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As Seen On TV

Network Commits to Obama-only Coverage

By Victor Balta
Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:59:45 GMT

Barack Obama The TV Critics press tour took a political turn Tuesday morning when TV One, a cable network that reaches 40 million homes and is geared toward African-Americans, unveiled its plans to cover the Democratic National Convention. Network President and CEO Johnathan Rodgers unapologetically announced that his network would cover the convention because of the historic nature of Sen. Barack Obama's candidacy making him the first African-American to win a party's nomination for President.

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

Asked whether he thought it was unfair that the network wouldn't also cover the Republican convention, Rodgers was adamant, saying, "My audience is 93 percent black. I serve my audience."

Sheryl Underwood, a comedian and a member of the panel that will take part in TV One's "DNC Afterparty" who is also a self-proclaimed "Bush Republican," spoke up on behalf of black Republicans about whether they'd feel slighted by the decision to cover one convention and not the other.

"I speak for all eight of us," Underwood said. "We are not slighted."


*** What do you think? Is it unfair for a network to cover just one party's convention? Is it understandable that a predominantly black network would focus on Obama? Click here to comment!

****** Victor Balta and Tracy Phillips are blogging live from the TV critics press tour. What do you want to know about your favorite shows? Let us know. Click here to ask about your favorite TV shows!


* More from the TV critics press tour:





Message Edited by Victor_Balta on 07-08-2008 09:00 PM

Comment

TV One, a cable network should lose its broadcasting licence and be Boycotted ! If a white network didn`t cover any black events, there sure would be a big out cry of racism on their part ! And really Obama is like O.J.Simpson he is only black when " HE " needs something. Another thing hasn't CEO Johnathan Rodgers heard about the equal time law ? I am of color and I find this very disturbing .

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:01:39 GMT | madpuppy

Comment

All this does is promote racism! If a self proclaimed "white" network had done this, then the naacp would be going nuts.
There is absolutely a double standard here.

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:23:22 GMT | waltdal

Comment

I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH TV ONE COVERING ONLY OBAMA.
RUPERT MURDOCH'S NEWSPAPERS AND FOX NEWS ARE SO SLANTED TO THE REPUBLICANS AND THE BUSH WHITE HOUSE THAT FACTS ARE DISTORTED.
HOPEFULLY TV ONE WILL GIVE 40 MILLION BLACKS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE AND HEAR THE TRUTH FOR A CHANGE.

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:29:24 GMT | ertz2

Comment

I have to say that I am outraged at first the idea that a TV network would make this type of decision solely based upon race. Second, that this would be considered a promotion of racism as I don't believe it is the case. There is historical significance to what is going on. However, with that said I believe TV One is promoting a singular point of view to its audience.

I am an independent and from personal experience, the African American community is split in the way it votes. I believe TV One's position is a promotion of only the democratic ideal and not allowing its viewers to see all sides of the issues.

I have a degree in Journalism and have done the job for a number of years. It doesn't matter if it is a news organization or a TV network, the duty is to be unbiased. I agree with a previous comment in that the problem some times with mainstream media is they allow personal bias into their reporting.

It is my opinion TV One should prove they can take the higher road and broadcast both conventions simply out of their duty to broadcast both sides of the campaign to their viewers.

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:47:53 GMT | scindependent

Comment

This is racism at its most blatant! If CBS or any other network tried this, they would be brought in on charges of rascism! This should not be allowed! Or, perhaps, colored people are more equal than white!

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:01:21 GMT | Hermine

Comment

How dare TV One think they are exempt from broadcasting rules which govern every other network! If that isn't racism, what is? I don't understand how blacks can pull the race card whenever it serves their purpose. It's ok to cover the DNC because Obama is the African-American candidate and TV One has a predominantly black audience. The audacity of that reasoning is a sign of things to come if Obama is elected. I am sick and tired of being politically correct when being politically correct is only for the white population in this country. Wake up and smell the political climate, people. It's fashionable to support Obama to show how liberal and politically correct you can be. But, make no mistake, this is only one more incidence of this blatant type of racism by African Americans. Perhaps there is a network that is for predominantly Scottish or Irish Americans (whatever ancestry John McCain claims) that could cover the Republican National Convention. As for myself, I'm just an American--it doesn't really matter what my ancestry is, nor should it.

