Corporate Press Release Theater: TV One Announces Convention Plans, Its Existence

If I had mentioned TV One to you a few months ago, I'm guessing a substantial percentage of readers would have thought: What? You mean the guys who do news programs for elementary schools?

TV One, as political junkies have since learned, is an African-American-aimed cable channel that is not BET. And it became briefly notorious during last month TV critics' press tour when it announced that it would be covering the Democratic convention but not the one with the white guy.

Racist! Outrageous!, observers cried. Yes—exactly the kind of exclusion by the powerful media and public institutions that has kept the white man down in America for 400 years. The decision, I suppose, is as racist and exclusionary as the existence of TV One itself, something that I'm sure all the outraged voices have long been protesting—or would have, if they had any idea the channel existed.

Anyway, the combination of a "controversial" announcement and "outraged" response did the job: TV One's profile has, at least for a little while, been raised, and it announced its convention coverage lineup today:

Dear Editors:

TV One made some waves last month with the announcement of its nightly coverage of the Democratic convention.

TV One will offer live primetime coverage of the convention followed by TV One Live: DNC Afterparty which will look at the events of the day from a uniquely African American perspective.

A diverse group pf panelists, including:

Rev Al Sharpton

Actor and author Hill Harper (CSI: NY, ER and author of the bestselling book Letters to a Young Brother)

Comedienne Sheryl Underwood (who also happens to be a staunch Republican but is an Obama supporter)

Jacque Reid, anchor - TV Radio personality (Tom Joyner morning show, guest host on The View)

Michael Eric Dyson, co-host – Reverend and Georgetown Univ Professor- one of nation's most renowned public intellectuals

Rev. Marcia Dyson, co-host – wife of Michael Eric Dyson- Prof at Univ of Penn and one of nation's foremost religious figures and spiritual writers

Who knows? Maybe they'll actually manage to reach the one black viewer who both watches TV One and was planning to vote McCain this year, and brainwash him into going Obama. And he could end up swinging the whole election, just like Kevin Costner.