For Blackdrum TV, a leading culture and lifestyle television channel, it’s celebration time. The channel has rolled out the drums to mark five years of continuous broadcasting on the StarTimes platform, highlighting a major landmark in its journey of narrating original African stories.
Launched on February 1, 2021, Blackdrum TV aims at showcasing African culture, creativity, lifestyle, tourism and live events to audiences across Africa and the Diaspora. Since its debut, the platform has consistently served viewers between the ages of 16 and 65, delivering culturally rich and original programming that resonates across generations.
Over the past five years, Blackdrum TV has delivered more than 100 hours of fresh content weekly, maintained 100 percent broadcast uptime, and achieved full content and schedule compliance – a testament to its operational excellence and commitment to quality. In recognition of this consistency and impact, the channel was elevated to a StarTimes Partner Channel in 2023.
A key highlight of Blackdrum TV’s odyssey is its extensive event coverage. The channel has aired over 500 live and recorded events, featuring celebrations of Black origins from across the world. These include concerts, weddings, comedies, festivals, fashion shows, art exhibitions, and cultural gatherings that reflect the vibrancy and diversity of African experiences.
Beyond events, Blackdrum TV has become a trusted platform for lifestyle storytelling, spotlighting brands and individuals redefining Africa’s creative ecosystem, tourism coverage that showcases both iconic destinations and hidden gems across the continent, and original content production, which remains the channel’s core DNA.
Speaking, the CEO of Blackdrum 360, Dr. Emmanuel Odole, said: “Blackdrum TV is not just a television channel; it is a one-stop platform for reaching the modern African audience. Our focus has always been authentic storytelling combined with impactful audience engagement.”
As part of its anniversary celebration, Blackdrum TV is also reaffirming its commitment to the future of broadcasting. The channel is actively embracing emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and generative video production to enhance content creation, distribution, and audience engagement in the years ahead.
Odole extended heartfelt appreciation to the teams, talents, media agencies, partners, brands and collaborators, saying they have played vital roles in the growth of Blackdrum TV. He added: “Special thanks are also reserved for our loyal viewers and fans whose continued support has driven the channel’s success.”
As it marks five years on air, Blackdrum TV promises an even more exciting future – continuing to showcase African cultures and narratives to the world with boldness, creativity and pride.