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Launch HN: BlackOakTV (YC S21) – Netflix for black people

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Re: Launch HN: BlackOakTV (YC S21) – Netflix for black people

#461

Post by tekromancr »

TheAdamAndChe wrote: post #409
Uzo0312 wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a great point. I think both things probably need to be done. We took the distribution route, because ultimately we believe it's the direct relationship with the consumer that will allow for this to work. As a production company, you're a step away from the end-user, so you're at the mercy of a distribution company that has more than just the black audience to worry about. But if a company is solely focused on…

You are right about focusing on tiny niches is more profitable. The trouble is that this is corrosive to our society. Our extremely multicultural nation historically depended on popular media to create a homogeneous base from which to build our interactions upon. This product is advancing the corrosion of that base and separating us further.

Nothing is stopping you from consuming content that centers Black people. There has been an absolute renesance in the last few years of stories that focus on black lives in ways that haven't really been told in pop culture before, especially in TV.

And the best part is these shows are good! They are really fucking good!

Nothing is stopping you from consuming that content and incorporating into that homogeneous base upon which you build your interactions.

Re: Launch HN: BlackOakTV (YC S21) – Netflix for black people

#464

Post by tomc1985 »

mattlondon wrote: post #228
f6v wrote: post #2

“X for black people” sounds so bizarre to me(non-American). The cultural divide between the people must be insane.

Agreed. Where I work (US-company, but I work outside of US) it is similarly weird to me. We appear to have gone backwards in the past 5-10 years in my view - no longer can you just be "you", but now it feels like we have to be labelled, categorised, and segregated into different groups. We now have to make a big deal and a big song-and-dance to highlight our differences and define what our ethnic backgrounds are (app…

There's a meme floating around that America is no longer the Great Melting Pot (where everyone assimilates to American culture), now we are the Great Salad Bowl (where everyone is their own unique and special thing)

Personally, I don't really understand all this need for individual representation, but then neither do I really have to.

Re: Launch HN: BlackOakTV (YC S21) – Netflix for black people

#466

Post by skyde »

snakeboy wrote: post #170
commandlinefan wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> How is it racist to offer something as a business, it's not like it's a government or other public project I've seen people suggest that censorship is only censorship if the government does it, but suggesting that racism is only racism when the government does it too is a first.

> but suggesting that racism is only racism when the government does it too is a first. I think you've misunderstood this post. This is less like a "white's only" restaurant, and more like an Italian food restaurant. It's supporting a cultural niche, not excluding another.

not exactly because unlike show such as “ The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” this new niche is show that say the white males are evil and responsible for everyone problem. It’s like KKK but i’m reverse

Re: Launch HN: BlackOakTV (YC S21) – Netflix for black people

#467

Post by thegrimmest »

zentiggr wrote: post #241
sombremesa wrote: post #179

I think people who are being downvoted in this thread have valid points, and they’re not really critiquing the company, rather the problem seems to be your messaging. You shouldn’t say “Netflix for black people” because Netflix is for black people already. Moreover if I start selling boxed water called “water for black people” with black stories on the carton, I’m unnecessarily limiting my audience (even alienating s…

You make it sound like segregation end... the last few years, and especially the state voting laws passed in the past year, show that while it may not be explicit law anymore, it is still certainly what a lot of people are fighting to do in any way possible. I (as a middle age white male) WANT people to be thinking about because it's still happening 24/7, and people who aren't bigoted should be aware and pushing back…

It's not though is it? "black people" are not a cultural group are they?

Re: Launch HN: BlackOakTV (YC S21) – Netflix for black people

#468

Post by thisthat112233 »

Veen wrote: post #451
Uzo0312 wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a great point. I think both things probably need to be done. We took the distribution route, because ultimately we believe it's the direct relationship with the consumer that will allow for this to work. As a production company, you're a step away from the end-user, so you're at the mercy of a distribution company that has more than just the black audience to worry about. But if a company is solely focused on…

But what are you going to distribute if no one is making high-quality media for Black people?

I think what he's suggesting is that lack of distribution may be contributing to / causing the lack of quality black programming. By setting up a distribution company, they can now create a channel for quality work that exists but isn't currently being distributed.
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