Multicultural News

• BET, TV One Gear Up for Obama
  African-American targeted networks BET and TV One for the first time will join mainstream cable-news networks in offering full coverage of next month's presidential inauguration. While final programming lineups were still being finalized at press time, executives from both networks say they're planning unprecedented, around-the-clock coverage of the day-long festivities surrounding the Jan. 20 swearing in of Barack Obama as the nation's 44th and first African-American president. more » » » 
• Magic Johnson, Blige, Perry Honored
  BET will pay homage to NBA legend Ervin "Magic" Johnson, singer/songwriter Mary J. Blige and actor/playwright Tyler Perry and several other prominent African-Americans as part of its annual BET Honors event next month. more » » » 

• Taking Multiplatform Content to Sub-Saharan Africa
  BET Networks will offer top shows such as 106 & Park, College Hill, Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is to African-audiences as part of a multiplatform offering with sub-Saharan Africa-targeted satellite services GTV and Multichoice Africa Limited. more » » » 
• FiOS's Denson Expands Duties Across Platforms
  Verizon Communications vice president of content and programming Terry Denson has become the phone company's programming chief, recently adding oversight of content acquisition and deployment of Verizon wireless-phone and broadband services to his current duties regarding FiOS TV. Multichannel News programming editor R. Thomas Umstead sat down with Denson to talk about Verizon's cross-platform content distribution strategies. more » » » 
• Knockout for HBO PPV With De La Hoya-Pacquiao Bout
  HBO's Dec. 6 Oscar De La Hoya-Manny Pacquiao fight on pay per view, in which the lightweight champion Pacuqiao battered the "Golden Boy" into submission in the eighth round, drew 1.25 million buys — the first boxing event in 2008 to top the 1 million mark. more » » » 

• Intelsat, Convergence Partner To Launch African Bird
  Intelsat is partnering with a South African investor group, led by Convergence Partners, in a $250 million joint venture that will build and launch a new satellite to serve the African continent. The satellite, named Intelsat New Dawn, will feature a payload optimized to deliver wireless backhaul, broadband and television programming to the continent and is expected to enter service in early 2011. more » » » 
• Civil Rights Group Receives DTV Transition Education Funding
  The National Telecommunications & Information Administration has given $1.65 million to the Leadership Conference On Civil Rights Education Fund for DTV education. more » » »