TV One Cancels Roland Martin’s Morning TV Program 'News One Now'
TV One is canceling Roland Martin’s morning show “NewsOne Now” due to budget cuts according to the New York Post's Page Six. They were the first to report the news. Roland Martin confirmed the news with the following tweet.
Fam, the sad news is true. The staff of @tvonetv #NewsOneNow was informed this afternoon that after four years of doing groundbreaking and award-winning work, the show will cease production at the end of the year. Our last live show will be Dec. 21. #BringTheFunk— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) December 7, 2017
“They called a meeting on Wednesday and told the staff they were canceling the show. They’re having significant financial problems and they have to scale back,” a source said.
TV One’s interim GM, Michelle Rice wrote in a memo.
“After four years of award-winning programming and distinguished service to our viewers as the only black daily newscast on television, the network has made the difficult decision to suspend the production of NewsOne Now as a daily morning news show. The last live show is scheduled [Dec. 21],”
The memo added: “While we will continue our long-standing partnership with Roland Martin to ensure his important voice can be heard across all Urban One platforms examining issues of importance to the black community, we regret this decision adversely affects several of our valued colleagues whose positions will be eliminated with the suspension of the show.”
The emails, text messages, phone calls, Facebook and Twitter posts have been amazing. Your love for our work on @tvonetv #NewsOneNow is warming my heart and that of my staff. To read these amazing comments about how much the show meant to you is unbelievable. Thank u! Thank u!— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) December 7, 2017
this isn’t good news, but if there’s anyone i ain’t worried about being okay, it’s roland. https://t.co/DJAcCmgkPE— El Flaco (@bomani_jones) December 7, 2017
As Bomani Jones of ESPN stated above in his tweet, don't worry about Roland Martin. There will be a voice, an outlet somewhere for Martin. Perhaps an expanded role for him on the Tom Joyner Morning Show. For those calling for a petition to keep him on air, where were you before his show got cancelled. The bottom line is this: it's a business. And as a business TV One needs advertisers generated through ratings. TV One has to be commended for airing a daily news magazine show for the last four years. Which is a very expensive proposition to produce in terms of the staff needed and production costs.
The executive production team over the years changed the time slot, expanded the show to two hours, and have done a number of other things to attract an audience. It's really tough to get people to watch a show, when most people are on their way to work. Trying to compete with local and national morning shows, where they give you weather and traffic reports is difficult as well. At the end of the day it is still a business. Perhaps some form of the show can transfer over to radio.
For our money, now that Roland Martin is available, Urban One and Reach Media should consider Roland as a replacement for Tom Joyner in two years when he retires. Many years ago Martin hosted a morning talk show on WVON in Chicago. In this business opinions count. And Roland Martin has strong ones. Other than Rickey Smiley or D.L. Hughley, are there any other candidates that can fill the role of hosting of a nationally syndicated morning show that should be considered???
