Comcast to have Zero African American Owned Channels?
by Amani
The merger of Comcast and NBC Universal is causing some waves in the African-American media community. First, let’s get to the facts. Comcast has 250+ channels on its platform distributed to approximately 25 million homes. Currently, there are no channels which are 100% African-American Owned. [Editor’s Note: Comcast currently owns 33% of TV One.] African-American consumers have more than $1.5 trillion of spending power. According to Nielsen Media Research, African Americans watch 40 percent more television than other American demographics and are more likely to have more than one television in their homes.
Now the NCAAOM enters into the picture. The National Coalition of African American Owned Media (NCAAOM) www.NCAAOM.tv is working to ensure that African American Owned Media companies are given the same opportunities as their non-African American counterparts to own, produce compelling content, access distribution, and flourish in today’s integrated media landscape. NCAAOM recently filed formal opposition to the merger with the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and is preparing a formal complaint to the DOJ and FCC. The organization also retained attorney Kevin Martin, former FCC Chairman 2005-2009, to file the complaints and plans to work closely with the FCC, DOJ, members of the House (including Congressional Black Caucus), the Senate, the US Attorney’s Office, community based organizations, and on-line bloggers on this issue.
NCAAOM President and CEO says “We strongly believe the FCC should require Comcast-NBCU to allocate 10 percent of its channel capacity, i.e., a minimum of 25 channels to African American Owned Media companies. A cable operator serving markets in which half of its customers are African American should absolutely ensure that at least 10 percent of its channel capacity is owned by members of the African American community.”
[Editor's Note: In response to the charges, Comcast spokesperson Sena Fitzmaurice cited carriage agreements with indie channels like the Africa Channel and the Black Television News Channel.]
Normally, when African-American organizations protest and deliver shots across the bow via the media, I am personally a bit skeptical. However, with this issue I am on board. The requested requirement of only 25 channels out of 250 to be owned by African Americans seems very small. A greater concern in my opinion is where are the 25 channels that are ready to join Comcast?
We have discussed a few channels on BW 2.0 before, but are there any other quality channels out there. The preference is a good balance of channels ranging on subjects from news, entertainment, sports, business and a lifestyle channel. Is Oprah’s new channel a possibility? It continues to be the time for Black Enterprise or Essence Magazine to continue their strong online presence and develop some sort of television presence. Perhaps with Bob Johnson selling the Charlotte Bobcats, he can re-enter the television landscape and add to the quality programming owned by African Americans.
What does BW 2.0 Nation think? Are there any other companies, publications or individuals who can lead this fight to add quality programming to cable television? Should Comcast/NBCU be required to have African American Owned Channels?
Let us know in the comments section!
Category: Diversity, Featured | Tags: Africa Channel, Black Television News Channel, comcast, FCC, NBC Universal, NCAAOM, television, TV OneDid you like this article? Share It!
Wm_Tucker says:
Uh… Comcast is the majority owner of TVOne.
There are other reasons to be against this merger. IMO, cable operators should be regulated as telecoms, e.g.; Verizon. Their ability to control network access and content should be drastically limited.
Nishland says:
I would prefer the urge to consider versus a requirement. Consideration will help (hopefully) encourage quality programming rather than lackluster programming for the sake of meeting requirements. To the author's point…are there at 25 focused channels that can be offered up right away should this come to pass? Are they sustainable?
Juju says:
This is a lost cause — quality video production is uber expensive. 25 black channels would be extreme….between the black targeted programming being targeted by major networks, black a ton of targeted cable programming (ala VH1 'black night', Comedy Central, etc), BET, BET Hip Hop, BET Jazz, Centric, VH1 Soul, and Oprah's new network….there probably wouldnt be enough interest to generate enough of an audience to keep 25 distinct black targeted channels afloat. It would be just another chance for peeps to complain that the station isnt good and should close its doors (we love to spit and fuss for inclusion but tear down and throw stones of jealousy that it wasnt us who did it ). Now if 25 new channels who happened to be minority owned responded to specific needed niche programming (besides just black)…they may have a chance…but its already too many channels out there already.
James Harris says:
NCAAOM has point and my be able to build a case, but there are thousands of quality “Black” channels on YouTube. What we should be more worried about is Net Neutrality – and Comcast and their friends pushing Black content into the ghetto of the Internet.
Finally, after 40 years of wanting to have a voice in media, we find our selves in the era of YouTube and we decide to pick a fight over cable channel access? Don't they see that Comcast bought NBC not for the broadcast channel but for Hulu? Comcast's growth is in broadband (Internet access) not cable TV. NCAAOM is simply falling for the “O-ke-doke.”
Check this: http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2008/09/comcas...
And remember that we are traditionally 20 year late to the party when media ownership is concerned. We need to stand up and lead. What percentage of YouTube content is produced by people of color? Lets guess at LOTS. What percentage to the content is consumed by people of color? You know the answer to this as well.
