Black News Channel
The Black News Channel (BNC) is an American broadcast television news channel targeting the African American demographic. The channel is based in Tallahassee, Florida, and launched on February 10, 2020.[1] The station was co-founded by television executive Bob Brillante and former congressman J.C. Watts; Watts is its inaugural chairman.[1] Spectrum, Charter, Xfinity and Dish will carry the network.
Black News Channel | |
---|---|
Launched | February 10, 2020 |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Broadcast area | United States |
Headquarters | Tallahassee, Florida |
Website | blacknewschannel |
History
J.C. Watts had planned to launch a news network focusing specifically on black American cultural topics since the mid-2000s, and had several rounds of unsuccessful capital-raising in developing the project.[2] In the mid-2010s, a partnership with Florida A&M’s School of Journalism & Graphic Communication was announced, and the station was slated to be housed there; however, the channel eventually launched independently of the school, in a building on Killearn Center Boulevard in Tallahassee.[2] The launch of the network was announced in November 2018 for 2019.[2] The actual launch date was pushed from November 15, 2019 to January 6, 2020[3] before being pushed again to its eventual launch date, February 10, 2020.[4]
One of the chief investors in the network is Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan.[5]
References
- Former lawmaker, cable veteran launch 24-hour Black News Channel. UPI, February 10, 2020.
- Live from Tallahassee, Black News Channel plans national launch next month. Tallahassee Democrat, January 16, 2020.
- Black News Channel will launch broadcast in new year on Jan. 6, 2020. USA Today, November 6, 2019.
- "First 24-hour news channel "by and for" African Americans set to launch during Black History Month". NBC News. Feb 10, 2020. Retrieved Feb 10, 2020.
- Black News Channel looks to shake up US cable TV. BBC, February 10, 2020