New Black Cable Network Announced
By Ronald Roach and Wire Reports
PHILADELPHIA
Comcast Corp. and Radio One Inc. announced earlier this month an agreement to launch a new television network featuring entertainment, news, opinion and sports-related programming targeted primarily at Black viewers from 25 to 54 years of age. The network, which has not yet been named, is expected to premiere in mid-2003.
The network will include a broad mix of original and existing programming designed to appeal to the Black community. Black Americans comprise approximately 13 percent of the U.S. population and in 2001 had aggregate buying power of approximately $572 billion. At $2.7 billion annually, cable television constitutes the largest entertainment expenditure in Black households.
Radio One, which is based in the Washington, D.C., area, is the largest Black-owned radio station company in the United States.
“For more than two decades Radio One has been successful at providing high quality programming to African Americans through the many radio stations we own,” says Alfred C. Liggins, chief executive officer and president of Radio One. “African Americans have experienced explosive population and per-capita income growth and are one of this country’s most attractive consumer demographic groups. We have known for over a decade that this group is woefully underserved in the television space and have long believed that we could leverage our radio experience to become successful in targeting African Americans through television.”
