Black News Channel launched in early 2020, and after roughly two years on the air, the network ceased operations. The Los Angeles Times reports that the company is shutting down the Tallahassee, Fla.-based outlet as soon as Friday.
The network failed to meet payroll on Friday, a day after telling employees that paychecks would be delayed. With BNC planning to cease its operations, it will put 230 employees, a vast majority of whom are people of color, out of work.
Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan is a majority stakeholder in the company, and he was no longer willing to invest further. The channel has been shopped to some media companies, but no taker as of now.
BNC’s failure to meet payroll and the announcement of the channel ceasing operations shocked and angered the remaining employees, considering many left established news organizations to join the company believing in its message to provide news to a diverse audience.
However, the network has struggled to find an audience. Also, it didn’t help that company also had to deal with a class-action discrimination lawsuit filed by former and current female employees.
The claim alleged that the women who worked at BNC were being paid less than their male colleagues and that managers grumbled that they were “insufficiently feminine.”
A representative for Black News Channel declined to comment on the story in the LA Times.
Eduardo Razo is the Assistant Content Editor for BNM, which includes writing daily news stories on the news media industry. He can be found on Twitter @eddierazo_ or you can reach him by email at eddie1991razo@gmail.com.
