Black on Black (TV series)

Lore & Background

The programme was presented by Beverley Anderson and, for the 1985 season, Pauline Black. In 1984, Darcus Howe did an unsuccessful screen test to be a presenter. Special feature programmes included 'Ethiopia Special' (1983), on the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia, and 'After the Invasion' (1983), on the aftermath of the US invasion of Grenada.

Reader's Guide

Black on Black holds significance as a pioneering British television programme that specifically addressed British African-Caribbean viewers during its run from 1982 to 1985. It was notable for assembling the first team of black television journalists in Britain, a milestone in representation within the industry. The programme's producer, Trevor Phillips, explicitly stated its mission to counter negative stereotypes by presenting black individuals in positive roles such as statesmen, writers, artists, and musicians. The programme's legacy includes its role in providing a platform for black voices and perspectives at a time when such representation was rare on British television. Its special features, such as the 'Ethiopia Special' on the famine and 'After the Invasion' on Grenada, demonstrated its engagement with global issues affecting the African diaspora. Though short-lived, Black on Black is remembered as a foundational effort in diversifying British media.

Did You Know?

• Black on Black was broadcast on Channel 4 between 1982 and 1985.
• It had the first team of black television journalists in Britain.
• The programme was presented by Beverley Anderson and, for the 1985 season, Pauline Black.
• Special features included 'Ethiopia Special' (1983) and 'After the Invasion' (1983).

Founding Vision & Launch

J.C. Watts had been dreaming of a dedicated news network for Black American audiences since the mid-2000s, but multiple rounds of capital-raising failed to bring the project to life. The idea gained momentum in the mid-2010s when a partnership with Florida A&M University's School of Journalism & Graphic Communication was announced, with plans to house the station on campus. Ultimately, the channel launched independently in a building on Killearn Center Boulevard in Tallahassee, Florida. Television executive Bob Brillante co-founded the venture alongside Watts, who served as chairman. The launch was originally announced in November 2018 for 2019, but the date slipped from November 15, 2019, to January 6, 2020, before finally arriving on February 10, 2020. Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan emerged as one of the network's chief investors, providing crucial backing for the ambitious project.

On-Air Lineup & Editorial Direction

Black News Channel assembled a notable roster of on-air personalities during its brief run. Laverne McGee served as a news anchor, while Mike Hill hosted the early-morning program Start Your Day from 6 to 10 a.m. Marc Lamont Hill anchored the evening show Black News Tonight at 8 p.m., and Charles Blow hosted the late-night slot Prime at 10 p.m. Kelly Wright presented The World Tonight in the 5-to-7 p.m. window. In March 2021, the network undertook a significant prime-time revamp, bringing in progressive Black commentators to its lineup—a notable editorial shift given that chairman Watts was a prominent conservative Republican. That same month, BNC struck a deal with CBS Media Ventures to manage its advertising sales. Earlier, in July 2020, former CNN executive Princell Hair had been tapped to serve as president and CEO, bringing major-network experience to the young channel.

Financial Turmoil & Legal Battles

BNC's first two years were marked by persistently low audience numbers. Nielsen data from 2021 placed the network at 123rd out of 124 cable-originated channels in total average viewership, with roughly 4,000 viewers per program. Between December 2021 and March 2022, more than 120 staff members were either let go or chose to leave. Compounding the operational challenges, thirteen current and former female employees filed a class-action gender discrimination lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on January 5, 2022, alleging significant pay gaps, a hostile work environment, and retaliation against those who raised complaints. BNC responded by notifying employees of its intent to move for dismissal. On March 25, 2022, Khan pulled his funding after a failed sale attempt, and live programming ceased at 5 p.m. Eastern. Three days later, the network filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the Northern District of Florida.

Acquisition & Final Chapter

In the final chapter of BNC's independent existence, Byron Allen's Allen Media Group received bankruptcy court approval on July 20, 2022, to acquire the channel from Khan for $11 million. The transaction closed on August 1, 2022, when BNC's existing carriage was folded into TheGrio TV, an over-the-air network already owned by Entertainment Studios. Allen's plan was to layer additional news and commentary programming into TheGrio's schedule, fulfilling retransmission consent obligations embedded in BNC's carriage contracts. Before its shutdown, BNC had been carried by Charter Spectrum, Comcast Xfinity, DirecTV, and Verizon Fios, with Dish Network offering it both as a linear feed and a video-on-demand service. By March 2021, the channel reached 52 million homes—far below the 83 million of major cable news outlets. In December 2022, the Chapter 11 case was converted to a Chapter 7 liquidation, formally closing the book on the network.

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