The Black Television News Channel (BTNC) will be the first
4K Ultra HD newsgathering and production infrastructure of its kind.
During the event, Byron Pitts, chief national correspondent
and Nightline co-anchor at ABC News, announced that he will join the new
network as a contributor while continuing his role at ABC.
“I am proud to be a part of this historic venture,” Pitts
said. “And I want to thank the Black journalists that came before me and those
that will come after me for creating a space to tell the truth and honor the
truths of people of color that have often been ignored.”
“This partnership is not only unprecedented change, it’s
game-changing,” said FAMU Interim President Larry Robinson, Ph.D. “I believe
this partnership will be among those that will be chronicled in history in
terms of allowing us to reach a larger spectrum of individuals to tell them
more about their own culture and perspective that they can appreciate.”
Other features of BTNC’s future operations include a
media-training center for aspiring multimedia and visual communicators,
including FAMU students and students at other historically Black colleges and
universities nationwide.
Congressman Al Lawson, a FAMU graduate, was among elected
officials who lauded the network, which is scheduled to launch in February
2018.
“This is a great day at Florida A&M University and in
the state of the Florida,” said Lawson. “Many of my colleagues in the
Congressional Black Caucus are excited about the opportunity we have here in
bringing a news network to Florida A&M’s campus. For the first time, people will be able to
tune into the Black Television News Channel and watch what is happening in
America through another dimension and another story. Where else better for it
to start than here at FAMU?”
Similar sentiments were expressed by former U.S. Congressman
J.C. Watts, Jr., (R-Oklahoma) and former city of Tallahassee Mayor John Marks
III, both owners of BTNC.
Watts is credited with being one of the visionaries behind
the network. He expressed gratitude for the unwavering support and advocacy of
national leaders including U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Illinois) and U.S. Sen. Bill
Nelson (D-Fla.), state legislators, staunch supporters in the media industry,
and officials at the state and federal levels.
“We will honor the commitment you made to us,” said Watts.
“We are honored to be a partner with FAMU’s leaders, students, faculty and
staff in this effort.”
According to a study by the Florida State University Center
for Economic Forecasting and Analysis, the BTNC will generate more than 100
jobs in Tallahassee and more than $30 million annually in economic stimulus for
the region.
In March 2014, the FAMU Board of Trustees unanimously
approved the agreement with BTNC to establish a “Network Course of Study” that
included substantial benefits to the university’s promotion, recruitment,
academic and student training programs.
FAMU’s journalism school dean, Ann Wead Kimbrough, DBA,
reiterated the BTNC and FAMU effort offers “substantial positives” to enhance
the university’s performance metrics as established by the Florida Board of
Governors.
“This unique opportunity affords our students cutting-edge
training experiences that will provide advantages in a competitive
marketplace,” Kimbrough said. “There are opportunities for just about every
major.”
Several BTNC officials will also update the FAMU Board of
Trustees and other higher education officials on its operations that include
its content distribution contracts with Charter Communications, DIRECTV, and
Dish Network. Sony is partnering with BTNC to provide equipment for its
professional newsroom and to benefit students. With Charter, the launch date
will present BTNC’s content into 33 million homes in markets that include New
York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas, Detroit, Boston, Tampa, Orlando, Cleveland,
Charlotte, Birmingham, Norfolk, Raleigh-Durham and New Orleans.
“There is no other network delivering in 4K in the U.S.,”
said Marks, about the advanced technology that the network will debut. “We will
be the first in the nation, and I am extremely proud to be a part of this
network.”
FAMU SJGC students Destiny Hudson, a public relations major,
and Nathan Vinson, a journalism major, said they are honored to accept the
generosity of BTNC on behalf of current and future students and alumni.
Faculty, alumni, community stakeholders joined dignitaries,
including Florida State Senator and FAMU public relations graduate, Bobby
Powell, Jr., Willie Williams from Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum’s office, and
Leon County Commissioner Nick Maddox at the event.
Along with Watts, Marks and BTNC owner Bob Brillante,
several national leaders in media and communications will provide executive
leadership for the network. They include Steve Pruitt, former executive vice
president of the United Negro College Fund and budget director for the U.S.
House of Representatives; Frank Watson, former CBS executive, who managed two
CBS flagship stations and Evan Leo, a partner with Kellogg, Huber, Hansen,
Todd, Evens and Figel Law Firm and one of Washington, D.C.’s premier
telecommunications and regulatory attorneys.