Black News Channel in ‘The Red Zone’ ready for launch
9th December 2019 · 0 Comments
(NNPA Newswire) — As the historic launch on January 6, 2020, of the Black News Channel (BNC) approaches, officials can count members of Congress among those eagerly anticipating the new platform.
“There are 54 members of the Congressional Black Caucus who want to be a part of this because you don’t see us, and you don’t hear about us [through mainstream news],” Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-Calif.), the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus said.
With a partnership with the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s Black-owned newspapers and media companies, the BNC expects to fast become the top destination for all who want to consume African-American news in print, on television and mobile devices.
An independent network that’s minority-owned and operated, BNC will be the nation’s only provider of 24/7 news programming dedicated to covering the unique perspective of African-American communities.
The channel is the endeavor of the network’s visionaries and co-founders, Chairman J.C. Watts Jr. and CEO Bob Brillante.
“I remember going to West Africa with a bipartisan delegation that included Democrat William Jefferson,” said Watts, the former Republican congressman out of Oklahoma.
“We saw the little huts and where they kept African people at the door of no return to never see Africa again. But we also saw clinics, doctors, the building of hospitals, lawyers, and others.
“And [Jefferson] went home and told his 90-year-old granddad that we saw doctors and lawyers and the build ing of hospitals. And, his 90-year-old granddad said, ‘I knew there was more.’
“That is the mission of the Black News Channel. There’s more to the African-American community than what we see,” Watts stated.
Watts noted that the BNC would be culturally specific.
“Rarely do you hear anyone on any network today talking about Sickle Cell Disease, which is a disease that primarily impacts African Americans,” Watts stated.
Watts also said it was important to acknowledge Charter Communications’ role in the launch of the BNC.
“If someone thinks you can do this without distribution, it’s a pipedream. Charter came along and bought into our vision and understood where we were going,” Watts stated.
“We have over 60 people employed in Tallahassee, and we have bureaus in New York, Atlanta, Washington, and other areas.”
This article originally published in the December 9, 2019 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
