The Black News Channel is a first of its kind outreach to the African-American public in the US with a very clear message. This is news from you from people like you. The network represents itself as the only black owned TV network on cable TV.
Why Would There Be A Black News Channel?
The idea behind the Black News Channel is that black issues will be front and center at all times. While it is easy for someone from outside of the black community to say “well what makes something black news?” Here is a simple example. At the moment the story of the day is Coronavirus. Typically there is lots of coverage in health reporting about Cancer, HIV, Diabetes and ADHD or even allergies. But how often do you hear someone on Good Morning America talk about Sickle cell anemia? Is it because the disease affects 8-10 percent of African Americans but far less in the rest of the population? But on the other hand if a network is geared directly at that population you could and should expect it to be more of a topic of discussion.
In the BNC about section it describes mainstream news as reporting on stories with a broad audience in mind. And this makes good sense. The question is, are African American views truly under represented? Maybe. Have you noticed how and when networks like CNN address race? It’s when something terrible happens. Some sort of controversy over a shooting, the mass shooting at a church, a clan march at the University of Virginia. But once the issue is not at the top of the trending list all of the town meetings stop and it’s on the latest hot story. On the other hand, If Black News Channel which says it aims to facilitate more informed national conversation about the challenges of Urban Communities does so effectively, everybody might have a chance to hear about a problem at the roots level instead of when it gets to be the loudest issue in the room.
What is happening these days in Flint Michigan? What is happening really happening in these cities that are sometimes described more like they are in Syria than in the United States?
The Black News Channel may well be the answer to those kinds of questions.
Where Can I Find Black News Channel?
Traditional Services who will carry BNC include: Spectrum, Xfinity X1 and Dish.
Streaming Options will include Sling TV, Vizio Smart TVs, Xumo and The Roku Channel.
Image taken from Screenshot of BNC Website.
