TV One, which entertains, informs and inspires Black adult viewers, has announced the creation of News One Now, a live one-hour, weekday morning news program slated to premiere September 2013. Roland S. Martin, national award-winning journalist, will serve as host and managing editor of the program that will be a multi-platform experience on radio, television, and online.
News One Now, culled from the third hour of a three-hour radio program to be syndicated on Radio One network stations, will provide viewers with a morning news program that for the first time in history, will offer news and analysis of politics, entertainment, sports and culture, from an African American perspective. The morning show, based in Washington, D.C., will feature a broad spectrum of experts, newsmakers and celebrities who will share their insights on current affairs with Martin. Additionally, the program will implement a “Skype Net” component giving various Radio One hosts a platform to provide daily weigh-ins on News One Now content, as well as inform the audience on hot topics in their respective regions.
News One Now will be a three-screen experience, allowing viewers and listeners to experience the show on radio, TV and through NewsOne.com, a website from Radio One’s web division, Interactive One. Various studies show that African Americans have a high usage of social media, and News One Nowwill heavily incorporate social media throughout the show (#NewsOneNow), allowing for a truly interactive experience with our audience.
Martin, the 2013 National Association of Black Journalists’ Journalist of the Year, most recently served as the host of TV One’s long-running, award-winning weekly news program, Washington Watch with Roland Martin, which concluded its four-year series run in May. Parallel to the creation of News One Now, TV One has signed an agreement with Martin’s media company, Nu Vision Media, Inc.
“We are delighted to announce the launch of News One Now, which continues Radio One and TV One’s pledge to serving our audience with compelling, quality coverage of current news events, issues and trends affecting the Black community,” said Alfred Liggins, chairman of TV One and CEO and president of Radio One.
“African Americans are some of the most highly engaged cable news consumers, and it’s vital that we meet that thirst with a daily morning show that speaks to our issues, our concerns, from our perspective, said Martin. “News One Now will launch as the pre-eminent destination for the pulse of Black America.”
Craig Henry (Washington Watch, Parole Diaries) will be the executive in charge of News One Now on behalf of TV One.