The African telecommunications industry, which has seen some revolution over the last few years, will enter the New Year with the launch of the African Broadcast Network.

The television network will be the first free-to-air initiative targeting the continent. The broadcast on stations with existing infrastructure for content that the network will provide. The venture was made possible by the co-operation of broadcasters and media sales houses in Africa, the UK and the US.

The African Barter Company, which is now a subsidiary of African Broadcast Network, facilitated the establishment of the new network, which has the potential deliver, an audience of more than 250million to advertisers. Funding for the initiative came from the Washington-based Modern Africa Growth and Investment Company, a direct equity investment fund investing in sub-Saharan countries exhibiting poor growth prospects.

Commitment for the broadcasts were made by Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe during the launch in London. Africa Barter Company already has an agreement with national television – GTV and Metro TV for the rebroadcast of certain programmes. Broadcasts are set to begin for an hour a day, with the emphasis on quality programming, an aim of achieving 20 percent local content in the first year, growing to 40 percent by the time broadcasts are on air for three hours.

Chief operating officer Mike Fenwick says relationships are being built between African Broadcast Network and content suppliers such as Columbia, Warner Brothers, Hearst and CNN. The venture is expected to end the historical problems for international companies wanting to advertise in Africa. As part of the venture, the company and other development agencies have formed the African Media Foundation to train broadcasters and facilitate the convergence of old and new media on the continent.