CNBC Africa scores in Ghana

Wed, 13 Feb 2008

CNBC Africa COO Gary Alfonso says the deal concluded with Kencity Media Group will give the network a broadcast window of between 10 and 12 hours a day on the Net2 TV channel.

"This opportunity presents CNBC Africa with the ideal situation in West Africa, as we will broadcast business content from across Africa to the broader business orientated and economic market in Ghana, which has maintained a growth rate in excess of 6% for the past 3 years,” he says.

Alfonso says; “There are 11 commercial banks in Ghana, with at least 3 more global players on the way in the next two years. With no restrictions on foreign exchange, and recent deep sea oil discoveries off the coast of Ghana, this market is going to be a shining beacon of responsible economic development over the next two decades”.

"Talks have already started with the Ghana Stock Exchange and financial institutions linked to the exchange to contribute daily from Accra, with pertinent content on the financial markets, resources and commodities, the economy and business activities in the West African country,” he says.

Revenue from advertising in this vibrant and lucrative market will be shared between CNBC Africa & Net2 TV, resulting in a win-win partnership for the two media entities. Ad spend in Ghana was up between 37 and 40% in the past two years, driven mainly by the telecoms sector which grew from 5% penetration in 2004 to between 15 and 20% by mid-2007.

Apart from being the only television channel dedicated to live market and business updates from the financial capitals across the continent, CNBC Africa also features news and current affairs programming with regular updates throughout the day. Political perspectives that shape African business, lifestyle programmes, interactive talk shows and interviews with celebrated personalities in Africa are just some of the many highlights on Africa's premier business network.

CNBC Africa can be found on DStv channel 290 and is broadcast via the Sentech Vivid 'free-to-air' satellite platform across Africa. The network will also be launching terrestrially in Kenya, February 2008.