Black Cable Stations

A growing number of black cable stations exist in the United States today. They range from regional to national in scope. Despite their presence,  most do not meet the needs of African Americans by relying heavily on frivolous entertainment or lackluster television shows.

BET,  the oldest of the so-called black cable stations, leads the way with programming that doesn't benefit its target audience.  The network relies exclusively on outdated sitcoms like Martin or Good Times rather than an AM or PM public affairs program the way it did years ago that could employ hundreds of out-of-work journalists of color.  In addition,  BET wastes valuable air time on B-list movies in heavy rotation like Two Can Play That Game instead of offering cutting-edge documentaries on the black experience that would expand the networks' sagging viewership among older, better-educated blacks.  The station could even kick-start its fall line-up by showcasing historically black college football since most major sports networks won't carry the games.

Aside from BET,  OWN,  or the Oprah Winfrey Network, typically target whites with limited storylines for black viewers.  The station often rehashes shows from its parent company,  Discovery,  instead of redeveloping them with African American themes.  For example,  Oprah could air weekly segments on the thousands of citizens of color in this country that go missing each year. When it does offer material designed for the black community,  it usually consists of halfhearted attempts similar to Love Thy Neighbor,  For Better or For Worse, or Houston Beauty, which likely doesn't inspire the network's followers.  Otherwise,  OWN  seems to shy away from anything of stature that deals exclusively with African Americans, except for the popular reality show Sweetie Pies, which depicts a successful black-owned restaurant chain based in the inner city of St. Louis,  Missouri.

Compared to other African American networks,  TV One, launched in 2004,  deserves high marks for content tailored specifically for the black community.  The network offers a range of highly acclaimed documentaries from an African American perspective.  They included the following:  Unsung;  Celebrity Crime Files;  Life After;  Parole Diaries;  Save My Son;  Fatal Attraction; Deceived, and Find Our Missing,  a must-see piece dedicated to the scores of African Americans who have disappeared in the United States in recent years.  TV One even devoted countless hours to the 2012 Democratic Convention that renominated Barack Obama president to cement its place among top-shelf television stations.

Besides TV One,  only one black cable channel stands out when serving the African American Community.  Bounce,  which is based in Atlanta,  Ga.,  often rewards its African American audience with timeless classics from the past like Nothing But a Man,  Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? and the unforgettable Shaft, which has a cult following in the 'hood.  The station also airs black college sports to highlight the success of these historic institutions.  But the network falls short concerning powerful documentaries or real-life stories featured on TV One.