Launched 1999 Country United States | Closed April 30, 2007 Formerly called MBC Network | |
Owned by Major Broadcasting Corporation | ||
Black Family Channel (founded in 1999 as MBC Network) was an American cable television network which featured programming aimed at African American families. The network's schedule included a variety of programs including religious programs, sports, music, talk shows, and children's programs. During much of the time of its existence, it was the only wholly Black-owned and operated American cable television network (BET was bought by Viacom a year after its launch; and TV One was owned by Comcast & Radio One at the time).
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The network was started by noted Florida attorney & philanthropist Willie E. Gary, former all-star baseball player Cecil Fielder, four-time heavyweight boxing champ Evander Holyfield, Marlon Jackson of The Jackson 5, and broadcast television veteran Alvin James through their business venture Major Broadcasting Corporation.
The channel started off as Major Broadcasting Cable (MBC) Network. The name was rebranded Black Family Channel on October 1, 2004 in hopes that it would better identify the channel's content.
BFC would effectively be run by actor/director Robert Townsend, who developed original programming for the network, including its most notable effort—the children's educational game show, The Thousand Dollar Bee, in which children would participate in tournament-style rounds of spelling challenges toward which the champion would receive a $1000 bond for his or her college education.
Unlike its primary rival, the Viacom-owned Black Entertainment Television, Black Family Channel avoided rap and hip hop-based programming (they showed gospel music instead). The network was available in up to 16 million homes in the US.
On April 24, 2007, BFC announced that they would cease as a cable channel, effective April 30, 2007, as part of a deal in which BFC's programming and subscriber base would be sold to the Gospel Music Channel. On May 1, 2007, the deal was closed.
The station was an associate member of the Caribbean Cable Cooperative.
Over-the-air coverage
The network was also carried on two low-power television stations, W23BC serving the Jackson, MS media market, and WRCX-LP, which serves the Dayton, Ohio area. W23BC has since affiliated with Colours TV and (more recently) America One. WRCX has since affiliated with Ion Television.
BFC Kids TV!
BFC Kids TV! (formerly MBC Kids, MBC for Kids, Kids on MBC and Kids MBC) was a children's programming block on Black Family Channel, launched in 2006, including programs like Aqua Kids, The Thousand Dollar Bee, Blue Peter, Rainbow Brite, The Get-Along Gang, Dennis the Menace, Popples, King Leonardo and Ulysses 31.