BROADCAST TELEVISION AND RADIO IN African American Communities African Americans rely on free, local television and radio broadcast stations more than most other demographics. Over-the-air TV and radio, multicast networks and targeted programming provide a vital and irreplaceable resource for African American families and communities throughout the country. Broadcast Television African American Over-the-air Broadcast Television Reliance The number of broadcast-only households in the United States continues to rise, increasing nearly 16 percent from 2016 to 2017.1 This includes nearly 27.8 million TV households receiving over-the-air broadcasting each quarter. Of that number, nearly 3.9 million are African American homes, representing over 8.3 million African American over-the-air viewers.2 Nationally, 15.7 percent of all TV homes rely exclusively on broadcast signals to receive their television programming.3 Looking at markets with high density African American populations, the chart below demonstrates how African Americans significantly outpace the general population in reliance on over-the-air broadcasts.4,5 In Detroit, for example, one-third of African-American homes rely on broadcast-only TV, while only 14 percent of all households in the market are broadcast-only. 6,7 Additionally, in many U.S. cities, a large portion of broadcast-only homes are African American, including Memphis, New Orleans and Baltimore, representing 63 percent, 42 percent and 47 percent, respectively. 8,9 African American Broadcast Only TV Penetration in Markets Detroit Chicago St. Louis Dallas Miami Memphis Nashville Richmond 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% African American Broadcast Broadcast Only TV Homes Only TV Homes African American TV and Radio Broadcast Station Ownership African Americans are important stakeholders in the broadcast industry, with majority ownership in 180 television and radio stations in the U.S.10 African Americans have majority ownership in 12 full-power TV stations, which is one-third of all the full-power stations owned by racial minorities and eight low-power stations. Additionally, African Americans hold attributable ownership, or non-controlling interest, in 218 full-power and 123 low-power TV stations.11 In broadcast radio, African Americans own a controlling stake in 87 AM and 72 FM radio stations and have a non-controlling stake in 240 AM and 334 FM stations.12 Increasing African American Broadcast Station Ownership The National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation (NABEF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring the future of broadcasting through a commitment to education and advancing the diversity and community service efforts of the broadcasting industry. NABEF offers a number of professional development programs and initiatives to achieve this mission, including the Broadcast Leadership Training Program, Media Sales Institute, Leadership Development Program and many more. The Broadcast Leadership Training Program is targeted to senior-level broadcast managers who aspire to advance as group executives or station owners. Since 2001, the Broadcast Leadership Training Program has produced 306 graduates, of which 111 are African American. More than 60 percent of these graduates have been promoted one or more times since participating in the program. To encourage diversity in broadcasting, NABEF offers fellowship opportunities to women and people of color. The National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB) is the first and largest trade organization exclusively representing the interests of African American owners of radio and television stations across the country. The association was organized in 1976 by a small group of African American broadcasters who desired to establish a voice and a viable presence in the industry and to address specific concerns facing African American broadcasters. More information about these two groups is available at nabef.org and nabob.org, respectively. African American Programming on Digital Multicast Affiliates Digital multicasts are additional channels offered by local TV broadcasters to provide targeted programming for local communities. An example of a multicast network is Bounce TV, which runs across 127 digital multicast channels throughout the U.S.13 Bounce TV launched in 2011 as the nation’s first over-the-air broadcast television network dedicated to African American viewers. Bounce reaches 82 percent of all US TV households and is available in 95 percent of African American TV homes.14 It offers original series, films, live sports events, documentaries and faith-based programs.15 The multicast network World Channel, which runs on 167 channels, hosts programming geared towards the African American community,16 and features broadcasts such as “AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange,” a program produced by Black Public Media, which aims to provide through series, documentaries and short films a cultivated perspective of the African continent and diaspora.17 African Americans and Broadcast Television African