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DuJuan McCoy, owner of Indianapolis-based Circle City Broadcasting—which operates WISH-TV Channel 8 and WNDY-TV Channel 23—is teaming up with Atlanta-based Cox Media Group to launch Multicultural News Network, which is being billed as “a non-partisan, national news network that will bring an unbiased national forum for the voices of America’s underserved multicultural communities.”
The news network will launch in the second half of 2021, and McCoy said 150 people will be hired to work out of WISH’s Indianapolis headquarters to make it happen. The vast majority of those hires will be made by late next year, he said. The network will be supplemented by some existing employees at the companies involved.
“This will be a separate cable news network, just like Fox News and CNN,” McCoy told IBJ. “This could be huge for the city. This will likely put Indianapolis on the map as a Midwestern media destination.”
McCoy, who acquired WISH-TV and WNDY-TV for $42.5 million last year, declined to say how much is being invested in MNN.
MNN will produce live, daily news and other programming aimed at multicultural communities including Black, Hispanic, LGBTQ, Asian, Native American, people of Middle Eastern descent and others, Circle City and Cox officials said. Much of MNN’s content will be produced and delivered by multicultural communities “to ensure their authentic voice is being heard on a regular and national basis,” an MNN statement said.
“CMG strongly supports increasing diversity in media and providing authentic, unbiased platforms for underserved voices to be heard,” Cox Media Group Executive Chairman Steve Pruett. “We … look forward to helping change and diversify the landscape of news in the U.S., which is the objective of MNN.”
McCoy will serve as MNN’s chairman and CEO. MNN plans to utilize stations, newsrooms and news bureau resources in dozens of markets across the U.S. including Washington D.C.
The exact launch date, advertisers, sponsors and distribution partners will be announced in the near future, MNN officials said.
“MNN has been in development for a few years, and I am very excited to make this announcement alongside many valued and supportive partners,” McCoy said in a written statement. “We believe MNN will change the way Americans view news while providing a national platform for many underserved, diverse communities that are voiceless in America’s current national news media landscape. Numerous multicultural communities will now have a regular platform for their stories and perspectives to be heard. Additionally, I believe MNN can become for the city of Indianapolis what CNN became for Atlanta.”
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Very cool!! I am excited to see what this group does.
I’m guessing Caucasians are not included in the multicultural communities tent, mmmm. So in reality it specific culture community! Why is it that the United States has worked for 245 years to be inclusive an in the last 12 years we have moved towards separation?
Steve, if you can’t recognize the need for inclusive media, you are part of the problem. Obviously white people aren’t going to be excluded when they make up a significant majority in government and business. Talking about inclusivity and actually obtaining it are two different things. There is a lot of work yet to be done.
I thought that’s what HULU was?
This is good news for the city. Hopefully it gives us positive exposure. If you are complaining about this network not going out of their way to include the views of white people, your complaint is silly. The entire point of this is to give an expanded voice to minorities. If you don’t like it, change the channel. Anybody who lives in a society dominated by white culture and gets offended by a network whose purpose is to give voice to people from other cultures is a snowflake. Try not to melt.
Well said! I was thinking the same thing!
This could be really big for the city if this channel is successful. I can’t wait to watch. If you’re complaining that Whites won’t be represented, just tune into Fox News, OAN, Newsmax, or realistically every tv network other than BET or OWN.
Now this is GOOD news!
Way cool..for EVERYBODY!…Old white guy😁
No one believes it will be non-partisan. It will push their own agenda like the rest of the media organizations. Sad but true.
Nothing is “non-partisan” anymore. I have always split my ballots and I consider myself to be firmly in the middle. (“Political compass” tests agree with me on that, for what it’s worth.) The Trump-loving right thinks I am an evil socialist and the far left thinks I am some kind of evil crony. We’re so polarized as a country that the center is radical to both sides of the coin.
The guy who yelled RACISM! When he didn’t get the price he wanted for his business asset is going to have an unbiased news channel. Uh-huh……
Mr. McCoy is a mover and shaker. He has some great ideas. MNN is another great idea. But mainly folks this is good for Indy. Can we at the minimal agree on that point?
If it actually becomes something anywhere close to as big as CNN, that would be amazing for Indy. This station alone should help empower minority voices in Central Indiana, along with the whole country. I’m sad, but not surprised there aren’t more comments about how amazing of an opportunity this is for Indianapolis. People should be excited no matter their politics.