Bailout for Broadcasters?

That's what minority broadcasters are asking from the Obama administration.


Minority Broadcasters Seek Federal Aid

"At a hearing last week, National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters President James Winston told lawmakers that advertisers have severely cut investments in minority audiences at the same time minority broadcasters are having difficulty negotiating loan terms with banks."

Here is a tip for the members of NABOB. Change your business plan. Offer programming that appeals to a broader base of Americans. Money is not black. Money is green. If you're seeing a decrease in revenue, how does borrowing money change that? No one is going to borrow you money to throw down a rat hole, they expect to be paid back.

From the NABOB website, "Despite NABOB’s many accomplishments, our work is never
complete. Although constituting 14% of the total population, African-Americans own approximately 2% of all commercial broadcast licenses in the United States. "

Here is another tip: The 14% African American audience is not a captive audience. Blacks are free to watch or listen to non-NABOB broadcast. It's all part of diversity.

Also from the NABOB website. "Economic and political empowerment in the African-American community cannot be achieved without access and control over the mass media resources that impact our lives and the world. NABOB is dedicated to creating opportunities for success for African-Americans in the telecommunications industry. "

Opinion: This Sounds like affirmative action. Mass media bends over backwards in promoting people of color. NABOB is asking for racial quotas.

NABOB is saying their members can't make a go of it, due to a lack of advertising. They also say there isn't enough minority ownership in the broadcasting business. From a supply and demand standpoint, this makes no sense at all.

If a few NABOB stations fall by the wayside, it will be a benefit for the stronger ones. The government should stay out of this, but perhaps NABOB member feel they help get Obama elected; asking for a payback, just like the unions are doing. It's all part of Obamanopoly, the object of the game is to be on the receiving end of the redistribution of wealth.