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| TV One to cover Democratic convention -- but not Republican |
| 2008-07-09 |
| TCA -- 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." If you aren't a news organization then leave the news reporting to them. "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." Then don't broadcast the audio channel. Play some Gangsta Rap instead. 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. TV One will probably find itself on the losing end of this one. I'll bet stepping into the partisan news arena has something to do with it, too. The fact that O is black has nothing to do with it. It's just an excuse. But then again, I don't know how BET or TV One even exist. If I started WET or TV Two to cover whites only stuff and used it as an excuse to cover McCain while ignoring O, I'm fairly sure I'd get skewered in short order. |
| Posted by:gorb |
| #8 Ok, well.....what markets is this "broadcasting powerhouse" in? Because in the last five years I've lived in three places, and never heard of them until now. BET, sure......Starz in Black, yep, even watch it on occasion if there is a movie I want to see.....TV One? Eh, nope, not registering..... |
| Posted by: Swamp Blondie in the Cornfields 2008-07-09 14:03 |
| #7 You see, the rules do not apply, because he is the Obamessiah! |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2008-07-09 11:39 |
| #6 Lovely. "We're not a news organization, we're a racist organization." |
| Posted by: mojo 2008-07-09 11:11 |
| #5 TV One does have a Republican pundit as part of its convention coverage, comedian Sheryl Underwood. But she's also voting for Obama. Yeah, that sounds about right... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2008-07-09 10:20 |
| #4 "My audience is 93% black," |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2008-07-09 08:52 |
| #3 Thanks! |
| Posted by: gorb 2008-07-09 06:16 |
| #2 Done |
| Posted by: lotp 2008-07-09 05:19 |
| #1 Whoops! I submitted this under the wrong category! Sorry. Mods, can you please move this to where you see fit? |
| Posted by: gorb 2008-07-09 01:39 |