Founded 2000 Parent organization Urban Television Network | Availability National Launch date 3 December 2001 | |
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Owner Urban Television Network Corporation Key people Joseph Collins CEO voted in on October 29, 2014 Type of business Broadcast television network | ||
Urban America Television (UATV) (stock symbol URBT) was founded as an over-the-air television broadcast network in the United States. According to the company's website, the network had 70 affiliate stations. UATV claimed to have had a reach of 22 million households in the United States. It was a successor to the earlier American Independent Television network and began broadcasting December 3, 2001 at 8am (CST). Created and developed by Fred Hutton (among others) the early programming featured independent produced programs and old 1930s and 1940s black and white "race movies".
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The company was the only minority-certified television network with the National Minority Supplier Development Council.
As a network, Urban America TV disbanded in 2006; In 2016 CEO Joseph Collins renamed the network to Punch Animation, Inc. stock symbol " URBT " with a focus on developing animated movies for syndication.
Programming
Urban America TV's programming was mainly geared toward the 80 million urban consumers that consist of English-speaking Hispanic, African-American, Asian and other ethnic minorities. The network aired both original programs and, during many hours of the day, old movies. The company also syndicated programs to stations beyond its network reach.
May 1, 2006: UATV Ceases Operations
According to its filings with the SEC, Urban America Television "is experiencing liquidity needs", which severely hampered its ability to continue operations. In addition, "[d]ue to the lack of necessary capital resources, the Company is not able to pay for its satellite space and uplinking services," which stopped affiliates from airing UATV programming. Also, UATV "has laid-off its master control employees while it seek financing." [1]
As a result of this, on May 1, 2006, Urban America Television suspended operations indefinitely, while it attempted to raise enough capital to continue operations. In the words of the company, "[i]f adequate funds are not available on acceptable terms our business future as a viable entity is in severe jeopardy." This statement proved to be prophetic, as adequate funding never came and the network never resumed broadcast operation.
In response to this action, many affiliates were forced to find alternative sources of programming. Competing networks such as America One and 3ABN benefited from the failure of UATV, and stations such as WUHQ-LD in Grand Rapids, Michigan and WONS-LP in Olean, New York, simply swapped affiliations.
Urban American TV was on cable in most of the Greater Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay areas, while it had two over-air stations in Fresno and San Luis Obispo, California. Briefly, UATV had some programming on KPAL-LP in Palmdale, California.
Joseph Collins becomes the new CEO
On October 29, 2014, Punch TV Studios, Inc. founder Joseph Collins was voted in as the Chief Executive Officer of Urban American Network. In his new role, Collins is responsible for leading the development and execution of the Corporation's strategy of offering multi-ethnic media products while creating shareholder value.