JC Watts to start news network targeting blacks

[TUalum0982]

from KTUL's website:

"Former Oklahoma Congressman J.C. Watts says he's planning to start a television news network.

Watts told the New York Post this week the network will target a black audience and will begin early next year.

He says the network will be called the Black Television News Channel and will provide news that go beyond crime stories.

He did not say how much the project might cost or what his financial backing is.

Watts is a former University of Oklahoma quarterback and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1995 where he served four terms.

He now lives in Washington and operates the J.C. Watts Companies."

So this leaves me to the question of...if minorities want to be treated equal, why do they insist on seperate news and music channels? What's next, a sports channel they can call their own?

[we vs us]

quote:Originally posted by TUalum0982


So this leaves me to the question of...if minorities want to be treated equal, why do they insist on seperate news and music channels? What's next, a sports channel they can call their own?

It's not about equality, it's about niche marketing.  JC Watts is selling a product to a demographic, no more, no less.  Though I would also suggest -- it being JC Watts -- that this is in part also some subtle Republican Party outreach to affluent blacks (who, after all, are the folks that BET targets).

[sgrizzle]

{James Earl Jones Voice}

THIS... is BNN..

[Gaspar]

I like Watts.  Very level headed.  I think he's a smart business man, but this road has already been taken with much success.  

You may be right WeVs, I think he could possibly have some success with that.  It would be an alternative to BET.

[TUalum0982]

quote:Originally posted by we vs us

quote:Originally posted by TUalum0982


So this leaves me to the question of...if minorities want to be treated equal, why do they insist on seperate news and music channels? What's next, a sports channel they can call their own?

It's not about equality, it's about niche marketing.  JC Watts is selling a product to a demographic, no more, no less.  Though I would also suggest -- it being JC Watts -- that this is in part also some subtle Republican Party outreach to affluent blacks (who, after all, are the folks that BET targets).

no disprect, but BET targets the affluent blacks? since when? The programming on BET IMO does not cater to affluent blacks.  I know BET was founded by Robert L Johnson who was a billionare until his now ex wife took most of it in a divoce settlement, but the programming is far being affluent.

[USRufnex]

Interesting timing.

If he chooses to turn the network into "Fox News for blacks," I expect it to sink like a stone... especially if it turns into a "blacks for John McCain" channel...

I am suspicious of who the financial backers are for this... show me the money.

Let's see, JC Watts' politics... hmmm... 100% approval rating from the Christian Coalition... yet he's fathered at least one out of wedlock child... and his father had this quote:

"A black man voting Republican is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders."

[FOTD]

quote:Originally posted by Gaspar

I like Watts.  Very level headed.  I think he's a smart business man, but this road has already been taken with much success.  

You may be right WeVs, I think he could possibly have some success with that.  It would be an alternative to BET.

LOL.....figures.

[bokworker]

quote:Originally posted by Gaspar

I like Watts.  Very level headed.  I think he's a smart business man, but this road has already been taken with much success.  

You may be right WeVs, I think he could possibly have some success with that.  It would be an alternative to BET.

I am sure he has matured... and changed but, the facade of the political JC Watts is significantly different than the JC Watts I knew about in Norman. Nothing too over the top, just not the "smart businessman/good father/good man" that is portrayed in the republican playbook...

[USRufnex]

I wonder how much he's changed since this little quip back in 2000...

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/whispers/articles/000306/archive_021478.htm

"Here's an old Washington trick: When a political message fails to land, don't change. Blame the messenger. House Republicans are taking that to a new level. Rep. J. C. Watts, the House GOP communicator, wants to train a conservative reporting corps because those dang liberals still run the show. His enemies: Walter Cronkite, Time, Bryant Gumbel. "Liberal media bias is out of control," he says in a fundraising letter for the Leadership Institute, which he says trains conservative scribes. There's an easier and cheaper way: www.conservativehq.com, a new Web site for right minds."

[we vs us]

quote:Originally posted by USRufnex

Interesting timing.

If he chooses to turn the network into "Fox News for blacks," I expect it to sink like a stone... especially if it turns into a "blacks for John McCain" channel... ."[/i]

That was my first thought.  An African American Fox News.  Which, IMO, will fail before it gets out of the gate.  

And TUAlumn, go to http://www.bet.com/ a sec and just check out some of the ad banners and the splash pages for some of the new sitcoms.  Tell me who you think they're targeting. I'm thinking middle class, educated, urban blacks. "Affluent" might have been inaccurate; what I meant by that is more "upwardly mobile."

[bigdtottown]

WOW...so we should all be viewed based on what we may have done in our college days?  Hopefully not, or a bunch of us are in trouble.

[bigdtottown]

Also, this may be in response to the criticism of BET from WITHIN the black community.  I'll have to take their word for it, since I have never watched BET.

[mr.jaynes]

quote:Originally posted by bigdtottown

I'll have to take their word for it, since I have never watched BET.

You're not missing much.

[bokworker]

quote:Originally posted by bigdtottown

WOW...so we should all be viewed based on what we may have done in our college days?  Hopefully not, or a bunch of us are in trouble.

The issues I am aware of happened after college... I agree that what happened in collage should probably stay there. I am certainly glad I got through school in the pre-YouTube era!!!!

And look, I am not trying to neccasarily disparage Mr. Watts. I just find the public facade a bit amusing.....