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:10:23 GMT | jjqueen

Comment

Why is this so blatant? If the President and CEO chooses to only broadcast Obama then that is his choice. I think that your remark is much more blatant than anything. Who are the "colored people" that you referring to?

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:11:58 GMT | Smithie

Comment

This isn't about Democrat of Republican. TV One is a station devoted to the uplifting of African Americans that is viewed primarily by African American viewers. So the slant of the story is not about a Democrat per se, but about an African American male that is the Democratic Presumptive Presidential nominee.

The story is giving hope to other African Americans that they too can become anything they want to be. Most African American over 35 never thought they would live see an African American, in the USA, have even the slightest chance of becoming President of the US and to have an African American in serious contention to be the leader of the most powerful nation in the world is ground breaking to the Black community.

And please don't start with the "if one of the white stations did this the blacks would be up in arms". Most stations can go all day without showing a black face and it is what it is. This is an instance where not just African Americans, but American in general can be proud that this country is living up to what it has always said it was.

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:19:46 GMT | redroseoftx

Comment

I think it is funny that a black network is so interested in Obama. He isn't African American, he looks it but in reality he is less than 1/2 African. He is mostly white though he hates to admit it.

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:21:32 GMT | 119332

Comment

I will go on about this.....If it was Obama who was not covered, they would be crying & moaning about the unfairness of it all.

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:25:55 GMT | Kaleb

Comment

Can we say Racism?

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:26:34 GMT | PaulaAnn

Comment

CAN YOU SAY RACIEST

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:29:02 GMT | mhac

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Being proud has nothing to do with color. I am white and proud. My husband is black and proud. My children has both heritages and are pround. The thing I find disturbing along with my husband and his inlaws is that it is ok to be racist if you are black. You can hate all the white people you want, but if white people hate any black people it is racism. How is it that great leaders fought for equal rights and now those righs are distorted to fit racist views. I don't particully care one way or another if a station airs Obama and not McCain, it is everybodys responsiblity to receive both views. My family doesn't support stations that are racist or morally wrong. We are a big family that has lots of colors, you need to vote with God in mind and you will choose the right canidate. This year their is no good choice, but a lesser of the two evils.

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:32:39 GMT | KCalvert

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I think it is one more instance of racism that has been exposed during this election. It continues to be consistent with the trend where 92% of African-Americans voted for Senator Obama simply because of race. Nobody can deny this fact. Statistically, no other plausible explanation exists. We're still a very long way from Dr. Martin Luther Kings vision: "I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." Racism does work in reverse.

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:37:46 GMT | Daud

Comment

YEAH IT IS A ONSSIDED GAME !! HOW DO THEY KNOW ONLY BLACKS VIEW THEIR CHANNEL ? IT IS JUST ANOTHER STAND THAT BLACKS ARE STILL AGAINST WHITES !!! UNLESS YOU TRY TO ACT LIKE THEM !! IF IT WAS A DIFFERENT STATION !! THEY WOULD BE LAWSUITS ALL OVER THE PLACE !!!!!!! MCCAIN 2008

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:39:02 GMT | morningstar2424

Comment

I think if it were a predominutly white station .the rev Al Sharpten would raising hell.I also think he wouldnt let up untill they were kicked off the air.Racism sucks

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:40:46 GMT | robswelding

Comment

This is racism at its fines hour. It only proves the point t hat the black community does not want to be apart of the mainstream society but one of special privilege and exemption from the laws of this country. Obama is not the black nominee he is the democratic party nominee. To broadcast only his racist views is an attempt to distort and keep the real Obama hidden from reality simply to progress a candidate.

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:43:55 GMT | gabby55

Comment

TV One and Rodgers are RACIST. End of story.
Black racists are alive and well and apparently unapologetic.

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:52:56 GMT | boomer4000

Comment

It is time for America to wake up! Racism is not, never has been and never will be a one way street. To support and network that blatently pronouces its racist views is ignorant.
If there were an all whites network it would have no credibility and would be a target for the NAACP, REV.Jackson and many others. When will the so called leaders of the black community stand up and denounce the many racists amoung them. They are quick to point out any flaws of others, but spend no time looking in the mirror. For if they did they would see the true racist, them selves.

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:54:26 GMT | Olyman

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