Trace


Trace re-enters UK market with channel grab

African media group Trace has acquired UK music channels Chart Show TV, Chart Show Hits, Starz TV and The Vault from Sony Pictures Television (SPT), marking its return to the UK market. Under the deal, the media group has acquired four Sky channel electronic program guide (EPG) slots, as well as associated brand assets. Trace […]

MTG sells Trace stake at €40 million valuation

MTG has agreed to sell its 75% stake in youth broadcaster Trace in a deal that values 100% of the business at an enterprise value of €40 million (approximately SEK 392 million). MTG agreed to sell its majority stake in the media group to TPG Growth, a division of investment firm TPG that has more […]

Trace launches distribution arm

Afro-music and entertainment channels group Trace has launched a distribution division, which a former France Télévisions and Lagadère Studios exec will lead. Betty Sulty-Johnson is to run Trace Content Distribution (TCD) and is headed to MIPCOM to debut the unit. TCD has a catalogue of English- and French-language shows, including premium Afro-urban movies, concert shows, […]

Trace forms US venture with investor backing

Youth-focused channels group Trace has partnered with a group of investors including Wyclef Jean to launch a joint venture in the US. Trace USA will be majority owned by African-American enterpreneurs, with media veteran John Pasmore leading the venture. The shareholders include rapper Jean, clothing line Fubu co-founder J Alexander Martin, JKD Entertainment’s Karlie Lewis […]

Trace buys African SVOD service

Trace has acquired African subscription video-on-demand service Buni.tv as it gears up to launch its own Trace Play SVOD service in Africa later this year. Buni.tv CEO Marie Lora-Mungai confirmed the deal in a Facebook post, describing Trace as an “ideal” and “forward-thinking” partner. “Trace and Buni.tv share the same strategic vision in that we […]

Trace to launch international SVOD service in June

Youth-oriented media group Trace will is due to launch Trace Play, a new international subscription video-on-demand service, beginning this June. The millennial-focused service will launch first in France, Switzerland, Belgium, and other French-speaking territories in the Carribean, and then launch in the UK and US at the same time between two weeks to a month […]

Trace signs deal with US OTT service

Trace is due to launch five thematic channels on US over-the-top service YipTV early next year. The carriage deal is for celebrity sport channel Trace Sport Stars, and four music channels – Trace Gospel, Trace Tropical, Trace Toca and Trace Africa. The Trace Gospel agreement marks the channel’s first launch in the US, less than […]

Trace cuts ‘sportainment’ production deal

MTG-owned channel operator Trace has inked a deal with sport and lifestyle prodco Inverleigh, which will make a raft of programming for its Trace Sports Stars channel. Trace and Inverleigh have been working together on programming for the sports and lifestyle channel Trace Sports Stars, resulting the creation of shows and formats including National Icons […]

Content companies vie to be Best Distributor

Five content sales companies have been shortlisted for the Best Content Distributor category in the first-ever Content Innovation Awards, organised by TBI and sister brand Digital TV Europe. Content Media, Endemol Shine International, Global Agency, ITV Studios Global Entertainment and TCB Media Rights will battle it out for the award, which will be given at […]

Trace names African COO

Sports and music pay TV channels provider Trace has named a COO for its African operations. Victor Bannerman-Chedid will work alongside Trace’s existing management in a new role team while expanding its operations in African operations. He joins from mobile phone operator Airtel, where he was most recently acting marketing director, Airtel Zambia. He has […]