It is suspicious that we don't know who the investors are.
"The question is, could it work on a regular basis?" asks Jurkowitz.
I don't see why it couldn't, unless Jurkowitz is trying to say that without white viewership the channel wouldn't fly.
Anonymous
· 1 year ago
BET News used to work on a regular basis. That is before Bob Johnson sold out to Viacom.
Christopher Chambers
· 1 year ago
Nice for us all to agree for a change. Clear Channel is not a red flag, it's a supernova. Not only for it's bizarre status-quo/rightwing bent, but also for it's plain vanilla-zation of radio, TV properties down to bland/stupid least common denominator crap(but hey, it's not salacious, ignorant least common denominator crap like BET), and the proliferation of billboards across the south and midwest.
No, you will not see real news. You will see Watts and Steele, and stories on patriotic Negro troops marching around. The flip side: less Rev. Al, Dyson, Soulja Boy & Lil Wayne, Chad Johnson, Jay-Z, Pacman Jones, Miss Rap Supreme contests, teenagers toting guns to the boys room in the highschool. So hey, you gotta take the good with the bad...
BPM
· 1 year ago
I think Obama Should make Michelle Bernard or Keith Boykins the White House Press Secretary in his first administration. I know others like to crush on Maddow but I don't trust her, especially watching her deliberately poor performance on the couch with Ferraro on the Today show and afterwards her inability to just say flat out that Ferraro was full of BS with those arguments against Obama. I would most like to see either Bernard or Boykins as White House Press Secretary. I know this is off topic but I had wanted to say it for awhile.
Ronnie B
· 1 year ago
I don't know. As conservatives go, I respect J.C. Watts. I would disagree with him 50% of the time, but I respect him for refusing to accept a token Republican role in Congress. I also respect him for maintaining contact with and making guest appearances on various Black radio shows -- where the audiences were hardly Republican.
Further, I think that Watts is someone who sees the writing on the wall in terms of Black political and business leadership. He sees that Obama is poised to be president. He sees that the Jesse Lee Petersons and the Mychal Massies have been exposed as Republican minstrels. And he also sees that neither political party has served Black viewers and consumers very well.
That said, Watts is still a business man and is still a Republican. And if it means that funding comes from some of the same entities that funded conservative news, he'd probably look in that direction.
But if he operates a format that's moderate and balanced, and is committed to rejecting the mainstream media's Black stereotypes, I think he might have a winner. But we shall see.
heartsandflowers
· 1 year ago
Well I believe a group of individuals can target him for proper inclusion so that this network will be fair and balanced and include more aspects of the Black community - not just in the US - but around the world. Oprah's OWN also launches in 2009.
SquarePeg
· 1 year ago
JC Watts is only the front man to serve up a right wing agenda intended to misdirect and distract African Americans from seeing what they are doing behind the curtain.
The right-wing conservatives have been trying to a least a decade to chip away at the black voting bloc to try and persuade some of us to vote Republican, even if it is against our own self-interest, by appealing to the selfishness of the me, me, me that is so prevalent in the Republican Party.
This is the same Republican Party that did all it could to disenfranchise Blacks at every turn by denying them any chance at opportunities, yet when they accomplish these goals IN SPITE OF these people, they are then welcomed to join the Republican Party, hypocrites all.
If this is the kind of network this will be, count me out. Black folks are not as gullible as some seem to think, as we have had to discern who had our best interest at heart and who was the lesser of the two evils ever since we have been in this country, and I would dare say, we will be able to recognize what this is pretty quickly.
Ronnie B
· 1 year ago
JC Watts is only the front man to serve up a right wing agenda intended to misdirect and distract African Americans from seeing what they are doing behind the curtain.
squarepeg,
That's precisely the reason that Watts left Congress. The Republicans wanted him to be a front man; a token; window dressing. And Watts wasn't having it.
Denise
· 1 year ago
With all due respect, I say let the black viewing audience decide if this idea viable.
If BTNC turns out to be a "Fox News for da 'Hood" remix AND viewers find the content objectionable, it won't stay on the air.
Non Delusional
· 1 year ago
Why do all the voices you tout come from the bastions of left wing orthodoxy? What about Tony Brown? He's more informed than three quarters of the Negroes you mentioned.