Americans have enriched broadcast TV for decades. “The Nat King Cole Show” premiered November 5, 1956, on NBC, making Cole the first African American to host and star in a television variety show. Fast forwarding to today, black series regulars continue to have prominent roles on broadcast television. Currently, 18 percent of series regulars on scripted broadcast programming are played by African American actors.18 Off screen, African Americans also hold important roles. Award-winning producer Shonda Rhimes, formerly with ABC, created some of television’s most successful dramas. For her work, Rhimes has been honored twice by Time magazine on their “100 Most Influential People in the World” list and was inducted into the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2015. Kenya Barris created two successful shows for ABC, including “Black-ish” and its spin-off “Grown- ish;” the CW’s “Black Lightning” was developed by production team Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil and FOX’s “S.W.A.T.” is led by African American showrunner Aaron Thomas. In corporate offices, Channing Dungey is the current president of entertainment at ABC and one of television’s most powerful people.19 African Americans also continue to be critically recognized for their work on broadcast shows. Below are the African American Emmy nominees for the 2018 Primetime Emmy Awards.20 Broadcast Award Winner Program Network Outstanding Lead Actor in a Anthony Anderson Black-ish ABC Comedy Series Outstanding Lead Actor in Sterling K Brown This Is Us NBC a Drama Series Outstanding Lead Actor in Jesus Christ Superstar John Legend NBC a Miniseries or a Movie Live in Concert Outstanding Lead Actress in Tracee Ellis Ross Black-ish ABC a Comedy Series Outstanding Guest Actor in Sterling K Brown Brooklyn Nine-Nine FOX a Comedy Series Outstanding Guest Actor in Donald Glover SNL NBC a Comedy Series Outstanding Guest Actor in Ron Cephas Jones This Is Us NBC a Drama Series Outstanding Guest Actress in Tiffany Haddish SNL NBC a Comedy Series Outstanding Guest Actress in Maya Rudolph The Good Place NBC a Comedy Series Outstanding Guest Actress in Wanda Sykes Black-ish ABC a Comedy Series Outstanding Guest Actress in Viola Davis Scandal ABC a Drama Series Outstanding Guest Actress in Cicely Tyson How to Get Away with Murder ABC a Drama Series Outstanding Supporting Actor Kenan Thompson SNL NBC in a Comedy Series Outstanding Supporting Actor Brandon Victor Dixon Jesus Christ Superstar NBC in a Miniseries or a Movie Live in Concert Outstanding Supporting Leslie Jones SNL NBC Actress in a Comedy Series The Late Late Show Outstanding Choreography Chloe Arnold with James Corden CBS Outstanding Costumes for a Jesus Christ Superstar Variety, Nonfiction or Paul Tazewell Live in Concert NBC Reality Program Outstanding Writing for Amber Ruffin Late Night with Seth Meyers NBC a Variety Series Michael Che, Sam Jay, Outstanding Writing for SNL NBC a Variety Series Stephen Glover, Jamal Olori Outstanding Original Chancellor Johnathan Bennett, SNL NBC Music and Lyrics Kenan Thompson, Chris Redd *At the time of this writing the winners had not yet been announced. Broadcast Radio Over-the-Air Radio Adoption by African Americans Radio is a true media companion, with 32 million African Americans ages 12 and up listening to broadcast radio each week, and adults listening to over 13 and a half hours weekly.21 Additionally, there are 405 AM/FM stations dedicated strictly to urban contemporary music.22 Another 459 urban contemporary and hip-hop stations are streamed online or can be heard on HD radio.23,24 Below is a sampling of the number of radio stations in markets with a high percent- age of African Americans.25 Number of Gospel Number of Urban AM/FM or Inspirational AM/FM Nielson Market Radio Stations* Radio Stations** Chicago 7 5 St. Louis 6 5 Memphis 6 5 Atlanta 6 3 Charlotte 5 10 Philadelphia 5 2 Richmond 4 2 Birmingham, AL 4 2 Dallas-Ft. Worth 3 4 * Includes Urban; Urban AC, Urban CHR, Urban Contemporary and stations that play these formats in addition to non-Urban programming ** Includes Gospel, Black Gospel, Southern Gospel and stations that play these formats in addition to non-Gospel or Inspirational programming. Urban One is the largest radio broadcasting operation geared primarily towards African Americans. Founded in 1980, Urban One owns or operates 57 urban radio stations in 15 markets, reaching 82 percent of Black America.26 One of its programs, “The Tom Joyner Morning Show” is the nation’s number one syndicated urban morning show, reaching more than 8 million listeners every week in more than 115 markets.27 African American Radio History Urban radio has always played an important role in African American communities. WDIA-AM in Memphis, Tenn., was America’s first urban radio station programmed by African Americans for African Americans. Founded in 1947 with programming exclusively targeted to African American listeners, WDIA is still a premier station in the Memphis area and continues to serve African American listeners.28 In 1949, WERD-AM in Atlanta, Ga., made radio history when Jesse B.