THE WORD NETWORK, the largest African American religious network in the world reaching 3 billion people worldwide, was notified by Comcast that they will be dropping The Word Network in certain key markets.
The Word Network responded immediately when it received the notification from the Comcast Senior Vice President of Content Acquisition. When she was asked what the reason for removing The Word Network was, she responded by saying “because we are Comcast, and we can.”
The Word Network notified Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rainbow PUSH, and he immediately made calls to Comcast executives. From these calls The Word Network got a meeting with Comcast.
We explained that The Word Network has been on Comcast for the past 17 years and that removing The Word Network programming deprives the African American community of quality, spiritual religious programming. The Word Network represents the major religious organization such as, COGIC, Full Gospel Baptist, PAW, Global United Fellowship and African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME). The Word Network has reached out to Congressman John Conyers, the Congressional Black Caucus and Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence.
“The black church community takes high offense to the dismissive actions of Comcast cable to off the most reputable vehicle of the black church without cause. This would never be done to a white Christian network without provocation. We will not go away quietly,” states Pastor Jamal Bryant.
“Comcast is joining the consortium of entities that deny opportunity to African Americans,” adds Bishop Charles Ellis III, presiding Bishop of Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW).
Arbitrary and egregious behavior such as this are the hallmarks of a MONOPOLY!!!
