NCI

NCI, short for Nouvelle Chaîne Ivoirienne and also rendered in English as New Ivorian Channel, is a private television channel based in Côte d'Ivoire. It emerged during the country's transition away from a long-standing television broadcasting monopoly held by Radiodiffusion-Télévision Ivoirienne (RTI). The channel was one of four private television services authorized after a public call for tenders launched in May 2016 by Côte d'Ivoire's High Authority for Audiovisual Communication. The authorizations formed part of a broader effort to liberalize the national audiovisual sector and introduce greater competition and diversity in television programming. Although the authorizations were issued in 2016, the new channels did not begin operating immediately. Their rollout was linked to the deployment of digital terrestrial television, and the launch of the platform was delayed by technical and organizational difficulties. Digital terrestrial broadcasting began in Abidjan on 8 February 2019. NCI subsequently made its formal debut on 12 December 2019 at 6:45 p.m., opening with the first edition of La Télé d'Ici, presented by Cheikh Yvhane. NCI's proposition centers on locally relevant television programming, including news, discussion and general-interest content. Its launch gave viewers an alternative to RTI's established channels and positioned NCI as a prominent participant in Côte d'Ivoire's newly competitive television market. By November 2021, the channel was described as the most popular television channel in Côte d'Ivoire, and it had the largest number of Facebook users liking an Ivorian local channel page, with approximately 1.5 million likes at that time. These indicators reflected the channel's ability to combine broadcast distribution with a strong social-media presence. The channel distributes its signal nationwide through digital terrestrial television and cable. It is also available by satellite in Africa and through online services to audiences elsewhere in the world, giving it a distribution footprint that extends beyond terrestrial coverage in Côte d'Ivoire. NCI is led by director-general Ange Guéï. In November 2022, it obtained the Ivorian rights to broadcast the 2022 FIFA World Cup from the Togolese media company New World TV. The agreement expanded NCI's role in high-profile sports broadcasting and marked a notable change from earlier World Cup coverage, which had been carried on RTI channels. NCI remains principally a Côte d'Ivoire-focused television brand. Publicly available reference material identifies its launch, distribution channels, programming profile and leadership, but does not establish a separate corporate parent, listed status, founder, ownership structure or founding year for the brand.

NCI was created in the context of Côte d'Ivoire's liberalization of television broadcasting. For more than half a century, RTI had operated the country's television monopoly. In May 2016, the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication launched a call for tenders intended to open the market to private broadcasters. Four private television channels were authorized through this process, including NCI. The authorization did not lead to an immediate launch. The new services depended on the establishment of digital terrestrial television, whose implementation encountered a series of technical and operational delays. Digital terrestrial transmissions finally began in Abidjan on 8 February 2019, creating the distribution infrastructure needed for the new private channels. NCI started broadcasting on 12 December 2019 at 6:45 p.m. Its first identified program was La Télé d'Ici, presented by Cheikh Yvhane. The launch established NCI as one of the first private television alternatives to RTI in the modern Ivorian broadcasting market. Its programming strategy emphasized locally relevant content and helped it build a visible audience across television and social media. By November 2021, NCI was described as the most popular channel in Côte d'Ivoire. It was also reported to have the largest Facebook audience among local Ivorian television channels, with about 1.5 million page likes. The channel's reach was not limited to its terrestrial signal: it became available nationally through digital terrestrial television and cable, by satellite across Africa, and online for viewers around the world. On 5 November 2022, NCI obtained the rights to broadcast the 2022 FIFA World Cup from New World TV, a company based in Togo. This was a significant programming acquisition because World Cup broadcasts in Côte d'Ivoire had previously been carried by RTI channels. The rights agreement strengthened NCI's position as a national broadcaster capable of competing for major premium content. Ange Guéï is identified as NCI's director-general. The available reference material does not provide a verified founding year separate from the 2019 launch, nor does it identify the channel's founder, corporate parent or ownership structure. It also does not establish a detailed history of later programming changes or corporate transactions.

• 2022

  2022 FIFA World Cup rights acquired

  [1]NCI (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org

  NCI obtained the Ivorian broadcast rights for the 2022 FIFA World Cup from New World TV on 5 November.

• 2021

  NCI reaches leading audience position

  [1]NCI (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org

  By November, NCI was described as Côte d'Ivoire's most popular television channel and the local channel with the largest Facebook following.

• 2019

  Digital terrestrial broadcasting begins in Abidjan

  [1]NCI (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org

  Digital terrestrial television transmissions began in Abidjan on 8 February, enabling the infrastructure on which the new private channels depended.

• 2019

  NCI begins broadcasting

  [1]NCI (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org

  NCI launched on 12 December at 6:45 p.m., with the first edition of La Télé d'Ici presented by Cheikh Yvhane.

• 2016

  Private television licenses authorized

  [1]NCI (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org

  Following a call for tenders launched in May, Côte d'Ivoire authorized four private television channels as part of audiovisual-sector liberalization; NCI was among the authorized services.

A locally oriented private television alternative in Côte d'Ivoire, combining national terrestrial reach with cable, satellite and online distribution.

• Television program · 2019

  La Télé d'Ici

  La Télé d'Ici is the program identified as NCI's launch broadcast. Presented by Cheikh Yvhane, it represents the channel's general-interest and locally oriented programming approach and was the first program viewers saw when NCI began broadcasting in December 2019.

• Private television channel · 2019

  NCI television service

  NCI is a national television service distributed through digital terrestrial television and cable in Côte d'Ivoire. The channel is also available by satellite in Africa and online internationally. Its programming includes local news, discussion, general-interest content, entertainment and selected major sports events.

• Sports broadcasting · 2022

  2022 FIFA World Cup coverage

  NCI's 2022 FIFA World Cup coverage followed its acquisition of Ivorian broadcast rights from New World TV. The rights gave the channel access to one of the most prominent international sports events and expanded its premium programming portfolio.

• 2022

  Acquire 2022 FIFA World Cup rightsProduct launch

  Background

  World Cup broadcasts in Côte d'Ivoire had previously been carried on RTI channels. NCI sought to establish a stronger position in premium sports broadcasting.

  Action taken

  On 5 November 2022, NCI obtained the Ivorian rights to the 2022 FIFA World Cup from New World TV.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition gave NCI a major national sports-broadcasting property and marked a shift from the earlier RTI-centered distribution of World Cup coverage. The available reference does not provide audience or financial results.

  Source

1. 1NCI (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2NCI official websitenci.ci