Comcast To Launch New Black News Network
BTNC Inks Multi-Year Carriage Deal Beginning In 2009
By R. Thomas Umstead -- Multichannel News, 4/15/2008 6:44:00 AM
Washington D.C.-based Black Television News Channel (BTNC) announced Tuesday it has reached a multi-year carriage agreement with Comcast Cable for distribution in several of the MSO’s urban-based systems beginning in 2009.
The network, created by former U.S. congressman J.C. Watts Jr., will launch in 2009 and will provide original news programming with a distinctively African-American perspective, according to a network press release.
The network would be the first cable service to offer 24-hour news targeted to African-Americans. Prior attempts to launch a full-time news channel have failed, mostly due to the high cost of developing news. Neither African-American targeted Black Entertainment Television nor TV One offer daily news shows, instead relying on short news briefs throughout the day.
“Our unique and vast content partnerships with African American newsmakers will provide our viewers live access to the stories and people in whom our viewers have a special interest,” said Watts in a statement. “With this agreement, Comcast continues to demonstrate its commitment to working with independent programmers with diverse points of view.”
Comcast representatives could not be reached for comment at press time.
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Black news just like American black history is one of the most over looked contribution to our western civilization. I am a advent 24 hr. new watcher, and for years I have sat before my television watching news from people that I feel are rednecks. Main stream news reporting has culturally limited them shelves as to how, how much, and when they will report on events that concern African Americans. I commend the republican Watts for have vision to see that there is a market for 24hrs black news.
Harry Dick - 1/7/2009 10:50:00 AM EST -
Samantha Stevens,
You have a number of all-white networks that have minorities on every once in a while (FoxNews, anyone?) These are the news stations that under-report and downplay issues of police brutality against minorities, over-report when white women and children disappear while ignoring minorities in similar situations, and constantly portray blacks in a negative fashion. I, for one, believe that this is long overdue. Currently, we only get negative stereotypes of blacks in the media. It'll be nice to have a more balanced view of African Americans. I applaud J.C. Watts for taking the proper steps to get this off the ground, and I hope that he does a good job of providing a fair and balanced view of blacks in America.
Michael-Paul Dix - 1/6/2009 3:11:00 AM EST -
Can we start an all white news channel? One that's geared just to white people instead of including ALL people?
Samantha Stevens - 10/24/2008 12:48:00 PM EDT -
Stop being so negative. A balck republican can be as open minded as others. Drop the slave mentality!
Gloria sampson - 10/13/2008 9:43:00 PM EDT -
Kudos to all that worked hard to make this happen!
Lewis - 4/28/2008 1:07:00 PM EDT
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