Also remember that Comcast is simply an American business doing what it can to stay profit in troubling time. YouTube is worldwide and backed by Google, which does not seem to have an issue generating tons of cash.
I say we (Black media companies) focus on controlling 10% of YouTub, Vimeo, etc., traffic globally. Let take over iTunes podcast business. Can we produce the most video centered iPhone apps? Lets also support sites like Dimewars and other Black controlled sites that have the potential to become the next Comcast – Is there any Black teen that does not know what WSHH is? Do any of those teens pay a Comcast bill?
Amani says:
@Nishland – Thanks for the comment. I think you could have a point about consideration instead of requiring. But as you siad, I don't think we are at the point where we have 25 channels waiting on the doorstep.
@Juju- I like the point about niche programming. Which niche's come to mind for you?
@James Harris — Thanks for the in depth comments. Controlling the YouTube's and vimeo's is an interesting perspective. How can we benefit from controlling the podcast business on itunes and other sites? And good point about the Comcast merger being about Hulu. What if Hulu starts to charge and the site fades away? What then?
carol watson says:
It is great to have choice and a voice but the advertising budgets for targeting a black consumer specifically are not large enough or growing enough to support such a consideration or requirement in cable networks.
Antonio Toney M. Hawthorne says:
You have to keep in mind, Cable networks are still a gold mine for many media conglomerates. Its not just ad revenue but subscription costs paid out by cable companies to the cable networks. If those 10-20 some odd channels combined can also command a flat $2-4/month per subscriber your talking about almost a half billion dollars a year alone in subscriber revenues or between $30-100 million for each network a year on top of any ad revenue and other deals. Its not about only commanding space but making sure the programming is valued appropriately as well. Also that revenue is only from company, it could be more or less if you talking about other cable/telco/satellite companies.
Amani says:
Very good point about the cable networks being gold mines specifically with regard to the subscription costs. A half billion dollars is not to be taken lightly. But as you said (and others who have commented), we have to be sure the programming is valued as well. Seems to be the recurring issue here.
Thanks for the comment.
Wm_Tucker says:
The notion of an 100% African-American-owned cable TV network is folly. Yet it is true Comcast currently carries no channels whose ownership is 51% or more African-American. I don't believe they carry a network where a majority interest is held by Af-Ams. I’m surprised and disappointed that there’s been so little commentary on BW 2.0 directed at the real dilemma posed by Comcast’s purchase of NBC-Universal — that is, the enabling of a wholly anti-consumer super-monopoly.
The NCAAOM can forget about the FCC imposing some type of set-aside rule against Comcast, especially given the Supreme Court’s recent reversal of the agency’s punitive action against the cable network operator (another issue whiffed on by BW 2.0 commentators). And there’s the matter of a conspicuous lack of Af-Am-owned TV networks because of the economics involved. Who would the NCAAOM be fighting on behalf of, anyway?
A sound alternative strategy might be for the NCAAOM to oppose the merger on anti-trust grounds. The existing regulations on market penetration and content ownership can serve as the basis for Comcast-NBCU’s divestiture of channels as a condition for approving the merger. A provision could be included whereby a financial incentive is provided to the buyers of divested channels whose groups include Af-Am individuals or Af-Am controlled investment firms with voting stock.
A 2nd,, more expedient strategy would involve the NCAAOM pushing for an expansion of ‘must-carry’ rules to include both local LPTV and radio stations. With the costs of creating, then distributing a TV network by way of cable/DBS being so prohibitive, a terrestrial network of low-power stations is more within the financial means of aspiring Af-Am broadcasters & investors. The ’must-carry’ rules would then exempt such networks from carriage fees charged by cable network operators such as Comcast, while providing the network with an equivalent reach — in terms of homes passed.
As an addendum, the recent Supreme Court decision also doesn’t bode well for video aggregator portals, like YouTube and Vimeo. A network operator, like Comcast, can directly influence which web sites its broadband subscribers visit — which is partially the reason why Comcast created Xfinity. Those of us who are genuinely concerned about Af-Am ownership of television, radio, and telecom networks should focus on how control of physical infrastructure dictates every thing else.
Viewing Power & Alternative Channels « Wac4116's Blog says:
[...] the number of black owned channels are dwindling and channels that cater to the black audience are quickly dying out, there are still a few left with some pull. I have multiple problems with BET but that is for [...]
OHGOOOE Marc says:
(BOOK OF OUM WAY) This Book Will Teach You
How to Achieve the Best Possibility and many things about our World and Universe. “Click or Copy and Paste The Link Below” http://oumway.com/book_of_oum_way/book_of_oum_w...
prom gowns says:
Excellent information here. This interesting post made me smile.
prom dresses says:
Nice article.I cant believe I missed this blog for so long. Its just great stuff all round.I cant wait to read what you've got next. I love everything that youre saying and want more, more, MORE! Keep this up, man! Its just too good.