African-American TV Channel Won't Cover GOP Convention

NEW YORK — TV One, the cable network aimed at African-American viewers, will cover Barack Obama's nominating convention but is ignoring John McCain's.

The network is telecasting live, prime-time coverage of the Democratic convention in Denver Aug. 25-28, followed by "TV One Live: DNC Afterparty," with political and social commentary from panelists. TV One is available in 43.7 million households, or about 40 percent of the nation's TV homes.

Obama's nomination as the first black to be a major party presidential nominee is an historic event for African-Americans, so it's important for the network to be there, said Johnathan Rodgers, the network's president and CEO.

"While viewers can get coverage of the convention from any number of networks, we plan to cover the convention from a uniquely African American perspective," he said.

The network has no plans to cover the Republican convention.

"We are not a news organization," Rodgers said. "We are a television network that is designed to celebrate African-American achievement. That is why we are covering this convention. If Hillary (Clinton) was the nominee, we would not be covering this year's Democratic convention."

Comments

[Eric8869]

The way the Repbulicans have been saying so many nice things about Jesse Helms I don't blame them. He was 100% unapologetically racist and even the President is singing his praises (McCain too)

You can't alienate a people and then expect them to broadcast you.

[DesertLight]

I could just see The Wh-ite Anglo-Saxon Protestant TV network doing the same for the Dem0s.

Yeah, that would fly

[Eric8869]

They already do that - several right wing owned stations have refused to run programming like NIGHTLINE when they were honoring the war dead etc.

[qdog112]

"Wh-ite Anglo-Saxon Protestant TV network"

Network? Ever heard of MSM. The closest thing you can get to WASP TV.

[StillIRise]

I'm sure Fox News WILL cover BOTH conventions!

You see, when Corporate America controls the networks, among the other institutions in our nation, there is no need to call themselves White Anglo-Saxon Protestants. We all already know who they are.

[TimmySlagle]

Makes perfect sense.

Because a mind is a terrible thing to expose to a dangerous contrary opinion. Heck if we start letting Democrats watch Republicans, they might realize their positions make sense.

[Eric8869]

They might make sense if they actually weren't so hypocritical.

Fiscally conservative but support a president who loses 23 Billlion unaccounted for in IRAQ.

Against "activist judges" but let the supreme court choose a president

Anti-gay but then caught in gay scandals.

McCain flip flopping on every opinion he's ever stated.

[ErnestineBass]

ROFL! How did I know Dimbulb and Little Timmy would be here?

Cable teevee outlets (as you two have pointed out) are NOT required to provide "equal time".

Deal with it! LOL

[oscartucker]

Democrats do realize that their (Democrats) positions make sense!!!

[StillIRise]

How often do our major networks cover events that are important to the African American community, or any other minority community for that matter? Unless you're African American yourself, you probably wouldn't know the answer to this, and the answer is very seldom if at all. This is one of the reasons, if not the sole reason, that BET and TV1 were created, for the purpose of providing to give our community the outlets that most other networks have traditionally denied us.

However, since most African Americans do not rely on TV1 as their only resource for news, we can and will likely choose to watch the Republican convention on any number of stations (C-Span, FOX, CNN, MSNBC) on which it will be shown repeatedly, so we will not be missing out on any "dangerous contrary opinion." There is no question that we will have the opportunity to see both conventions in their entirety. The question is, how many non-minorities or Republicans in particular will choose to watch the Democratic convention on TV1?

[Redrover666]

Exactly! How often do major networks cover stories important to French Canadian Americans? The answer is.... very damned seldom.

God, it makes me so damned mad.

[sdskelton03]

The open minded and tolerant responses to your post astound me.

Fight the good fight Tim!

[k6007]

Would the GOP cover theirs? I think not.

[DesertLight]

If you consider Faux News a G0P, then yes they do.

[DesertLight]

You see the thing is differing opinions aren't a threat to conservatives.

[gladys46]

Note please Hannity & what's his name ... The Beltway Boys where's the serious rebuttals there!?? You'd think that there were exactly 4 AA's in this country who MSM considers "expert analysts" ... albeit of their very own!!

Surreal! That's just my opinion ... O may not approve!!

[ErnestineBass]

That's "right".

Conservaturds like you simply IGNORE anything and everything you don't agree with.

[MelloY]

Tell that to this lady who got a ticket for trespassing and escorted away from a McCain town hall:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lyaMrS0hzk&eurl=http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/7/18337/07170

Conservatives don't like freedom of speech much when they don't agree with it.

[starboymikey]

You see the thing is differing opinions aren't a threat to conservatives.
__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­______

Which conservatives are you talking about?

Bush and Cheney, who fired all those attorneys who wouldn't tow their party line?

Oh, sorry, you must mean all those *other* conservatives, like Revs Hagee and Parsley, or maybe the ones who want to boycott McDonald's for donating a few bucks to a a gay organization.

Oh, not them either? Okay, I guess you mean the group that tried to have the Harry Potter books taken out of libraries because they thought the books promoted witchcraft? Okay, I guess those are the conservatives you're talking about.

See? I figured it out for myself.

[speakyourmind]

Your statement just made me laugh so hard I spit out my iced tea. "aren't a threat to conversati­ves...." OMG!!!! I am ROLLING!

[oafishcad]

Normally I'd consider this prejudiced. But considering the fact that Obama is the only choice in Novemeber that won't plunge our nation further into the sinkhole of Republican mismanagement and destruction, I think it's a good idea. This year America MUST choose Obama, or America will cease to exist.

[Budokan]

Seriously, why would anyone cover the GOP lie-fest they call a convention?

[LawSource]

****************Why Waist Time Broadcasting LIES, Deceptions­..........­...

There is NO DIVERSITY in that Party, Why Waist Time Broadcasting LIES, Deceptions and 4 MORE YEARS OF BUSH/McCAIN ECONOMICS That Ruin The Poor and MIDDLE-CLASS??

[yhgtup]

GREAT IDEA!!!

[MizLiz]

The 10 black republicans will be herded into a little group and kept in front of the tv cameras so we'll all think the GOP is "inclusive".

[DesertLight]

IS that anything like herding out the people with head scarfs on?

[TheRebel82]

The 10 black republicans I mean...

[TheRebel82]

LOL wonder what the 10 republicans in the country feel about this? Bwahahahaha!

[4wehttam]

I don't even think they know that station even exists. Not sure if they even know about BET, for that matter....­..........­..........­...LOL. How any minority can be a republican is still beyond my understanding.

[Puddin]

I haven't heard a word of protest from anyone including the Black Republicans, about the fact the TVOne is not even listed in the TV Guide or local newspapers. Did anyone protest about the ALL WHITE cast on Friends? Has anyone protested about the exodus of the Balck actors, from the primetime shows? Were is the outrage when most of the commericals only feature white people. I am happen that I will be able to watch the convention without speeches being cut short, etc. It's going to be beautiful, simply beautiful.

P.S. Folks who want to watch the GOP convention, they can tune into one of the major networks. (so simple).

HOW SWEET IT IS!

[StillIRise]

As an African American AND a Democrat, I do not see a problem with black Republicans. I think that African Americans and the interests of our community should be represented in both major parties. However, I DO have a problem with black Republicans who have deluded themselves into believing that they are no longer "black," or that their experience as a black person in America is somehow negated or diminished by the fact that they are now Republicans, and they become as hostile to their own community and its interests as the stereotypical white Republican is. When they forget from whence they have come, then it becomes a problem to me. Colin Powell, for example, is a black Republican who I greatly respect. I do not always agree with him politically, but I believe that he is a good man who has tried to do the right thing for America, and who has never forgotten his heritage.