Robert L. Johnson Chairman February 26, 2009
Mr. Alfred C. Liggins, III Chairman TV One 1010 Wayne Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20910 Dear Alfred, I am very disappointed and puzzled as to why you would file comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) (File Nos. BALCT-20081118AGX, et al.; DA 08-2621, DA 08-2772; filed/accepted February 19, 2009) in opposition to the creation of another programming network that I would own – Urban Television, LLC – that would help serve the viewing interests of over 30 million African Americans. As you know, TV One is the only minority-owned channel since BET is now a division of Viacom, yet you take the position in your filing that there is no need for another voice to serve the broad range of viewing interests in the African American community. I can recall vividly when you launched TV One you made a strenuous argument that TV One should get mandatory carriage on any cable system that served urban markets. I further recall when you said BET was not enough. You felt then that BET should not be the only voice. Now, in an amazing turn-about of self interest or motivated by Comcast, the largest cable company which owns a significant stake in TV One, you argue that TV One should be the only voice. You know as well as I that there are over 500 majority-owned channels serving the viewing interest of the majority community and while African Americans represent 12 percent of the U.S. population, there is only one channel, yours, that is minority-owned. This position is not only a detriment to diversity, which we all support, it clearly argues that the cable industry has an obligation to serve the broad public interest by providing more diversity for the African American customers who spend in excess of $4 Billion annually on cable to receive literally two black program oriented channels. Furthermore, let me be clear the digital must carry that we are seeking would in no way reduce carriage for TV One, BET, or will any way prevent the future expansion of TV One or BET. Cable systems (based on engineering specifications) have the technological capacity to carry a second digital channel without any reduction in cable channel spectrum. In other words, digital channels don’t require the cable operators to drop any existing cable service. Therefore, your argument that Urban Television would “have a devastating impact” on TV One is totally without merit and absolutely self-serving. You suggest that the process that we’re proposing for a government mandated right to carriage is “a thinly-veiled” attempt to circumvent the system. I guess you mean by the “system” that we go to each cable market, system-by-system, and beg for carriage.
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Liggins/TV One February 26, 2009 Page 2
Alfred, as you well know, it is that very process which caused the failure of other African Americans who have tried to launch cable networks including Percy Sutton’s Apollo Channel and attorney Willie Gary’s New Urban Entertainment Television. As you well know, when I was at BET, and I am sure you did the same at TV One, we used every political leverage at our disposal to force many cable operators to carry our programming throughout their systems. In fact, had you not had the support of the largest cable company Comcast which was under political pressure to complete a minority deal, and I had Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI), our two channels would have never existed. I would, at any time that you suggest, be willing to debate with you whether or not Urban Television deserves mandatory digital must carriage in front of any public interest group or government hearing. I would like to hear your argument as to why the FCC should not grant digital must carry that would promote diversity and better serve the viewing interests of African Americans. My argument at these hearings would be that if Urban Television is successful in gaining digital must carry, other broadcasters could be encouraged to establish additional programming partnerships that could include content providers like Essence, EBONY, Black Enterprise or young African American Hollywood executives who are constantly searching for a distribution platform to showcase their creative ideas. These digital channels could also prove fertile ground for nonentertainment programming focused on education, health care, or financial literacy – all issues that are critically important to the African American community today. Moreover, if the digital stations are approved, there will be more opportunity for diversity and localism. For example a local Chicago, Atlanta, or Detroit broadcast station may want to provide local programming channels in partnership with minority entrepreneurs. I would hope that you would hold a greater vision of this technological opportunity presented by digital must carry and join with Urban Television and the many organizations like the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (MMTC), the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), RainbowPUSH Coalition, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the National Urban League (NUL), the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB), the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the International Black Broadcasters Association, the National Bar Association, the Community Broadcasters Association (CBA), and others who have filed in support of this innovative use of digital technology and the necessity for mandatory cable carriage. Warm Regards,
Robert L. Johnson cc: ION Media Networks The Congressional Black Caucus MMTC NAACP NUL
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