Former Oklahoma Congresssman J.C. Watts along with Comcast Cable will be launching a new black news channel called Black Television News Channel. The channel will be distributed by Comcast.

Former U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts and Comcast to launch black news network

By R. Thomas Umstead
Multichannel News

(April 15, 2008) Washington D.C.-based Black Television News Channel (BTNC) announced Tuesday it has reached a multi-year carriage agreement with Comcast Cable for distribution in several of the MSO’s urban-based systems beginning in 2009.

The network, created by former U.S. congressman J.C. Watts Jr., will launch in 2009 and will provide original news programming with a distinctively African-American perspective, according to a network press release.

The network would be the first cable service to offer 24-hour news targeted to African-Americans. Prior attempts to launch a full-time news channel have failed, mostly due to the high cost of developing news. Neither African-American targeted Black Entertainment Television nor TV One offer daily news shows, instead relying on short news briefs throughout the day.

“Our unique and vast content partnerships with African American newsmakers will provide our viewers live access to the stories and people in whom our viewers have a special interest,” said Watts in a statement. “With this agreement, Comcast continues to demonstrate its commitment to working with independent programmers with diverse points of view.”

Comcast representatives could not be reached for comment at press time.

I was surprised to read this. But with the lack of black representation on Fox News, MSNBC and CNN, well a channel like this is needed. Those channels are dominated by the usual white male point of view. You don’t get any type of daily news shows on BET or TvOne. One of my concerns is will black folks support this channel? And will the channel offer diverse points of views (liberal, moderate and conservative) within the black community?