Black News Channel Delays Launch to 2020

Black News Channel (BNC) has postponed its scheduled Nov. 15 launch to 2020 in an effort to take advantage of new technologies and distribution platforms, network officials said. 

“Our network is about providing intelligent programming that is informative, educational, inspiring and empowering to our African American audience, so they are participants in a national conversation,” says J.C. Watts, Jr., co-founder and chairman for BNC in a statement. “If we have the opportunity to include the largest African American audience possible from day one, then that should be our top priority.”

With the delay, the network hopes to more than triple its viewing audience of more than 30 million subscribers across traditional cable and digital MVPD's currently signed up for the service, said network officials. 

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.