Posted on 07/09/2008 7:13:18 AM PDT by MindBender26
Given Barack Obama's historic run for the Oval Office, African American-themed cable network "TV One" plans to break from its usual entertainment programming to provide extensive coverage of the Democratic National Convention in August.
"Sen. Barack Obama running for president is a huge deal for TV One as it is for the African American community," said Johnathan Rodgers, president and CEO of TV One, a channel in about 40 million homes. "African Americans have fallen in love with his candidacy, his family … we will be covering the democratic convention all the time."
But John McCain shouldn’t expect the same treatment. The network doesn’t plan any coverage of the Republican Convention.
"We are not a news organization," said Rodgers, speaking at the opening session of the semi-annual Television Critics Association press tour in Beverly Hills. "We are a television network designed to celebrate African American achievement. If Hillary was the nominee, we would not be covering this year's Democratic Convention."
"My audience is 93% black," Rodgers added. "I serve my audience."
TV One does have a Republican pundit as part of its convention coverage, comedian Sheryl Underwood. But she’s also voting for Obama.
When critics pressed a panel of TV One’s convention pundits about whether African American republicans will feel slighted, Underwood said, “I speak for all eight of us -- we are not slighted ... McCain is not going to win it, that's why I'm over here, because I want to be with the winners -- and I'm a Bush Republican."
When TV One's coverage panel was asked if their coverage will raise criticisms of Obama, contributor Hill Harper, who said he's been a friend of Obama's for 20 years and serves on his National Finance Comittee, said "the whole purpose of the event is celebration. We're not covering a debate."
But Rodgers added, "It's primarily a celebration but, yes, we'll also be critical when necessary."
As a cable network, TV One is likely exempt from any equal time access rules. Federal Communications Commission rules state that broadcast networks are required to give equal time to presidential candidates.
In 2007, when “Law & Order” actor Fred Thompson entered the race for the Republican nomination, NBC pulled episodes that featured him, but cable network TNT did not pull “L&O” repeats. Still, the matter is also considered a regulation gray area, with the FCC largely untested on the issue.
This is a federally licensed television network, one that is carried by cable, as opposed to broadcast, clearly showing extreme favoritism to one candidate.
They promise to be "critical" of Obama when necessary, (especially if he does not give out Black reparations quickly enough!)
Since it is fine with Mr. Rodgers (Johnathan, not Fred) to use a racial ratio when "serving an audience" and the audiences of ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX/FNC are 80% white, does that mean that 80% of their favorable coverage should be directed to McCain..... who, Mr Rodgers, happens to be White!
Fat chance!
2 Points to Make:
If this is an African-American oriented cable broadcast station, then I see no problem with it. This is why we have free markets.
However, I don’t see any liberals using this as an example of why we need the Fairness Doctrine.
Last time I looked there was no equivalent TV wtwork WKKK. I wonder why? Oh, yeah: that would be racist.
We all know what this is.
Blatant black racism.
Not a whine. Just stating a fact.
It’s a shame that so many Americans will vote for President based on the color of a man’s skin, and not his character.
I messed up my italics.
This is racism, pure and simple. If it is OK for Black Americans to vote for Obama solely because he is Black, then it is OK for White Americans to vote for McCain solely because he is White.
RODGERS, JOHNATHAN
WASHINGTON, DC 20008
TV ONE/EXECUTIVE
FORD, HAROLD JR
VIA HAROLD FORD JR FOR TENNESSEE
04/06/2006 2100.00 26020551919
OBAMA, BARACK
VIA OBAMA FOR AMERICA
09/21/2007 2300.00 27931426610
Free advertising for the dems. Should be prohibited by the FCC. Isn’t OB just half black? So give him 50% coverage.
I understand your point but look at all the other market specific programming there is on cable these days. There are a lot of religious based channels, including one that is solely Catholic history, sermons and church sessions. I’m Jewish but I don’t care that I don’t have a Jewish channel. I was very offended when the media spoke of Joe Lieberman as a Jewish-American. No one I know who is Jewish calls themselves that. Also, we have the spanish language channels, heck even an NBA and NHL channels. BET has been around a long time.
Since this channel’s entire audience is bascially African-American and we know they basically vote Democratic, it seems this is nothing more than preaching to the choir.
We, as Caucasians, are a little more confident in ourselves to not need to do these things.
I am not voting for McCain because he is white, but because he is the better choice. Younger African-Americans don’t show the same adherence to racial approaches their parents do. That is where the ‘content of character’ will truly start to show, when the younger generation takes their place in politics.
Slowly....ever so slowly, the American sheeple begin awakening to the true nature of race relations in this country.
I have been doing some research and it turns out that McCaine is 88% Black...let the networks know
MCCayne be perfect for dat channel yo.
If this is an African-American oriented cable broadcast station, then I see no problem with it. This is why we have free markets. <
However, I don’t see any liberals using this as an example of why we need the Fairness Doctrine.
I think you are correct on both counts. And the liberals, by their silence, actually agree with the conservatives, but they won't show that because it takes away their ability to demagogue.
And the RATS keep pushing for the “Fairness Doctrine” to get have an equal voice. SHEESH!
I’m really growing to despise these people.
That's not a racist sentence, at all.
Johnathan Rodgers, former CBS executive, named president of Discovery Networks
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