Black people need to get off the left wing plantation and start becoming more independent minded. Melissa Harris-Lacewell?? Give me a break?
How about some black folk who aren't trying to media pimp themselves under the B.S. title of "public intellectual." When will negroes learn.
Ronnie B
· 1 year ago
The term "bastion of left wing orthodoxy" is about as Republican-white-guy as one can get. Yet you criticize people for not being independent-minded.
Funny.
Pamela
· 1 year ago
I think it would be wonderful to have a network where black conservatives and liberals, republicans and democrats, domestic and international discussed the news of the day that affects us and to a greater extent the world given that we do make up a large block of the population.
Black people are not the same everywhere, we are rich, we are struggling, we come from nuclear families, we come from single part homes or grow through extended family environments. We are business people, athletes, entertainers, doctors, lawyers, farmers, shift workers, service professionals. To just focus on one point of view would be a disservice to our races and the others that tune in.
So while I respect the poster who wrote:
The right-wing conservatives have been trying to a least a decade to chip away at the black voting bloc to try and persuade some of us to vote Republican, even if it is against our own self-interest, by appealing to the selfishness of the me, me, me that is so prevalent in the Republican Party.
I think having a channel where black people on both sides discuss their positions will get us past accepting such absolutes for our race. I am not defined by Al Sharpton or Michael Steele but I think both arguments should be heard.
And if they could get Condi in a debate with Tubbs-Jones, I would love it.
Ronnie B
· 1 year ago
With all due respect, I say let the black viewing audience decide if this idea viable.
If BTNC turns out to be a "Fox News for da 'Hood" remix AND viewers find the content objectionable, it won't stay on the air.
I agree. Atlanta and Chicago are excellent markets for informative, inclusive and positive television programming by and for Black people. If it starts to sell Black buffoonery, coonery or thuggery, it won't last.
Ms.Martin
· 1 year ago
Bring it on.
SquarePeg
· 1 year ago
ronnie b,
J.C. Watts WAS the front man for the Republican Party while he was in Congress. When he was passed over for some of the plume appointments to committees he desired only then did this Republican sycophant realize that his desire to be different from the other Negroes, that he was the one being played.
That is why he decided not to run again and used that old tired and sorry excuse he wanted to spend moe time with his family--puleeeze.
His own father said being a Black Republican is like the chicken liking Colonel Sanders.
Now after all he has been through with his brother republicans, lets see if he has learned any true and hard lessions from that I am sure was an eye opening experience dealing with the racists, con artists, greedy corporatists, moral-less family values hypocrites, and the assorted crew of corrupt, leeches that make up the Republican party.
Anonymous
· 1 year ago
Its a service that is long over due and needed since Bob 'booty shaking' Johnson axed the news on BET, which was not the highest caliber show, but, better than the nothing that is here now. That said, I doubt if it would be picked up by most cable outlets, other than ones with large African Americans in the viewing area, which means, many of us who live in parts of the country with a small AA population would not see it, like mine where there is no TV ONE and my calls to the cable company, no demand for it. But, in the end, I say give it a try, if the numbers are low due to a right win freak show, it will be dropped, if its fair and shows both sides, it might have a chance to survive, after all Hispanics and Asians have their own news that thrive.
Chica Dificil
· 1 year ago
Glad Jack & Jill is on the case & monitoring the haps on the situation. Props! We gotta be on gaurd from onslaught of conservative right wing propaganda written under the guise of journalism.
GoldenAh
· 1 year ago
Hopefully, they have a website that broadcasts their programming as well. I don't own a TV.
Ms.Martin
· 1 year ago
goldenah
They have a small startup website running now.
D.
· 1 year ago
Too conservative, and most blacks don't watch it.
Too liberal, and it's not credible.
Guess we'll see.
Michael Davis-Dallas Progress
· 1 year ago
I'm slightly skeptical, but can it be any worse than BET?
The Christian Progressive Libe
· 1 year ago
Remember what J.C. Watts, Sr., said about his own son:
"A Vote For A Republican, is like a Chicken Voting for Colonel Sanders."
