Supporters
 

For Immediate Release
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Contact: Lynn McReynolds
Phone: (410) 268-0275
E-mail: lynn@mcreynoldselek.com

Minority Programmers Join with Civil Rights Leaders to
Launch Alliance for Diversity in Programming

Alliance Calls À la Carte a Serious "Threat" to Programming Diversity

Silver Spring, MD - In an effort to promote more diversity in cable television programming, civil rights leaders have joined together with cable networks TV One and Sí TV to form the Alliance for Diversity in Programming (ADP).

ADP has been formed in response to the continuing interest of some in Congress and at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to create regulations that would force cable operators to offer programming on a per-channel basis. These per-channel-pricing, or ŕ la carte, regulations, have been decried by civil rights groups and other organizations as harmful to minority and niche cable channels.

"Nearly every government and private study has made clear that per-channel-charge requirements will harm and even reduce the amount of minority and targeted cable programming available while raising prices for most consumers," said Johnathan Rodgers, ADP Co-Chair and President and CEO of TV One, an entertainment and lifestyle network for African-American adults. "The recent progress in the creation of dedicated program networks for African-American, Latino and Asian-American audiences would undoubtedly be set back by such heavy-handed federal regulations," said Rodgers.

ADP will work to raise awareness among lawmakers, regulators and consumers about the important role of programming diversity in closing the digital divide. Members of the coalition will also respond swiftly to those who seek to curtail the programming options of consumers by reducing the number of channels geared towards minorities.

ADP Co-Chair Michael Schwimmer, CEO of Sí TV, a network aimed at Latino youth, said, "Successful minority-targeted cable networks can take years and many millions of dollars to build and grow. Virtually all of the data shows that minority programmers will suffer under à la carte, and that consumers will end up paying more for less."

Rodgers and Schwimmer pointed out that the shared tier also offers an important societal value because viewers who aren't African American or Hispanic – and would be less likely to purchase TV One or Sí TV on an ŕ la carte basis – have the opportunity to stop and watch something on these networks that catches their interest and expands their awareness about African-American and Hispanic cultures and traditions.

"Per-channel charges would turn back the clock to a time when there were very few programming options on television for minorities, and it would erase the gains made by innovative entrepreneurs who have worked hard to develop content for underserved communities," said Manny Mirabal, ADP member and Founder and Co-Chair of the Hispanic Telecommunications and Technology Partnership (HTTP).

Over 100 civil rights leaders and organizations, including the National Urban League, NAACP, NALEO, LULAC, and NAPALC, have filed comments with the FCC opposing per-channel-charge regulations. Those comments can be found at ADP's website, www.diversitytv.org. Many of these organizations have argued that per-channel-charge rules would raise prices for consumers and severely hurt the economics of smaller programmers who depend on being included in the shared tier for marketing and advertising purposes. A summary of major reports also can be found on the website.

ADP's members include:

  • Sí TV
  • TV One
  • The Africa Channel
  • Black Leadership Forum
  • Hispanic Federation
  • Hispanic Telecommunications and Technology Partnership
  • Labor Council for Latin American Advancement
  • League of United Latin American Citizens
  • National Black Chamber of Commerce
  • National Congress of Black Women
  • National Council of La Raza
  • William C. Velasquez Institute

For more information on the Alliance’s mission, its supporters, and other materials addressing the claims of per-channel-charge advocates – and for information on how to join the coalition – please visit www.diversitytv.org.

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