rd in Time Spent Viewing for Total Day among all viewers 18-49 to continue to boast one of the most-engaged audiences in all of television.

Bounce TV targets African American adults with a programming mix of original series, theatrical motion pictures, live sports, documentaries, specials, game shows and inspirational faith-based programs. Since its launch in 2011, Bounce TV has seen overwhelming success, with accelerated growth and expansion among station groups, advertisers and viewers alike. Bounce TV is seen in: 88 markets, including all of the top African American television markets; 89% of African American television homes; and 72% of the total television homes in the United States.

They are in what is fast-becoming a very competitive space – specifically TV networks catering specifically to black audiences; or I suppose we could just call them black TV networks. BET currently sits on the throne, given its recent aggressive push into original scripted programming for adults; TV One has its own share of original series (although their unscripted programming has proven to be the network’s money and ratings center – see Unsung as well as the R&B Divas franchise as an example); and then there are networks that don’t necessarily classify themselves as black TV networks, but whose programming clearly wants to draw that audience, like the Oprah Winfrey NetworkOWN – as well as even VH1 with its wealth of reality TV series (the Love & Hip Hop franchise, Basketball Wives, T.I. & Tiny, and others) and scripted dramas (Single Ladies, Hit The Floor), original movies (the TLC biopic, as well as the upcoming sequel to Drumline, to name 2). Even ABC’s 2014/2015 primetime lineup has added even more, shall we say, color in another series from Shonda Rhimes, starring Viola Davis (How To Get Away With Murder), as well as Kenya Barris’ comedy series Black-ish

Suddenly, TV networks are realizing that there’s an underserved & loyal black TV audience, whose tastes vary. 

Once again, are you watching Bounce TV? And if so, what shows have your attention that those of us who aren’t watching, should consider paying attention to?