News is fading at cable's Black Entertainment Television.
The network, which is targeted at African-American viewers, is canceling two of its three news programs and ending an issues program geared for teens as part of an overall restructuring.
The changes will put 40 people out of work, and leave the fate of network anchor Ed Gordon in limbo.
"We will reconcentrate and refocus our news efforts on news specials," said BET spokesman Michael Lewellen. "We'll look at things that are big picture, highly impactful issues."
This month, BET will send off BET Tonight, a nightly talk program that airs at 11:30 p.m., and Lead Story, a Sunday morning issues program. Also set to depart is Teen Summit, a round-table program focusing on issues for young viewers.
BET Nightly News, the network's flagship news program, won't change.
"This is not an abandonment of news and public affairs," Lewellen said.
However, under the new structure, there will be no set schedule for news specials. Instead, they'll be driven by need and subject matter.
"The issues are going to dictate," Lewellen said.
Gordon has been a fixture at the network for years. He made headlines in mid-1996 when he landed the first interview with O.J. Simpson after the former football star and actor was acquitted of double-murder charges. The interview elevated BET to a national level. Gordon left for a stint at NBC, which included working for Dateline and later MSNBC, and then returned to BET in 2000.
Lewellen said that talks are ongoing about a role for Gordon under the new setup, but that nothing has been settled.
Eliminating the newscasts is part of a shift at the network to include more syndicated programs, original specials and joint ventures.
"Our new focus will strike a better balance between original programming and an increase in acquired shows," chief operating officer Debra Lee said in a statement. "This new strategy required us to examine our entire corporate structure and get a better sense of the size and scope of organization we need moving forward. It's always difficult to lose people as part of a business process, but these changes are our effort to support our new programming direction at BET."
Lee said BET has done market research, focus groups and audience analysis, and that led to the programming changes. The goal is to reach a larger audience, including more women.
"Like any network preparing for an influx of new programming, a few BET shows already in our lineup will eventually be canceled," Lee said. "There will be more specific announcements about the extent of our lineup changes over the next several months."