If Watts, Sr. said that about his own son (Watts, Jr.), we'd better get more skeptical about this arrangement than Skeptical Brotha.
I'm agreeing with SquarePeg: he's the perfect front man to sell Reich Wing Propaganda with a Black Face, and if Harold Ford doesn't have a place in that lineup, he'll force one.
I wish I could say he couldn't be worse than Bob Johnson, but look what Bob Johnson did, and he's supposedly a Democrat.
The Christian Progressive Libe
· 1 year ago
SquarePeg:
When Tom DeLay became Majority Whip, that's when Watts split the scene.
DeLay pretty much told him he'd be nothing more than water carrier for the ReThugs. The Bugman was the one denying Watts those plum committee assignments that had been promised to him by Hastert and others for fronting for the GOP.
I personally lost respect for Watts when the Mark Foley Pedophile Page Scandal broke, and this clown was on Fox Network actually trying to defend his ass preying upon teenage pages.
rikyrah
· 1 year ago
non delusional,
I tape Tony Brown EVERY WEEK. Sorry I didn't include him on my list, but he'd be there too. If I could see Tony Brown on a regular basis, I would be happy.
Phil Davis
· 1 year ago
I think we should all keep blogging.
Big money will never support anything but a big money agenda.
Don't expect much.
Blog on Brothers and sisters. Blog on.
Nita
· 1 year ago
we had a black CNN. it was sold out for booty music because booty music makes more money than news, apparently.
i'm WAY more concerned about soft-news and no-news than I am about conservative viewpoints.
SquarePeg
· 1 year ago
Harold Ford. A true, true sell-out. When you try to garner votes from white folks by trying to change your grandma to a white woman, I mean what more needs to be said about,
Harold Ford.
markg8
· 1 year ago
I respect Watts' accomplishments as a college football player. As a politician or a commentator? Nah.
Anonymous
· 1 year ago
Look ! What has JC ever done to merit the trust of most Black folk ?
He was in league with GOP program lock step . Hell, even so called Reagan Democrats are tired of GOP foolishness .
I don't trust JC to do anything that serves the interest of non-wealthy community oriented Black folk .
g-e-m2001
· 1 year ago
JC Watts will be on my podcast tonight at 8:00PM CST (May 29, 2008)
You can listen live at blogtalkradio.com/blackwomen.
The show is called the Black Women's ROundtable we MAAAAY have someone from the DNCC on as well to talk abotu the blogging controversy.
All Comments
"The question is, could it work on a regular basis?" asks Jurkowitz.
I don't see why it couldn't, unless Jurkowitz is trying to say that without white viewership the channel wouldn't fly.
No, you will not see real news. You will see Watts and Steele, and stories on patriotic Negro troops marching around.
The flip side: less Rev. Al, Dyson, Soulja Boy & Lil Wayne, Chad Johnson, Jay-Z, Pacman Jones, Miss Rap Supreme contests, teenagers toting guns to the boys room in the highschool. So hey, you gotta take the good with the bad...
Further, I think that Watts is someone who sees the writing on the wall in terms of Black political and business leadership. He sees that Obama is poised to be president. He sees that the Jesse Lee Petersons and the Mychal Massies have been exposed as Republican minstrels. And he also sees that neither political party has served Black viewers and consumers very well.
That said, Watts is still a business man and is still a Republican. And if it means that funding comes from some of the same entities that funded conservative news, he'd probably look in that direction.
But if he operates a format that's moderate and balanced, and is committed to rejecting the mainstream media's Black stereotypes, I think he might have a winner. But we shall see.
The right-wing conservatives have been trying to a least a decade to chip away at the black voting bloc to try and persuade some of us to vote Republican, even if it is against our own self-interest, by appealing to the selfishness of the me, me, me that is so prevalent in the Republican Party.
This is the same Republican Party that did all it could to disenfranchise Blacks at every turn by denying them any chance at opportunities, yet when they accomplish these goals IN SPITE OF
these people, they are then welcomed to join the Republican Party, hypocrites all.
