Am I the only one who thinks its a shame that two cable televisions stations created by and catering to African-American audiences have no stake or interest in broadcasting black college sports? Sure, there was a time where BET was ripe with black college sports coverage, with a Game of the Week and an occasional show running down scores and commentary.
But with another black college sports season coming to a close, it’s time to appropriately call out our family on their lack of support behind an entertainment venue that could raise institutional profiles and create great revenues for their enterprises.
Somebody help me understand how ESPN can see enough value in black college athletics to broadcast Division I black college football and basketball games and the CIAA Basketball Tournament under its ESPN Classic umbrella, yet two stations with air time heavily dedicated to syndicated black comedy and reality shows can’t manage a weekly black college sports show or regularly broadcast games?
Even with economic instability, there is still no other group of consumers and spenders like the African-American demographic. It’s a simple case of ‘building it so we will come.’ Why short yourself a guaranteed audience of hundreds of thousands every week between August and March? Everybody can’t afford to attend games, but we make SURE we can afford cable. The sponsorship opportunities with companies that are historically prominent in the black community, like Coca-Cola, Ford, State Farm, Chevrolet, etc., would be endless.
And even if there wasn’t big money involved, think of the brand building it would create for black colleges. Imagine the possibility of high school athletes seeing black colleges on television, actually having the opportunity to see black college athletics and their accompanying game day experience packaged responsibly, and on a national display. Division I and Division II teams, all having an opportunity to exhibit a sports culture so many people cherish, but have no outlet to enjoy.
This needs to happen. And if it can’t happen, then people who patronize BET and TV One and their sponsoring partners deserve to know exactly what makes it so difficult to put black college sports on black entertainment networks. I’m sure the response of the networks would have a significant impact on their future support and viewership of these networks who seem to have missed the boat on such an obvious and meaningful opportunity.
I’d love to hear from anyone and everyone who has insight on this topic. Perhaps its a stretch, but I’m certain there are some interns, executives, producers, directors or actors affiliated with a black college, and would love their employer to get behind an idea that’s just plain common sense. Feel free to leave your comments below, or email me at jarrett@hbcusportsblog.com. ESPN is great, but no one can tell our story- or show our sports – quite like we can.
Eric Moore 5:25 pm on April 15, 2009 Permalink
Few people in the decision making positions at these networks understand the value of sports. Unfortunately, few of them attended HBCUs so they have no clue that the market exists.
It’s almost like diversity in reverse. Now that black folks can root for UNC, they don’t feel the need to be loyal to NCCU.
ESPN has begun to give increased attention and in some instances they have locked out TV-One and BET from getting in, thereby preventing these two networks from possibly making an attempt to cover HBCU Sports.
American Don 7:50 am on April 16, 2009 Permalink
BET and TV One would have to PAY ESPN to broadcast an HBCU game. That’s what we got with that exclusive ESPN contract. I don’t know what ESPN is charging, but it probably means BET/TV One don’t want to pay the upfront money, get the camera crews set up, scrounge up some announcers, etc.
Chances are BET saw that so many of us complained about the coverage we were getting when we were on BET (Charlie Neal mostly), that they figured the profit margin is better with an engineer playing videos and reality show marathons than black college sports.
JC 11:44 am on April 16, 2009 Permalink
My sense is that they have the resources, but are too lazy to responsibly put it together. There are too many black celebrities and entertainers who would be into financing this for the networks to not even explore it.
LJ 11:47 am on April 16, 2009 Permalink
American Don, although it is unfortuately BET and TV One may have to pay ESPN to broadcast some HBCU games (mainly the conferences: MEAC and SWAC), and I don’t believe (but I may be wrong) that they do not have contacts to broadcast CIAA and SAIC games other then the aforementioned CIAA Tournament on ESPN Classics. Also, there are a number of independent HBCU schools without conference affiliation that the black networks can tap into. It is my opinion that if BET and TV One wants to be considered a major broadcasting network, sports is something they need to embrace other then sports documentaries, hightlights and the occasional sports profiles. I still believes these organizations can broadcast sports programming and there would be an audience for it, even if it is on the smaller NCAA, NAIA or Independent stage. Besides, it would probably cost them less to broadcast a game then it would for the lame “College Hill” series BET produces and some of the other reality-based shows that appear on each network. Those who complained about the coverage and Charlie Neal are probably never going to be pleased because they will complain about almost anything. I’m sure most of the complaints were about the taped delayed games carried on BET.
American Don 5:23 pm on April 16, 2009 Permalink
LJ, disagree. For a college hill reality show, you just fly in a bunch of UNPAID college students to live in a house, get a bunch of booze from the local store, and get yourself a 4 man camera crew.
To broadcast a game you need a production truck for live TV (ONSITE), 2 commentators, a couple researchers, lord knows how many folks to set up your cameras and whatnot the day before. Cost is much higher.
I’m sure the Food Network will do fine without college football. MTV never broadcasted a football game, and they are pretty successful. Same thing for Comedy Central. TV One is probably going to always be like Bravo and second tier cable station. BET really doesn’t NEED HBCU athletics. I’ve watched a LOT of HBCU basketball and football on ESPN this year, NOBODY goes to these games! The interest isn’t there. The stadium is nowhere near being close to sold out. It’s a “you have to go to the game” type of experience.
JC 7:10 am on April 17, 2009 Permalink
AD, I see your point about the networks (BET, TV One) not needing black college sports, but neither does ESPN. They (BET and TV One) could’ve run reruns all throughout the presidential election and inaugural balls, but chose not to. You could make the argument that those weren’t weekly events, but the truth is that where there’s interest, there’s money.
I believe that they could create interest and money just by putting these games on. Even if the got us to be sideline reporters, or journalism students from around the country, there is a way to get this done to be financially sound.
Woods Recruiting » “The First Black…” 8:27 am on November 11, 2009 Permalink
[...] I know 40 years ago and even longer than that, African-Americans were not given the opportunity by White folks to do anything. White people held the power and control. He, who held the money, owned everything. Times changed. Attitudes are changing and there are more opportunities out there for everyone. So this is why I believe there is too much of this “The First Black.” [...]