Black News Channel announces layoffs a week before Christmas

[TexasTowelie]

Tallahassee-based Black News Channel announced it was laying off an unspecified number of its 300 employees, 75 of whom are based in Atlanta.

The startup network, which has been heavily funded by Jacksonville Jaguars owner and billionaire Shahid Khan, has struggled to draw viewers. The Wrap tracked the Nielsen ratings of 124 basic-cable channels with Fox News at top. BNC came in 123rd with an average of 4,000 viewers at any given time.

According to a memo that The Atlanta Journal-Constitution received, CEO Princell Hair broke the news Friday to employees: “I am reaching out to you today with some very unfortunate news about a reduction in our workforce. As you know, throughout the course of this year, we have been expanding at a rapid rate. At the same time, the U.S. economy is facing some tough challenges, several of which are heavily impacting the media industry and the revenue streams that fuel our emerging enterprise.

“I am incredibly proud of this team and all that we have built and accomplished,” he added. “Your work has been outstanding, but we have reached a point where a considerable adjustment is needed in order to protect the health of our business and keep BNC moving forward. ... This is a very difficult day, and a reminder that stages of our journey will be arduous and painful.”

Read more: https://www.ajc.com/life/radiotvtalk-blog/black-news-channel-announces-layoffs-a-week-before-christmas/5FXV2SNERNEXVLK3OUHMPCSXCI/

[SergeStorms]

1. What a bummer.

There's no good time to be laid off, but just before the holidays is an extra special kick in the ass.

Hopefully the station's rating will improve with time. I'd think it would take awhile for this station to make positive inroads in the ratings war. Best of luck to them, and to those who lost their jobs. Luckily there seems to be a plethora of job openings at the moment. I don't know whether that extends to broadcasting jobs or not though.

[jimfields33]

2. 4,000 viewers. That is dismal. Podcasts can get more viewers.

Unless something drastic occurs, I can’t see them making it to 2023.

[msongs]

3. maybe the could do some programming more people actually want to see nt