Oh snap… time flies!

Remember Bounce TV, first announced in April, the 1st-ever 24/7 broadcast TV network created exclusively for African Americans, scheduled to launch this fall? Founded by Ambassador Andrew Young and Martin Luther King III…

Within that initial April post was news about the major motion picture licensing deals already in place with NBCUniversal Television, Sony Pictures Television, Codeblack Entertainment and Image Entertainment, which will net nearly 400 titles, including a mix of theatrical motion pictures, live sporting events, documentaries, specials, inspirational faith-based programs, original programming and more.

Since then, the network has been aggressively suring up deals with broadcasters nationwide; and, as with announced in my last post on this, the brand new network launches… today!

Yup, Monday, September 26th, at 12 Noon EST (about 45 minutes from now actually), Bounce TV makes its national debut.

How the network begins will likely be closely watched, as viewers get their first impressions of it, as some will likely decide then and there whether they will continue to watch it past its launch date.

So, what’s its first day of programming going to look like?

Well, the network revealed that it will kick-off its on-the-air debut with The Wiz – the 1978 musical starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson and Richard Pryor.

That broadcast will be followed by the classic drama A Raisin in the Sun (Sidney Poitier) at 3pm.

If you’re still not impressed, later that evening you’ll be treated to part one of a Spike Lee double-feature: Do the Right Thing at 8 and 10pm (the second part of that double-feature will come the next day, Tuesday September 27, when School Daze will air.also at 8 & 10:00 pm).

So far, no original programming has been announced yet. Looking at the first week’s lineup highlights, it comprises primarily of movies and sports (from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), the nation’s largest African American athletic conference, as the top-rated Bulldogs of Bowie St. visit rival Virginia Union). Other movie titles scheduled to air that week include Denzel Washington in The Siege and Glory; The Rundown starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Far From Heaven starring Dennis Haysbert, Julianne Moore and Dennis Quaid.

Looking further out, a Richard Pryor retrospective is planned for 1 week in October, more CIAA football, and Soul Train reruns.

So, again, movies and sports mostly… at least to kick things off.

Visit Bounce TV’s web site where you’ll find the network’s complete programming schedule and local Bounce TV channel locations available.