There has been a segregation of black people in shows and white people on shows. Rarely do they meet. Twenty years ago, you had to watch just three networks. Recent attempts to develop shows around black characters and themes have failed. The action centered on a butler in the Lincoln White House.
Media buyers do see value in black shows.
At the advertising upfronts last May, more units were sold within the WB's Thursday night comedies than any other evening on the network's lineup. Still, industry sources believe that the networks would prefer to keep the emphasis off creating black shows and focus instead on integrating casts. Chappelle and executive producer Peter Tolan ultimately walked away from the project that was set to bow this season. I don't think it's so much about a strategy to go after more viewers or do more or less shows featuring African-Americans. These actors could absolutely be leads of series.