Black Family Channel: Big Loss
The demise of Black Family Channel may not have been big news at the recent Cable Show in Sin City or, for that matter, in a cable universe that has more than 500 channels representing a wide range of genres and interests.
But when you consider that it was one of only three networks that prominently featured African-American images, its loss seems that much greater to a very important and financially influential segment of cable’s audience.
Nearly one-quarter of all cable revenue comes from African-American homes, according to BET, and yet less than 1% of the industry’s video channels target that audience. And that was before 16 million-subscriber BFC — after failing to gain enough carriage deals and licensing-fee revenue to stay afloat — recently decided to move its content from linear cable to the Web.
Some may counter by saying that African-American performers are so prevalent on virtually all cable and broadcast networks that there isn’t much of a need for one network, much less three networks, that offers a preponderance of such images.
When you wake up in the morning and see Robin Roberts co-hosting ABC’s Good Morning America or settle into bed and watch actor D.B. Woodside play our president on 24, some may ask why is it necessary to have a network like BFC — which aired shows with predominantly black casts like comedy/variety series Partners in Crime — to see black faces on TV?
But BFC and other African-American-targeted networks will be essential as long as the likes of Don Imus, Michael Richards, Opie and Anthony and hard-core rap artists easily find humor, sport or profit by using demeaning words and images to degrade people of color in general and minority women in particular.
I won’t recount the ill-warranted behavior and undignified language from all of the aforementioned entertainers (they’ve received enough press as it is), but their actions illustrate the need for more vehicles that celebrate and highlight people of color in different lights — and not just as stereotypical criminals, gang-bangers and sex objects often depicted in standup comic routines, early morning shock-radio shows or music videos.
Such demeaning words and images often fall innocently on the ears of impressionable young boys and especially girls, creating an aura of self-doubt and powerlessness as they enter adulthood.
Say what you want about BFC’s programming quality or on-air star power, but BFC did bring positive images of young people of color to homes all across the country through such shows as inspiring competition series Thou Dollar Spelling Bee, in which young minority boys and girls participated in a competition using their brains and not their athletic prowess or good looks.
But now BFC will only exist in cyberspace. And its voice in a very noisy cable-channel marketplace won’t be replaced as easily as its channel slot has been on numerous cable networks.
Benteractive commented:
One person's loss is another's gain. Its simple economics: supply and demand did not balance each other. BFC was a great attempt at creating a closed environment. The BET model though not perfect included the masses. More Non African Americans watch BET than their targeted audience. BFC had the numbers but did not sell enough ad space to survive the fall. It was a simple task. Fire the staff and scale back to a skeleton crew and revamp the sales cut the expenses and remodel the company. How can you go out of business with 16 million homes? BET can breathe easier for now until the new BFC (Benteractive is launched)...
67420 commented:
rayan _75_75@hotmail.com
Benteractive commented:
This is exactly why we are launching our platform. The fact that BFC had 16 million subscribers and closed their doors is disgusting. Even with only 16 million dollars in advertising revenue based on 1 dollar per user the end result is that with some inginuity and direction they could simply have stayed afloat. If their cable consumers only paid them a dime and they were only able to get 1.20 per sub per year they should have made it. Fire some directors and make everyone work on commission. These companies whether black or white have to learn to establish a market and hire sales men to sell their product. Benteractive is stepping in where BFC stopped of and we will make their 16 million subs worth our while.
Fbhome1 commented:
I fill sense of REAL loss. We need our own channels to control our own image. we don't need to combine with anyone. other minority groups has as many as 10 channels or more aimed at them. Our culture influences the world we need to control it.
LegalBro commented:
There are a number of positive Black themed websites out there. BlackTVOnline.com is one such site, and they've been around for awhile.
DL from VA commented:
I didn't realize the channel was gone until I just paid my cable bill. Yes, some of the production was not up to par. But BET wasn't MTV when it started either. It was refreshing to see something other than "grills", booties and big cars. BET has sold out in my opinion. The programming primarily targets 18-24 year olds and I don't watch it and most of my friends with children don't let their kids watch it.
Anyway, hated to see BFC go. Note: I especially liked the reruns of the Bullwinkle Show, it wasn't anywhere else on the dial.
Ms. Jule Blake commented:
I feel it is a Big Loss, because I really enjoyed the Black Family Channel. I couldn't understand what had happen, I kept tuning in at different time thinking maybe I had missed it, until I got on my computer tonight and typed it in.
Maybe if enough of us protest, we can bring it back. I really don't like everything that's commming on the Gospel Channel.
I is sad, what's up with this Rock Gospel. I think they have taken it a bit to far. Thank you!
R.V. commented:
From a recent "Thousand Dollar Bee" before BFC shut down:
Invest -- E-V-I-S-_
Money -- M-O-N-E
Credit -- C-E-R-D-I-T
Yeah, real inspiring to see kids misspelling words like that on television. It doesn't matter that they were all black; it matters that the shows like "Thousand Dollar Bee" had amateurish production values and very uninspiring people. It would have been the same if they were any other race. Bad programming doesn't last long in the world, regardless of race.
EL CIRCUITO TV commented:
I am very proud to announce EL CIRCUITO TV will be airing on the ITVI network which contains a balance of multicultural entertainment. We need to come together and empower ourselves to do something about the situation. EL CIRCUITO is a rapidly growing Latino American show about People, Music & Life. You can also catch it on the CoLours network on DISH TV, as well as the MNN network in NYC. www.dacircuit.com
Mike commented:
The ITVI network launched via satellite on May 1st. ITVI is multicultural entertainment 24/4. Latino American, Asian American, Urban and Mainstream programming. There is a "new urban" demographic of racially and ethnically mixed households. ITVI is offering it's content to ALL broadcasters, cable systems. Clips can be seen at www.itvi.com ITVI had a booth at the CABLE SHOW.....Today the MSN home page Headline: US minority population exceeds 100 MILLION. These are the potential viewers of ITVI programming