You’ve probably seen the logo flickering on a digital subchannel late at night or heard the name in discussions about Black-owned media. The Soul of the South Network (SSN) wasn’t just another television station. When it launched in 2013, it was a massive, $10 million bet on a specific idea: that the 20 million African Americans living in the South were tired of seeing themselves reflected through a New York or LA lens.
It was supposed to be the "CNN of the South" for Black culture.
The founders, Edwin Avent, Carl McCaskill, and Larry Morton, didn't just want to play music videos. They promised five hours of live news daily. They talked about "Southern-focused" programming that actually felt like home. But if you look for them today, the story gets a lot more complicated. Honestly, it's a mix of visionary ambition and a messy web of lawsuits, bankruptcy filings, and shifting ownership that most people can't quite keep straight.
What Really Happened With the Soul of the South Network?
The hype was real. At its peak, the network was aiming for 30 to 60 markets, covering huge chunks of the demographic in cities like Little Rock, Chicago, and Philadelphia. They even moved into the old Equity Broadcasting building in Little Rock—a massive 30,000-square-foot facility.
But building a broadcast network from scratch is expensive. Like, "drain your bank account and still need ten million more" expensive.
✨ Don't miss: Who was the voice of Yoda? The real story behind the Jedi Master
By 2015, the cracks were showing. A Chicago station, KM LPTV, sued the network for nearly $2 million, claiming they hadn't been paid for airtime. The legal documents from that era are a headache to read. You have allegations of "shifting funds" to avoid payments and counter-claims that the contract terms were signed by mistake.
It wasn't just one lawsuit. It was a cascade.
The Financial Tangents
- Government Loans: The network received significant backing from the Arkansas Development Finance Authority and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
- The FBI Investigation: By 2016, reports surfaced that the FBI was looking into how government money flowed into the venture.
- Ownership Shifts: Eventually, SSN Media Group, LP took the reins, but the "Soul of the South" brand name became a bit of a ghost. At one point, there were plans to rename it "Slang TV," which... well, that never really happened.
Why the Soul of the South Network Matters Now
Even with the drama, you can't ignore the void they were trying to fill. Most Black-targeted networks—think BET or TV One—are headquartered in the North or operate with a very national, urban-slick vibe. Soul of the South Network wanted to talk about the "Capitol Eye," focusing on Southern politics and news from places like Atlanta and Tallahassee.
They used something called the C.A.S.H. (Central Automated Satellite Hub) system. It was a cloud-based tech setup inherited from the defunct Equity Broadcasting. This allowed them to beam content to tiny low-power stations and digital subchannels across the country without needing a billion-dollar infrastructure.
🔗 Read more: Not the Nine O'Clock News: Why the Satirical Giant Still Matters
It was a scrappy, tech-forward way to bypass the gatekeepers of traditional cable.
Programming That Almost Was
In the early days, they were in talks with major Hollywood studios to license sitcoms and dramas. They had Doug McHenry—the guy who produced New Jack City and House Party—as the President of Entertainment. The pedigree was there. They wanted a mix of:
- News: A two-hour morning show out of Atlanta.
- Opinion: Political talk shows focusing on Southern state capitals.
- Culture: Local documentaries that didn't treat the South like a caricature.
The Reality of 2026: Where is SSN Today?
If you're looking for the Soul of the South Network on your channel guide today, you might find a remnant of it, but it’s a shadow of the original 24/7 news vision. Much of the original "Soul of the South" infrastructure was absorbed or sold off during various bankruptcy proceedings.
Matthew Davidge, who owns Media Gateway, ended up purchasing the Little Rock building and some of the technology assets back in 2016. The network shifted from a "broadcast giant" to more of a niche programming block that lives on through various affiliates and streaming experiments.
💡 You might also like: New Movies in Theatre: What Most People Get Wrong About This Month's Picks
The founders have moved on, too. Edwin Avent, for instance, has pivoted heavily into education and leadership, serving as the CEO of the Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys. It’s a far cry from the high-stakes world of TV distribution, but it carries that same mission of community empowerment.
Actionable Insights for Media Consumers
So, what do you do if you're looking for that "Southern Soul" flavor now?
- Check Digital Subchannels: If you have an over-the-air antenna, scan your channels. Many "zombie" networks or regional blocks still use the SSN branding or similar programming on 4.2 or 7.3 type channels.
- Look to AVOD Services: Platforms like "In The Black Network" (launched by former Fox Soul exec James DuBose) are the spiritual successors to what SSN tried to do. They are free, ad-supported, and Black-owned.
- Follow the News Locally: Since the 5-hour daily news dream died, local Black-owned newspapers and digital sites in the South have reclaimed that space. Don't look for one "big" network; look for the local journalists in Atlanta, Little Rock, and Jackson who are doing the work on the ground.
The story of the Soul of the South Network is a cautionary tale about the brutal cost of traditional broadcasting. It proved that the audience exists, but the business model of 24-hour regional broadcast news is a beast that few can tame.
To stay connected with the current landscape of Black-owned media, your best bet is to audit your streaming apps. Look for platforms that prioritize regional stories rather than just national trends. You'll find that while the network itself struggled, the demand for Southern-voiced content is higher than it’s ever been.