If this is the kind of network this will be, count me out. Black folks are not as gullible as some seem to think, as we have had to discern who had our best interest at heart and who was the lesser of the two evils ever since we have been in this country, and I would dare say, we will be able to recognize what this is pretty quickly.
squarepeg,
That's precisely the reason that Watts left Congress. The Republicans wanted him to be a front man; a token; window dressing. And Watts wasn't having it.
If BTNC turns out to be a "Fox News for da 'Hood" remix AND viewers find the content objectionable, it won't stay on the air.
Black people need to get off the left wing plantation and start becoming more independent minded. Melissa Harris-Lacewell?? Give me a break?
How about some black folk who aren't trying to media pimp themselves under the B.S. title of "public intellectual." When will negroes learn.
Funny.
Black people are not the same everywhere, we are rich, we are struggling, we come from nuclear families, we come from single part homes or grow through extended family environments. We are business people, athletes, entertainers, doctors, lawyers, farmers, shift workers, service professionals. To just focus on one point of view would be a disservice to our races and the others that tune in.
So while I respect the poster who wrote:
The right-wing conservatives have been trying to a least a decade to chip away at the black voting bloc to try and persuade some of us to vote Republican, even if it is against our own self-interest, by appealing to the selfishness of the me, me, me that is so prevalent in the Republican Party.
I think having a channel where black people on both sides discuss their positions will get us past accepting such absolutes for our race. I am not defined by Al Sharpton or Michael Steele but I think both arguments should be heard.
And if they could get Condi in a debate with Tubbs-Jones, I would love it.
If BTNC turns out to be a "Fox News for da 'Hood" remix AND viewers find the content objectionable, it won't stay on the air.
I agree. Atlanta and Chicago are excellent markets for informative, inclusive and positive television programming by and for Black people. If it starts to sell Black buffoonery, coonery or thuggery, it won't last.
J.C. Watts WAS the front man for the Republican Party while he was in Congress. When he was passed over for some of the plume appointments to committees he desired only then did this Republican sycophant realize that his desire to be different from the other Negroes, that he was the one being played.
That is why he decided not to run again and used that old tired and sorry excuse he wanted to spend moe time with his family--puleeeze.
His own father said being a Black Republican is like the chicken liking Colonel Sanders.
Now after all he has been through with his brother republicans, lets see if he has learned any true and hard lessions from that I am sure was an eye opening experience dealing with the racists, con artists, greedy corporatists, moral-less family values hypocrites, and the assorted crew of corrupt, leeches that make up the Republican party.
They have a small startup website running now.
Too liberal, and it's not credible.
Guess we'll see.
"A Vote For A Republican, is like a Chicken Voting for Colonel Sanders."
If Watts, Sr. said that about his own son (Watts, Jr.), we'd better get more skeptical about this arrangement than Skeptical Brotha.
I'm agreeing with SquarePeg: he's the perfect front man to sell Reich Wing Propaganda with a Black Face, and if Harold Ford doesn't have a place in that lineup, he'll force one.
I wish I could say he couldn't be worse than Bob Johnson, but look what Bob Johnson did, and he's supposedly a Democrat.
When Tom DeLay became Majority Whip, that's when Watts split the scene.
DeLay pretty much told him he'd be nothing more than water carrier for the ReThugs. The Bugman was the one denying Watts those plum committee assignments that had been promised to him by Hastert and others for fronting for the GOP.
I personally lost respect for Watts when the Mark Foley Pedophile Page Scandal broke, and this clown was on Fox Network actually trying to defend his ass preying upon teenage pages.
I tape Tony Brown EVERY WEEK. Sorry I didn't include him on my list, but he'd be there too. If I could see Tony Brown on a regular basis, I would be happy.
Big money will never support anything but a big money agenda.
Don't expect much.
Blog on Brothers and sisters. Blog on.
i'm WAY more concerned about soft-news and no-news than I am about conservative viewpoints.
Harold Ford.
He was in league with GOP program lock step . Hell, even so called Reagan Democrats are tired of GOP foolishness .
I don't trust JC to do anything that serves the interest of non-wealthy community oriented Black folk .
You can listen live at blogtalkradio.com/blackwomen.
The show is called the Black Women's ROundtable we MAAAAY have someone from the DNCC on as well to talk abotu the blogging controversy.