Comments on: BET and TV One Missing Signals on Black College Athletics

By: Woods Recruiting » “The First Black…”

Woods Recruiting » “The First Black…” — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:27:33 +0000

[...] 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.” [...]

By: JC

JC — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:10:29 +0000

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.

By: American Don

American Don — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 21:23:24 +0000

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.

By: LJ

LJ — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:47:07 +0000

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.

By: JC

JC — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:44:51 +0000

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.

By: American Don

American Don — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:50:31 +0000

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.

By: Eric Moore

Eric Moore — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:25:31 +0000

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.