Cable TV Celebrates Black History Month Every Day of the Year

Black History Month

Black History Month has always been a time when America comes together to place Black history, heritage, and culture center stage, and cable TV networks are demonstrating that the Black community needs to be celebrated not just this month, but year-round. From producing shows that lift Black voices and that focus on the Black experience, to launching initiatives that strive to break down barriers for Black talent on and off the screen, the cable industry has long made a commitment to advancing racial equality and social justice through its large reach and influence.

Below are just a handful of the many specials, shows, and efforts honoring the Black community that are underway not only this month but every day of the year.


AMC Networks

  • AMC Networks continues its work with the AFI Conservatorya top American film schoolto offer the Black Producers Fund, a grant program that aims to create opportunities for Black students to break into the film industry.
  • Over the past decade, AMC Networks has partnered with the Congressional Black Caucus and the NAACP to launch their award-winning Public Service Announcement campaign in commemoration of Black History Month, with PSAs featuring legislators who advocate for diversity and inclusion and reflect on Black historical figures.


BET

  • BET and CBS have teamed up to produce a new monthly one-hour prime-time newsmagazine that will premiere on February 19. "America in Black" promises to put front and center news and features that impact the Black community. 
    • "Shining a light on the untold stories that affect our community, 'America In Black' provides unique opportunities to address timely issues affecting our community most, from the censorship of Black history in schools to the use of rap lyrics in criminal proceedings," said EVP of Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy Connie Orlando.


Comcast NBCUniversal

  • Later in 2023, Comcast NBCUniversal's "Voices of the Civil Rights Movement"the network's signature multimedia initiative honoring the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960sturns 10 years old. The initiative boasts historical moments and firsthand accounts from America's civil rights champions, and this month new original content around the role of Black activism, and the February 1968 Orangeburg Massacre, will be released.
  • NBCUniversal's "Discover Black Heritage" is a campaign that will feature events and programming across the network's channels around Black history and culture. The network's social channels will also highlight Black employees across the company, to educate and drive cultural awareness.
     

Disney

  • Disney houses a "Celebrate Black Stories" collection on Disney+ in its efforts to showcase educational and historical depictions of the Black experience.
  • The network's premiere of Marvel's "Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur" comes out on February 10 on the Disney Channel, and stars a young Black girl as a superhero who protects New York City with her brains and her dinosaur pal.

ESPN

  • ESPN hosts a "Black History Always" collection with films, documentaries, and specials highlighting the Black sports community, a content initiative that started in 2021 to celebrate stories around Black athletes and the Black experience every day of the year.


HBO

  • HBO created a sizzle reel, "Celebrating Black Stories," that displays the network's top Black talent who are dazzling audiences all 365 days of the year.
    • "We're excited to be kicking off Black History Month with the theme of Celebrating Black Stories today and every day," said Jackie Gagne, senior vice president of multicultural marketing for Warner Bros. Discovery. "As the theme implies, this year—and all year round—HBO Max is committed to curating a space to amplify and celebrate Black talent in front of and behind the camera."