Where's Aaron McGruder when you need him? Probably having turkey someplace nice. Anyway, this just in:
BET
founder Bob Johnson sets sights on new urban cable network
By
R. Thomas Umstead
Multichannel News
(November 25, 2008) Black Entertainment Television founder Bob Johnson
is looking to get back into the cable network business.
Johnson, along with the Ion Media Networks, is petitioning the Federal
Communications Commission to grant a newly formed, Johnson-owned,
African-American-targeted digital network must-carry status under "share
time" licenses.
According to the petition, Johnson's RLJ Companies, LLC would own 51% of
newly created Urban Television LLC -- Ion would hold 49% of the venture
-- and the service would operate as part of ION's digital channel
offerings in 42 markets. Ion currently offers kid-targeted Qubo and
lifestyles-oriented Ion Life as multicast digital stations.
According to an Ion and RLJ joint statement, the proposed share-time
arrangement would allow Urban Television to operate "a continuous
television program service aimed at serving the needs and interests of
urban viewers and traditionally underserved minority communities. Urban
Television will be a new addition to the current broadcast channel
lineup, and Ion Media Networks will continue to operate its own
broadcast networks."
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Okay, lemme start by saying that I'm still convinced that the KKK ran the programming and acquisitions arm of BET from about 1994-2005. It's the only explanation for the stunning caliber of consistently degrading programming and low-class stereotypes that whole BET network perpetuated and trafficked in with no remorse or regard for the community during that time.
So now this cat wants to start another media outlet? Terrific. If it were possible to ban someone from an endeavor based on past actions, I'd nominated Bob Johnson. How this guy sleeps at night is beyond me.
So I wonder what the new Urban Netwrok will feature? I'm kinda expecting exotic strippers as news anchors and pimps as reporters. no wait this is from the mind of BET. Who am I kidding? There won't be any news. Or any programming with too many syllables for that matter.
In honor of the new Bob Johnson venture i present:
