TheGrio will follow tomorrow night’s mid-term elections with its Black America Must Vote block of primetime programming.

The special live, two-hour election coverage, which will be live-streamed on theGrio.com website and theGrio Politics YouTube channel, will begin at 7 p.m. and will be hosted by April Ryan in Washington D.C., Natasha Alford in New York and Dr. Lamont Hill in Philadelphia, said the Allen Media Group-owned service.

Alford will provide election updates throughout the evening while Ryan interviews guest politicians and Hill speaks with voters, organizers and students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In addition, theGrio Op-Ed writer Michael Harriot will provide additional coverage. 

“The importance of informed Black voters cannot be minimized nor underestimated,” said Byron Allen, founder/chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group in a statement. “Too many issues -- including women’s reproductive health, prison reform, climate change, education, and access to capital -- all disproportionately impact Black people. We need to engage and empower Black voters to help close the economic and social disparities. News coverage and perspectives from trusted sources like theGrio are crucial in creating an informed Black electorate.” ■ 

BET Plus will debut its latest Tyler Perry-produced series, Tyler Perry's Zatima, this September, according to a new trailer for the drama series.

The 10-episode series, a spinoff of Perry's Sistas, debuts September 29 and follows that series' popular character Zac, (Devale Ellis) and Fatima (Crystal Renee Hayslett) as they navigate the ups and downs of their relationship, said BET Plus officials.

The series also stars Cameron Fuller, Remington Hoffman, Nzinga Imani, Jasmin Brown, Guyviaud Joseph and Danielle LaRoach. 

Zatima is produced by Tyler Perry Studios, with Perry serving as executive producer, director and writer, said BET Plus.■

FX will debut the fourth and final season if its Emmy-winning comedy series Atlanta on September 4, according to a new series teaser trailer.

The series, which ended its third season this past May, reunites series stars Donald Glover, Brian Tyree Henry, LaKeith Stanfield and Zazie Beetz as they return home after spending most of season three in Europe.

According to FX, season four finds the four friends back in their hometown, "but the question is, has Atlanta changed or have they?"

Atlanta earned three 2022 Emmy Award nominations, including a Best Actor in a Comedy nod for Glover, who won a 2017 Emmy in the category.

Also: Netflix's Slump Now Extends to Emmy Nominations

The series is executive produced by Donald Glover, Stephen Glover, Hiro Murai, Stefani Robinson, Paul Simms and Dianne McGunigle. ■

Aspire TV is marking its 10th anniversary with a new leader and a renewed commitment to serving its target African-American audience with quality informative and entertaining programming.

Aspire was founded in 2012 by NBA Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson as one of four independent, minority-owned networks selected for broad distribution by Comcast as part of the Federal Communications Commission-imposed conditions on its acquisition of NBCUniversal. Now owned by UP Entertainment after Johnson divested his majority ownership in 2019, the network continues to focus on promoting and reflecting Black culture and urban lifestyle through original and acquired programming. Leading the charge is UP Entertainment Senior VP of Multicultural Networks and Strategy Angela Cannon.

Formerly UP Entertainment VP of national accounts, content distribution and marketing, Cannon was part of Aspire’s original launch team and now oversees day-to-day management and oversight of Aspire TV along with FAST channel aspireTV Life. Cannon will also manage an original programming slate that includes the G. Garvin Live! cooking show, the Side By Side with Malika and Khadija Haqq talk show, as well as dedicated HBCU content and Black filmmaker-produced short films. 

Cannon recently spoke to Multichannel News about the network’s anniversary and its evolution, as well as its strategy to remain competitive in a very crowded television marketplace. An edited version of the interview appears below. 

Multichannel News: A decade ago Magic Johnson launched Aspire TV in an effort to bring more content to African-American viewers watching cable television. Has the network lived up to his aspirations? 

Angela Cannon: Absolutely. I was fortunate to be one of the people that actually worked in tandem with Mr. Johnson to conceptualize what Aspire is what we wanted it to be. At that time, we really wanted to make sure that it was a place to represent positivity across Black culture, Black images, Black family and Black affluence. What we've been able to do is shine a lens into what's possible, particularly for our young Black and Brown kids. Mr. Johnson said early on that he wanted a television station that reflected his experiences when he was growing up, where the family was sitting around the TV and everybody was able to enjoy, laugh, fellowship and bond together. What we’ve been able to do 10 years later is exactly right in line with what we said we were going to do, and in fact, even better.

MCN: The television landscape has changed significantly over the past decade. Has Aspire effectively maximized its reach across platforms in an effort to reach its target audience?

AC: We're continuing to build our distribution and our reach. Aspire right now is still ranked number one in affinity within Black lifestyle networks, and we continue to bring in audiences with above-average home ownership, income and education, so in that regard I’m happy with our position. Can we continue to expand our brand? Absolutely, which is what we’ve done with aspire TVLife, our first FAST channel, which is dedicated to cooking, fashion, travel and design. We’re really trying to make sure that we’re in those new, developing distribution pockets where we’re seeing Black audiences. I think everybody in this industry right now is looking at the rise of streaming. We're making sure that they have the content that our viewers want to watch – whether it's snackable content on their mobile phones, on our FAST channel or on linear. Whatever it may be, it is my job to make sure that Aspire is sitting where it will be most beneficial not only to us as a company but also to our viewers, our advertisers and distributors. I’m really excited about where we’re going. 

MCN: Has the industry become more accepting and inclusive of content created for and by people of color since Aspire’s launch or has it remained stagnant with regards to diversity both in front of and behind the camera?

AC: Ten years ago I think it was really more about trying to stake our claims. When the [Comcast] diversity initiatives came out, the networks that launched with Aspire TV were saying that we deserve a place on your cable lineup so that multicultural audiences can see themselves represented. With everything that’s happened over the past two years with COVID and with [the death of George Floyd], now you’re starting to see Black content in particular becoming more relevant across platforms. Is there room for more growth? Absolutely, because you still don’t see us as represented behind the cameras, and we’re still not represented enough in the executive rooms where they’re making the decisions. We’ve made some strides, but there are still some headwinds to tackle and to continue to grow. 

MCN: Where do you want to take the Aspire brand over the next year? 

AC: I think you'll see Aspire available in way more places … there are so many different things that we could do with this brand. We hear every day from our consumers that they love it and they want more. So in addition to the FAST channel that we have now, maybe we can get into other spaces like SVOD or additional offshoots. From a content perspective, we have really great partnerships, not just with our advertisers and our distribution partners but also with talent. We’ve done partnerships with chef G. Garvin to be our culinary expert, and he's going to help us build out our food network. We're also working with other celebrity leaders to do the same type of partnerships. We want to be authentic and true to our culture, and really represent us in a positive light, and showcasing all that we can do with all of our skill sets and in all of our glory. We're excited to bring that to viewers with more productions in development. We have a lot coming down the pipe, so we're excited about that. ■

Allen Media Group-owned digital news service theGrio is ramping up its push to serve Black audiences looking for news and entertainment information through its TV network, digital and podcast offerings.

The company, which Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group purchased in 2016, recently launched theGrio Black Podcast Network -- which offers listeners access to Black Entertainment, culture and news -- to go alongside the service’s theGrio.tv digital network and theGrio news-based website. 

TheGrio senior VP of news and entertainment Geraldine Moriba recently spoke to Multichannel News Senior Content Producer, Programming R. Thomas Umstead about the company's strategy to serve Black consumers on whatever platform audiences choose. An edited version of that interview appears below. 

Multichannel News: How do you feel theGrio’s brand is positioned in a very crowded television marketplace?

Geraldine Moriba: Our mission is to inform the black community everywhere we consume information. We know some people get their information from a website; some people get it from mobile apps; other people listen to podcasts. We over-index in new technology, so we wanna keep up with that and be everywhere we consume information. At the same time we don’t want to leave out generations who are still going to go to the website, because that is our bread and butter, but we also want to reach new audiences who are getting information from other platforms.

MCN: How does theGrio’s recent Black Podcast Network launch mesh with its website and television distribution strategy?

GM: The black community is a large community and we're not all the same – we don’t think the same, we don’t behave the same and we don’t all have the same beliefs. There's definitely commonality, but we’re different people. The way we consume information and where we get information also varies. There are people who get stories and information from podcasts – in fact, Black Americans over-index in podcasts, according to Nielsen. We right now make up over 20% of all podcast listeners, which is practically double our population. People who listen to podcasts might also get news from websites or a mobile app. Certainly there’s some overlap, but people are creatures of habit, and we want to genuinely try to inform people wherever they consume information. We’re about providing information and becoming a destination, but as black-owned media company it’s also about empowerment.

MCN: With respect to television, what is theGrio’s strategy to attract viewers?

GM: So on the television side, we will still have some news, but the television side is more lifestyle and entertainment. It is a different medium, and we recognize that people go to TV for different things. We don't want to create a 24-hour news channel – that's not our mission. We are building shows right now that will have a news component, but the majority of the content will always be lifestyle and entertainment and movies. There are over 1,500 movies available now on theGrio’s OTT (over-the-top) and OTA (over-the-air) platforms.

MCN: You mentioned that theGrio.TV’s focus on the television side is not necessarily news, but at some point will the network look to fill a void for news content targeted to Black viewers created by the recent shut down of The Black News Channel?

GM: It’s unfortunate that BNC shut down – there were a lot of talented people there, and we need that information. We are absolutely trying to be number one in our competitive set and trying to amplify Black culture. BNC was strictly news – we’re definitely news but also entertainment and lifestyle. ■ 

History examines the lives and careers of Black Major League Baseball players arriving on the heels of Jackie Robinson’s historic integration of the league in a new documentary, After Jackie, debuting June 18.

The documentary looks at the often overlooked story of the second wave of Black baseball players entering the major leagues after Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947. Players such as Bill White, Curt Flood and Bob Gibson picked up where Robinson left off in challenging the league to move toward greater roster integration, as well as to advance the status of Black baseball players both on and off the field, according to History. 

The documentary, executive produced by Emmy Award-winning producer Stanley Nelson along with LeBron James and Maverick Carter, features rare interviews with White and Gibson, as well as current and former baseball stars including Mookie Betts, CC Sabathia, Ken Griffey Jr., and Joe Torre.

In an edited Multichannel News interview with Nelson, here’s what he and History want you to know about After Jackie.

After Jackie looks at how Robinson’s integration of baseball often  overshadowed Black players coming up behind him: "There's been a lot done on Jackie Robinson, but there really hasn't been anything done on the group of baseball players that came right after Jackie. As incredible as Jackie Robinson was and what he went through, the generation right behind Jackie didn't have the scrutiny, didn't have press following them and didn’t have that level of attention. So I thought it was a chance to make a film that really centers on something that most people don't think about."

Jackie Robinson both helped and hurt the Black baseball stars that followed him: "It made their breaking into baseball harder. Bill White told us a story about how he was in the minor leagues and he was the only Black person there, but he didn’t receive any attention and there weren’t any reporters following him …he was basically by himself. So in some aspects it made their lives hard. It was amazing that they persevered, but I think it also helped their careers both during their playing days and after baseball, as so many of them went on to do great things."

After Jackie reveals some surprising facts about Black baseball players both on and off the field: "One of the facts that really surprised me was that African-Americans were part of professional baseball in the 1890s, but they were voted out of the major leagues by the white players. So for the next 50 years there were no African-American players in professional baseball. Also, I don’t think I really understood how much Jackie was part of the civil rights movement after his playing days were over."

After Jackie hopes to expose a new generation of baseball fans to the unheralded players who stepped to the plate after Robinson: "We’re looking at reaching both groups of fans. The trick to making a film like this is to appeal to people like myself who know a little bit about baseball, as well as people that don’t know anything about the story. We have some modern day African-American baseball stars including Mookie Betts, Ken Griffey Jr. and CC Sabathia that appeal to today’s baseball fans."■ 

Also: Byron Allen's HBCU Go Marks Juneteenth With Two Documentaries

OWN will debut the sixth and final season of its documentary series Black Love on July 23, the network said Thursday.

The series will continue to showcase authentic, honest, emotional and transparent love stories from known couples in entertainment and business, as well as everyday couples, according to the network. 

Among the couples featured in the series' final season are JB Smoove and Shahidah Omar, DJ Envy and Gia Casey, Mike Hill and Cynthia Bailey, and Adrienne Banfield Norris and Rodney Norris, according to OWN.

Black Love creators Codie & Tommy Oliver also serve as executive producers for the series, which is produced by Confluential Films.■ 

CNN will debut the seventh season of its Emmy Award-winning documentary series United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell on July 10, the network said Tuesday.

The series stars comedian and political provocateur Bell as he visits communities across America to explore race, class, and the unique challenges they face.  Bell's destinations for the seventh season include Appalachia, to explore largely unknown population of Black Americans who call the area home; Boston, to examine the mental health issues affecting the sport world; Hawaii, to uncover how the island has been commodified by an exploitative tourism industry following the COVID-19 pandemic and New York City, to discuss Asian American representation in film and media, revealing the commonality between his own experience and theirs, said CNN.

“For the last seven years, United Shades of America has been a cornerstone of the CNN Original Series brand and Kamau’s unparalleled ability to weave his natural curiosity and sense of humor together have ignited many important – and at times vital – conversations around race and society in this country,” said Amy Entelis, Executive Vice President for Talent & Content Development, CNN Worldwide in a statement.  “We are excited to join Kamau on another personal and witty odyssey across America.”

Added Bell: “Neither COVID, nor misinformation, nor political gridlock, nor the gloom of the feeling that American democracy is crumbling will keep me from my appointed duty of traveling the country for another season of United Shades of America. 

Also: Content Spotlight: W. Kamau Bell on Why 'We Need to Talk About Cosby'

Bell serves as executive producer of United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell along with Lydia Tenegalia, Chris Collins, Sandra Zweig, Morgan Fallon, Jimmy Fox, Layla Smith, Tim Pastore, Amy Entelis and Lyle Gamm.

HBO has renewed its Emmy-winning comedy series A Black Lady Sketch Show for a fourth season.

The Robin Thede-created, comedy sketch show features a core cast of Black women living relatable and comedic experiences in a magical reality that subverts traditional expectations, according to HBO. Season three of the series concluded on May 13.

A Black Lady Sketch Show stars Robin Thede, Gabrielle Dennis, Ashley Nicole Black and Skye Townsend. The series is executive produced by Thede, Issa Rae, Dave Becky, Jonathan Berry, Tony Hernandez and Brooke Posch.

“Robin, Gabrielle, Ashley, and Skye brought so much life to each character they portrayed in every sketch,” HBO Programming Executive VP Amy Gravitt said in a statement. “We’re beyond excited to explore even more comedic worlds with a fourth season of A Black Lady Sketch Show.”

Added Thede: “A Black Lady Sketch Show has created an indelible mark thanks to the trust and support of the incredible team at HBO. We are ecstatic to be heading into a fourth season that means so much to our cast, crew, and the dedicated audience who so passionately loves our show. ■

Black News Channel has ceased operations two years after its initial launch, network president Princell Hair announced in an internal memo to staffers Friday.

BNC, which launched in February 2020 right before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, will no longer deliver live programming as it plans to file for bankruptcy, according to Hair. The network will air previously recorded segments at least through the end of the month, said network officials. 

“Unfortunately, due to challenging market conditions and global financial pressures, we have been unable to meet our financial goals, and the timeline afforded to us has run out,” Hair said in the memo.

The network, co-founded by J.C. Watts, Jr., positioned itself as the only 24-hour news service targeted to African-American viewers when it launched with more than 50 million viewers in February 2020. BNC’s accessibility had grown to reach more than 250 million touchpoints, with carriage deals with such distributors as DirecTV, Comcast, Spectrum, Dish Network and Verizon Fios, according to the network. 

The network rebranded in 2021, changing its name to BNC while developing  a 17-hour block of live news and public affairs programming. 

Also: CBS Media Ventures to Help Sell Ad Sales for Revamped BNC

Hair, the former CNN general manager who was appointed president of the network in July 2021, said in the memo that the network had just recently set an all-time viewership record this week for wall-to-wall coverage of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings.

Hair also said the network was forced to endure “painful workforce reductions at all levels of the network” in an effort to achieve the goal of a “break-even” business.

“Please know that I am very thankful for all of your hard work and deep commitment to our mission. We have differentiated ourselves, and your achievements over these last two years should be an immense source of pride that you will carry throughout the rest of your careers," Hair said.

Also: Multicultural Perspectives: Princell Hair Leads Black News Channel Through Turbulent News Cycle (Video)

Hair's full memo appears below: 

A little more than two years ago, the lights on BNC’s cameras flipped on for the first time. Despite the challenges of a global pandemic, we launched a groundbreaking mission to inject positive change into a news landscape that, for far too long, had underserved and overlooked Black and Brown people.

During the past few months, we have endured very painful workforce reductions at all levels of the network as we worked to achieve our financial goal of a break-even business. This has forced all of you to do more with less, and your contributions have been remarkable.

Unfortunately, due to challenging market conditions and global financial pressures, we have been unable to meet our financial goals, and the timeline afforded to us has run out.

It’s with a broken heart that I am letting you all know that, effective immediately, BNC will cease live production and file for bankruptcy. We are saddened and disappointed by this reality and recognize the stress that this puts on you and your families.

With the nation on the verge of a social justice reckoning not seen in this country since the Civil Rights era, we’ve been hard at work building our presence in the marketplace with unprecedented speed. Through a continuous run of distribution agreements on both linear and streaming platforms, BNC’s accessibility has grown to reach more than 250 million touchpoints. 

Since rebranding and relaunching the network a year ago, we have developed a 17-hour daily block of live programming and a lineup of shows that are outstanding. Every day we present stories, context and viewpoints that illuminate and celebrate the Black experience in a way that no other network has since the dawn of television. 

We have hired more than 250 Black journalists and Black production personnel, and all your hard work and dedication has lifted this network to incredible heights. There have been countless wins along the way, including gavel-to-gavel coverage of several trials that gripped our community, A-list guests throughout our dayparts and exclusive coverage of The Congressional Black Caucus’ first-ever response to the President’s State of the Union address. Just this week we set an all-time viewership record for the network during wall-to-wall coverage of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings.

I understand that this surprising and unfortunate news will naturally generate a lot of questions surrounding next steps. Our leadership team and human resources will be in touch to address them over the coming days and weeks.

Please know that I am very thankful for all of your hard work and deep commitment to our mission. We have differentiated ourselves, and your achievements over these last two years should be an immense source of pride that you will carry throughout the rest of your careers.

 In the meantime, please take care of yourselves and each other, and remember that we built something great here. BNC, or something very close to it, will surely return at some point, because the world needs it, and all of you have proven it can be done.

HBO has renewed its Emmy winning drama series Euphoria for a third season, the network said Friday.

The series, which stars Emmy-winning actress Zendaya, is currently in its second season on HBO, with the season finale set for February 27, according to the premium service.

Euphoria’s January 9 season two premiere episode debuted as the most viewed episode of an HBO series ever on HBO Max, currently with more than 14 million viewers across platforms, more than double the average audience of Season 1 (6.6 million viewers per episode), according to HBO.

The series follows Zendaya’s teenage character Rue as she seeks to balance the pressures of love, loss and addiction, according to the network. Zendaya’s portrayal of Rue earned her a 2020 Emmy Award for best actress in a drama series. 

Euphoria is executive produced by Sam Levinson, Kevin Turen, Ravi Nandan, Drake, Adel “Future” Nur, Zendaya, Will Greenfield, Ashley Levinson, Ron Leshem, Daphna Levin, and Hadas Mozes Lichtenstein.

“Sam, Zendaya, and the entire cast and crew of Euphoria have taken Season two to extraordinary heights, challenging narrative convention and form, while maintaining its heart,” HBO programming executive VP Francesca Orsi in a statement. “We couldn’t be more honored to work with this gifted, wildly talented team or more excited to continue our journey with them into Season three.“ ■

As the TV industry celebrates Black History Month, African-American viewers say they‘re seeing more of themselves and their stories on the small screen but want to see even more inclusive content that reflects their experiences.  

Today, there are nearly 50 scripted series on broadcast, cable and streaming services that feature Black leads or predominantly Black casts. While that’s a drop in the bucket compared to the 559 scripted TV shows offered in 2021, according to FX research, industry observers say it‘s certainly an improvement over what was on television a decade ago.

While several iconic and popular shows will leave the air this year (ABC’s Black-ish, OWN’s Queen Sugar, TNT’s Claws and Showtime’s Black Monday), there are plenty of new shows aiming to fill the gap (Amazon Prime Video’s Harlem, ABC's Queens, Starz’s Run The World and ABC’s The Wonder Years). Also on tap is the much-anticipated March return of FX’s original comedy series Atlanta, starring Emmy-winner Donald Glover.

Also: Black History Month: What to Watch (February 1-14)

Black viewers are noticing the increase in content. According to Horowitz‘s recent FOCUS: Black: Consumer Engagement report, 55% of viewers said that they are seeing more Black actors as lead characters in scripted TV shows. More importantly for distributors, two in three Black viewers say that seeing Black characters and communities portrayed in positive ways positively impacts their decision to watch a show or a movie, according to the report.

While the report shows that viewers are reacting positively to the increase in Black images currently on-screen, Horowitz Research chief revenue officer and insights and strategy lead Adriana Waterston said there’s a desire to see even more diversity and inclusion within those characters and storylines. Indeed, Horowitz reported that 66% of Black TV viewers wanted to see more TV shows and movies that showcase the diversity of the Black experience here in the U.S. 

“This is an audience that in itself is incredibly diverse in a lot of ways, including cultural diversity, religious diversity and lifestyle diversity,” Waterston said. “There are so many differences that can be celebrated, and consumers are now saying that it’s not just enough for the representation of Black audiences to be good in numbers and quality. They are saying, ‘I want to really see myself represented,’ and that requires a level of understanding of the audience and a level of nuance.” 

Shows like Netflix‘s French-produced series Lupin, about a Senegal-born man looking to avenge his father’s death in Paris, and CBS‘s Bob Hearts Abishola — which takes a comedic look at immigrant life in America — have begun to help shine a light on diversity within the African-American community. 

“Current statistics and research substantiate that the U.S. Black population is not monolithic,” said One Caribbean Television president of sales and marketing Mark Walton. “At a time when Black-themed content is in demand, telling the stories of Black immigrants, primarily from Africa and the Caribbean, and their descendants, undoubtedly provides an opportunity to attract millions of viewers, many of whom rarely see themselves reflected in the narrative of being Black in America.”  

Waterston added: “The awakening to the dangers of stereotypical representations that was so damaging for so long has made people become more sensitive to on-screen portrayals. The next phase is not only being sensitive but being inclusive.” ■

 As free streaming service Fox Soul closes in on its second anniversary in February, its strategy of providing an unapologetic platform for African-American voices has yielded major partnerships both on the distribution and programming side.

Fox Soul recently inked a carriage agreement with YouTube TV, extending its distribution footprint to more than 44 million viewers through deals that also include Samsung TV, Roku and Tubi. On the programming front, recent partnerships with faith-based content provider Stellar TV, iconic publisher Black Enterprise and prolific music entrepreneur Damon Dash’s Damon Dash Studios will continue to help build up a steady flow of original content that already includes such shows as nightly news/talk series Fox Soul’s Black Report, weekly talk show Cocktails with Queens and music/talk series The Mix. 

Fox Soul general manager & head of programming James DuBose recently talked to Multichannel News' R. Thomas Umstead about the challenges and opportunities the service has experienced during its nearly two-year run, which also coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic and racial protests over excessive police violence during the summer of 2020. An edited version of the interview appears below.      

MCN: With nearly two years under its belt, has Fox Soul’s evolution met or surpassed your expectations? 

James DuBose: I'm very happy. I feel like we are definitely still on the right path of what we set out to do in terms of growth. As a startup, and especially a startup network whose work is focused on a specific audience, I thought it may have been a little more difficult for the industry to get an opportunity to understand who we are and what our real purpose and mission was. But the pandemic actually allowed us to broaden our footprint a lot faster than I anticipated. We couldn’t be in the studio because of COVID, so we were able to have guests from around the world be a part of Fox Soul [via digital], which was a real blessing for us. Word of mouth for our brand has really taken off, and we’ve really learned how to produce our shows with the technology we had during COVID. We’ve really seen an uptick in terms of our viewership in terms of minutes watched as well as in the distribution partnership that we currently have, so I’m extremely happy where we are. I couldn’t have asked for more under the circumstances -- but we still have a long way to go.

MCN: Have you seen much change in the amount of African-American targeted content on screen, particularly after racial reckoning that we went through in 2020?

JD: I think quite honestly, it's the same from this perspective: you may be able to find more specific black content at various outlets, but the difference is there aren’t many outlets that can offer content that’s as raw and unapologetic as us. We don’t have to tell the same story or say things in the same way that they say in other places -- we can speak our emotions without fear of reprimand. In that regard it hasn’t changed much. We as a culture have a voice; we as a culture have a perspective and a truth that needs to be heard. Once it’s heard in its rawest and purest form, I think all cultures will come to respect that. I think our talent really loves the fact that they can speak the way they want to speak and they can react the way they need to react to certain things going around the world. I don’t see that on a lot of other platforms because they just can’t do it in the same way.

MCN: What is the 2022 programming strategy for Fox Soul as it operates in a competitive video streaming marketplace?

JD: One of the missions that we set when we started was to create a safe place where people could talk about things that we normally only discuss in the privacy of our own homes. We wanted to give that voice to our consumers so that they feel that they’re part of this network and it reflects their voice and their truth. I want to get back to that, which will continue to differentiate ourselves from the other outlets that do Black content. I want to get into more of the music genre, create scripted shows, documentaries and movies that continue to tell the story behind the story.

MCN: Having said that, what should audiences expect to see from Fox Soul onscreen?

JD: We have some great shows coming up, but I’m most excited about the strategic partnerships we’ve been able to create with the likes of Stella TV, Black Enterprise, Dame Dash and more that are coming. I’m so proud that Fox Soul’s audience can be their audience and their audience can be Fox Soul’s audience, but we’re all still speaking the way we want to speak to that audience. We also have our first big music competition show that’s coming out in the new year, and we’ll also get into the wealth and finance, and fashion space. We are going to have our first scripted series coming up after the new year as well. I eventually want to hit every genre we love as a culture, but we’re going to tell it in the Fox Soul way and not try to compete with things that people do really well on their end. 

Multicultural Perspectives is a monthly feature on Nexttv.com exploring issues and personalities in the multicultural TV space. ■ 

Streaming service ALLBLK has greenlit a new comedy series that follows the exploits of a first-generation Haitian American young man struggling to overcome the challenges of building a successful career in Hollywood.

Send Help, created by actor Jean Elie along with writer Mike Gauyo, follows Fritz (Elie),   a young man hoping to achieve stardom in Los Angeles while fighting to conquer his feeling of imposter syndrome, the Hollywood community, his incredibly demanding Haitian family and a looming family tragedy, according to the service.  

“Elevating the diversity of content available on ALLBLK has been top of mind for us as we prepare for the next year ahead,” ALLBLK & WE tv general manager Brett Dismuke said in a statement.  “Send Help will introduce a new perspective to our programming library that we anticipate will reach audiences across genders, age groups, and cultures – while also addressing emotional situations with comedic relief.”

Added Elie: “Send Help is a love letter to my family and others living with tragedy. It’s also a shoutout to first generation Americans daring to step into creative fields despite being discouraged by their immigrant families. I hope young people will see what’s possible when you step out of your own way and defy society’s limits.” ■ 

BET will look to create premium television series and films as part of BET Studios, a new studio production company offering equity ownership for Black content creators, the network said Wednesday.

The studio venture will be headed by former Warner Bros. Television executive Aisha Summers-Burke, who will report to BET president Scott Mills and will be responsible for working collaboratively with the studio’s creative partners and key internal constituencies. Principal partners in the venture include content producers Kenya Barris, Rashida Jones and Aaron Rahsaan Thomas.  

BET Studios will look to develop content for BET and sister streaming service BET Plus as well as other ViacomCBS-owned networks including Paramount Plus, Showtime, CBS and Nickelodeon, according to the company. The service will also select third-party platforms that seek content from rising Black creatives. 

“The demand for premium content from Black creators has accelerated dramatically as a result of both the rapidly changing media and social landscapes,” Mills said in a statement. “BET, with our 40-year legacy of celebrating Black culture and the full power of the ViacomCBS ecosystem, is uniquely positioned to service this demand. As a company with its origin in Black entrepreneurship, we are incredibly excited to create the first major studio to provide Black creators with ownership, creative freedom and the unparalleled partnership and support of BET. I am thrilled to have Aisha at the helm of this venture, and I look forward to our collaboration with our amazing creative partners in BET Studios.” 

Added David Nevins, chief content officer, scripted originals for Paramount Plus and chairman and CEO of Showtime Networks: “BET Studios is an exciting and novel extension of the storied BET brand, and we have a structure well-suited to our times to bring top talent into this production company with real ownership. Scott Mills deserves tremendous credit for driving this innovative new business from idea to reality – and Kenya, Rashida and Aaron, could not be a more talented or in-demand group to lead this venture along with Aisha Summers.” 

Also Read: Showtime Head David Nevins Put in Charge of Paramount TV Studios

Burke, who most recently served as VP of scripted television for the cable and streaming division of Warner Horizon before it merged with Warner Bros. TV in 2020, said that the venture will continue to build on BET's legacy of offering quality programming to the Black community. 

“With the launch of BET Studios, we are excited to introduce a new model that opens the aperture to a broad array of platforms and supports the full range of content from Black creators,” she said. “This entrepreneurial environment offers creatives the opportunity to produce diverse high-end content reflecting all aspects of entertainment.”

BNC (Black News Channel) has reached a carriage agreement with Verizon Fios TV, extending the reach of the African-American targeted news channel to nearly 60 million linear cable subscribers, both parties announced Wednesday.

The deal allows BNC, which launched in February 2020, to reach more than 3.7 million Verizon Fios TV subscribers. Verizon is the latest linear distributor to carry BNC, joining Comcast, DirecTV, Charter Communications and Dish Network, according to the channel. BNC offers coverage of the unique perspectives, challenges and success of Black and brown communities. 

Also Read : BNC's Aisha Mills Discusses The Equality Act and Representation at Pride TV Summit 

“We are pleased to reach this important distribution agreement with Verizon Fios TV and continue BNC’s strong growth trajectory during a period of contraction for most of the industry,” said Princell Hair, CEO of BNC in a statement. “Linear and digital platforms are seeing increasing value in BNC’s unprecedented coverage of the experiences unfolding in Black and Brown communities as well as perspectives, viewpoints and stories that are not presented anywhere else.” 

Also Read: Multicultural Perspectives: Princell Hair Leads Black News Channel Through Turbulent News Cycle (video)

News media personality Roland Martin, along with along with legendary gospel music singer Erica Campbell, are co-hosting TV One’s Urban One Honors awards show this Sunday (May 16), as the third annual awards event showcases individuals and organizations whose work significantly impacts society and culture. 

Martin, formerly host of TV One’s daily news show News One Now, has recently taken his talents to the digital platform, hosting a daily web-based YouTube series -- #RolandMartinUnfiltered -- which focuses on news and analysis from an African-American perspective. Martin also recently launched a new Facebook Watch series, We Got Next: An Intergenerational Dialogue, which features discussions between youth and elders involved in social activism.

I recently spoke to Martin about his transition to digital media from traditional television and the opportunities the emerging platform affords diverse voices. Martin also discusses the need for more African-American owned news outlets and outlines what needs to be done to create a path for success. An edited version of the interview appears below.

Also Read: TV One's 'Uncensored'  to Air Final Interview with DMX

Picture This: What is the theme and message of this year’s version of the Urban Honors event? 

Roland Martin: The focus this year is specifically on the work that black women have been doing in areas dealing with activism, with COVID, voting rights and things along those lines. That’s what makes this year’s ceremony a lot different than in years past. For me it was pretty cool to be one of the few guys involved with it given this year’s focus.

Picture This: You’ve remained active over the past year even with the media slowdown due to the pandemic. How were you able to navigate through COVID?

RM: It’s been really interesting because we were properly positioned for COVID. When COVID hit the television networks had to pivot, but it highlighted what we were already doing digitally. I had a studio at home, so when COVID hit it was a boon to us because we were already positioned to work remotely, and we saw our numbers grow exponentially. I think that will continue through 2021 and 2022 because I just don’t think we’re going back to so-called normal anytime soon. We’re positioned to be mobile and versatile.

PT: From a news perspective, is the industry moving more toward the digital space as more consumers turn to digital for their information and entertainment?

RM: What we're experiencing right now is market fragmentation. The traditional gatekeepers no longer get to control everything. It used to be that you had no choice but to go to MSNBC, Fox News or CNN for 24-hour news coverage. What we've proven on the digital side is that people will seek out information beyond traditional television. Now look where we are -- CBS has expanded their digital offerings; NBC has created a separate digital channel. We started with 157,000 subscribers on YouTube and now we have more than 770,000 subscribers. If you know how to do it and understand the technology then you can be successful.

Also Read: TV One Pushes the Power of Representation

PT: How do we make sure that African-American owned and targeted content providers competed in an otherwise crowded media environment?

RM: What we’re doing right now with distributors and advertising agencies is drawing the line. We’re saying that there’s a reason why Black owned media has been strangled … it’s an abomination that these companies have been spending 1% with black-owned media when they know that black people are spending far more.  [Entertainment Studios CEO] Byron Allen has made it clear that he will sue companies, and I have made it clear that I will shine a light and call you out publicly. If companies have a $2 billion advertising budget, then 10% of that needs to be in black media. That would be a game changer. It means that we can do in one year what it took us 10 years to do. Now you can deal with capacity and you’re able to grow. That’s how we’re able to compete.

PT: So what is the outlook next year for Black-owned media companies? 

RM: I think next year we're going to be having a conversation where black owned media moves from getting 1% of the [advertising] dollars to 5% of the dollars. I believe you're going to see exponential growth. But it is only going to happen if you have people who are willing to stand up. We need major corporate leaders to say this has to change.

PT: What’s next for you and your production company Nu Vision Media?

RM: The next thing for us, and I’ve stated it publicly, is our OTT channels. People will soon be able to access our content on Apple TV, Roku, Samsung TV and other platforms. This environment is great for independent content creators to reach audiences. We also just launched a six-part series with Facebook as part of its “We The Culture” programming Initiative where I create these intergenerational conversations, such as Black Voters Matter co-founder Cliff Albright and Ambassador Andrew Young and young activist Kris Payne with Public Enemy’s Chuck D.

National Geographic will develop a documentary that examines the Tulsa Massacre of 1921 that will premiere in June.

The Red Summer documentary focuses on the 100th anniversary of the two-day Tulsa Massacre that led to the murder of as many as 300 Black people and left as many as 10,000 homeless and displaced, according to the network. Washington Post journalist and Tulsa native DeNeen Brown is at the heart of the film, reporting on the search for mass graves in her hometown, said network executives. 

Nat Geo will premiere Red Summer in June, commemorating Juneteenth when the last Black slaves in the U.S. heard of their emancipation. The documentary is produced by Dawn Porter’s (Good Trouble: John Lewis) Trilogy Films and Trailblazer Studios in association with National Geographic Studios. 

The entertainment industry lost one of its most important and influential treasures when actress Cicely Tyson passed away Thursday night at 96 years old.

I had the opportunity to interview Ms. Tyson a little more than a year ago during the Television Critics Association’s Winter Press Tour. I asked her whether she felt the television industry had changed for the better or worse since the 1960s and 1970s, when she fought to help set a standard for strong, dignified and positive on-screen roles for Black actors and actresses.

Ms. Tyson thought about it for a second, then said very succinctly: “I don’t know if I would put it in the category of better or worse. I have never known a day in my life when I could just sit around and watch a network that just aired Black culture, and it was quite an experience, I would dare say. I am so proud and pleased that I lived to see the day when we just didn’t have to look at Amos ’n’ Andy. We have some variety — it runs the gamut finally of what the industry is supposed to be about.”

The same TV industry that Tyson lauded for its evolution took time to celebrate Tyson’s remarkable seven-decade entertainment career that garnered her 16 Emmy nominations — including a 2020 nod for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Ophelia Harkness in ABC’s How to Get Away with Murder — and three Emmy wins.

Oprah Winfrey, whose OWN Network aired the drama series Cherish the Day, Tyson’s last starring role in a television series, recalled Tyson’s magnificence both as an actress and as a person.

Also Read: OWN Renews 'Cherish the Day'

“Of all the times and experiences we shared together, this was one of my favorites: The weekend of the Legends Ball in 2005,” Winfrey said in a statement. “The idea for the ball originated because I wanted to celebrate her, and other remarkable Black women who carved a path and built a bridge for me and generations to follow. What a joy to honor her and feel her receive it! I loved her hat so much, she sent it to me afterwards. Cicely decided early on that her work as an actor would be more than a job. She used her career to illuminate the humanity in Black people. The roles she played reflected her values; she never compromised. Her life so fully lived is a testimony to greatness.”

Also Read: Cicely Tyson has Died

OWN this Saturday and Sunday (Jan. 30-31) will present a special re-airing of 2014's Oprah’s Master Class: Cicely Tyson in memory of the actress.

 “Ms. Tyson was a rare talent both on and off the screen, one that we at OWN were blessed and honored to work with and be inspired by,” said OWN president Tina Perry. “We are so grateful for the gifts she gave us with her art, her activism, and her passionate love of life. May she rise in power.”

Turner Classic Movies said Friday it will air on Jan. 31 two of Tyson's memorable films — Sounder and A Man Called Adam — as part of its “TCM Remembers Cicely Tyson” celebration.

Other networks and celebrities took to social media to celebrate Tyson’s life and career.

BET has picked up a third season of its drama series Tyler Perry’s Sistas prior to next week's mid-season return of the show’s second season, the network said Tuesday.

The show, which is the top-rated scripted cable series for African-Americans 18-49 years old, will debut the second half of its sophomore campaign on Jan. 27, said BET.

Read also: BET Sets October Return Date for 'Tyler Perry's Sistas' Series 

Tyler Perry’s Sistas follows a group of single black females as they navigate their love lives, careers and friendship through the ups-and-downs of living in a modern world of social media and unrealistic relationship goals, according to BET. The series stars KJ Smith, Mignon, Ebony Obsidian, Novi Brown, Chido Nwokocha, DeVale Ellis, Brian Jordan Jr., Kevin A. Walton, Anthony Dalton II, Trinity Whiteside, and Crystal Renee’ Hayslett. 

Read Also: Presiding Over the House of Perry

 HBO comedy series Insecure will end its run after the upcoming fifth season, the premium service said Wednesday. 

The Emmy-winning series stars Issa Rae and follows the lives of a group of mostly African-American friends evaluating their relationships in an effort to figure out who and what comes with them in this next phase of their lives, according to the network. Along with Rae, Yvonne Orji, Jay Ellis, Natasha Rothwell, Amanda Seales and Alexander Hodge. 

The fifth and final season is scheduled to begin production later this month and is set to debut later this year. 

The show’s fourth season received nine Emmy nominations and won an Emmy win for Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Camera Series.  Insecure is executive produced by Rae, Prentice Penny, Melina Matsoukas, Michael Rotenberg, Dave Becky, Jonathan Berry, Amy Aniobi and Jim Kleverweis.

“Issa has turned insecurity into an iconic form of comedy,” said HBO executive VP of programming Amy Gravitt in a statement. “The show is as incisive as it is heartfelt, and it has resonated strongly with its audience because of the deeply personal work that Issa, Prentice, Melina, the cast and the writers have put into it. This talented team has conceived a brilliant final season for Insecure and we look forward to having many more stories to tell with this singular group of collaborators.”

Read Also: HBO, Issa Rae to Develop Documentary Series on History of Black Television

TV One Monday said it will launch a new documentary in January that will highlight memorable songs associated with the movement for justice and equality.

The two-part documentary, Unsung Presents: Music & Movement, will debut on Jan. 18  and will showcase artists and songs throughout the years that have provided the soundtrack to pivotal movements for Black Americans, both during a tumultuous past and a troubling present period, said network officials. 

Performers set to appear in the documentary include Erica Campbell, Big Gipp, Raheem DeVaughn and Rev. Al Sharpton, said the network.

“Music is the heart and soul of Black culture – giving life to our experiences, voice to our stories and growing power out of our pain,” said Cathy Hughes, Chairwoman, Urban One, Inc. “Every melody, lyric and rhythm artfully depicts the layers of Black diversity, scope of black creativity, and depths of the complexity of our people. TV One’s Music & the Movement special pays homage to the music and music makers whose talents created a soundtrack of Black music during moments of political and social unrest throughout our history. It is another opportunity for us to spotlight Black content.”

Disney has signed producers Bruce W. Smith and Ralph Farquhar to a multi-year production agreement, the company announced Tuesday.

As part of the “wide-ranging” agreement, Smith and Farquhar -- who produced Disney Channel’s animated series The Proud Family and the upcoming Disney Plus series The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder -- will also produce new animated and live-action series and movies for Disney Branded Television, said the company.

Also Read: Disney Plus Revives 'The Proud Family' Animated Series 

Smith (Hair Love) and Farquhar (Moesha) will also have access to separate funding to find and develop emerging talent as well as to leverage their combined experience to bring unique projects and voices to Disney, said the company. 

"With virtually every studio and platform reaching out to them, it speaks volumes that talented storytellers Ralph and Bruce have chosen Disney as the home for their boundless creativity and inspired social commentary, not to mention their commitment to identifying emerging talent. We are proud to have them as members of our family," said Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Branded Television in a statement.

Added Smith and Farquhar: “We are very happy to be continuing our relationship with Disney and look forward to creating even more truly authentic and diverse stories and characters for audiences worldwide. We are also excited to have the opportunity to bring along a new wave of talented voices that will deepen the connection to Disney storytelling for years to come."

Over the past eight months since its February launch, Black News Channel has had to navigate through an extraordinary news cycle that included a ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, the manifestation of social injustice protests and a contentious Presidential election. 

Currently heading the network charge is its President and CEO Princell Hair, former CNN general manager who knows the cable news business and has positioned the network to fill a void in delivering news and pertinent information targeted to an underserved African-American audience.

Hair recently sat down with Multichannel News for an extensive video interview in which he talks about the Black News Channel brand as well as the shifting cable news environment. Hair also weighs in on the television's diversity and inclusion efforts.

OWN will expand its unscripted programming block to two nights in October with the launch of two new series.

The network will offer unscripted programming on Friday nights beginning Oct. 23, joining its current Saturday night unscripted series lineup, said OWN officials. To support its Friday night lineup, the network will offer a new original series, Put a Ring On It, which follows three longtime couples who look to discover if they’re truly meant to be…by dating other people, said the network. Also airing on Friday nights will be the second season of the Will Packer-produced series Ready to Love, said the network.

On Saturdays the network on Nov. 7 will debut Behind Every Man, which follows the women behind some of the most famous and successful men. The series will follow season seven of Iyanla: Fix My Life (pictured), which debuts Oct. 31. 

“Expanding to two nights with our unscripted shows gives our loyal viewers even more of the programming they’re super passionate about,” said Tina Perry, president OWN in a statement. “Over the years, OWN has established Saturday nights as the leading destination for Black women focusing on unscripted programs in the love and relationship space and we look forward to continuing that momentum on Friday nights this fall.”

As more consumers work from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, multicultural viewers are leading the trend toward an increase in streaming service subscriptions, according to a new Nielsen Total Audience Report for second quarter 2020.

According to Nielsen, 25% of all viewers have added at least one streaming service in the past three months, with 40% of Hispanic viewers adding at least one new streaming service to top all groups. Black viewers were second at 27% followed by white viewers at 25%. The recent debuts of HBO Max, Peacock and Quibi should continue to propel increases in streaming service subscriptions among all viewers throughout the rest of the year. 

Nielsen also reported that viewing from streaming services comprised one-fourth of all television minutes viewed during the quarter, up from 19% of TV usage in fourth quarter 2019.

“COVID-19 has catapulted streaming to become the present and future of content creation,” said Peter Katsingris, Nielsen senior VP of audience insights. “Today, it accounts for 25% of our collective time spent with the television among streaming capable homes.”

As streaming viewership increases, live TV viewing dropped to 3 hours and 43 minutes per day in the first quarter, down from 3:53 a year ago and 4:10 two years ago, according to Nielsen. Among multicultural groups, Black Americans watched 20 minutes less time per day of live and time shifted TV a day during the quarter, with Hispanics down nine minutes and Asian Americans down two minutes.

Black adults still spent nearly 50 hours a week viewing television during the first quarter 2020, dwarfing whites (37:50), Hispanics (28:27) and Asian Americans (22:38), according to the report. 

Starz has renewed its drama series P-Valley for a sophomore campaign, the premium service announced Monday.

The series, which follows the characters working and attending a strip club in the Mississippi Delta, is among the top five most-watched new premium series for Black viewers in 2020, said network executives. Katori Hall serves as creator and executive producer of the series, which launched on Starz July 12 and stars Brandee Evans, Nicco Annan and Shannon Thornton.

“P-Valley has quickly become this summer’s newest must-see television series as critics and audiences alike are taken up by the authentic and compelling characters that make The Pynk come alive,” said Starz president of original programming Christina Davis in a statement. “Katori has delivered a provocative drama that looks beyond the glitz and into the hearts and minds of these fully realized and compelling characters, exploring them through a female gaze that invites the audience to take a walk in their stilettos. We know Katori has a lot of incredible stories to tell and a lot in store for these women in a second season.”

TV One will debut its original movie Coins For Love on July 19, the network said Tuesday.

The film, a sequel to TV One’s Coins For Christmas film, will bring back stars Essence Atkins, Stephen Bishop, TC Carson, Kendrick Cross and Karon Joseph Riley. The story follows single mother Madison Morris (Atkins) as she struggles to make ends meet while starting a new career, raising two teens on her own and trying to choose between an old flame and new love interest, said the network. 

Black News Channel has tapped former CNN executive Princell Hair as its president and CEO, the network announced Monday.

Hair will oversee the five month-old, African-American targeted news network’s day-to-day operations effective immediately, according to chairman and interim CEO J.C. Watts. Hair replaces former network CEO and co-founder Bob Brillante who left the company in April.

Hair is familiar with the cable news business, having served as CNN’s executive VP and general manager in 2003, where he achieved major ratings growth during key news events including the Democratic and Republican National Conventions plus CNN’s Election Night in America 2004.

Most recently Hair served as Senior VP and general manager of NBC Sports Boston. Prior to that he worked as Senior VP of news and talent for the NBC Sports Group.

“Princell's experience as a news and sports executive is unmatched for its breadth and success. As a programmer he will bring energy and fresh thinking to the Black News Channel,” said Watts in a statement. “We are delighted to welcome him and excited to see him build on the foundation we have laid with the launch of the Black News Channel.” 

Added Hair: “I am grateful to Chairman Watts and the Board of Directors for this opportunity,” said Hair. “I’m thrilled to return to daily news gathering and compelling storytelling at the only 24-hour cable news channel aimed specifically at African Americans and other people of color, as the world responds to a pandemic, systemic racism and an economic crisis, all of which disproportionately impact the Black audience. I’m equally excited to join and support the talented team of journalists and staff across BNC’s platforms as the high stakes 2020 Presidential Race enters the red zone.” 

As the protests and unrest over the death of George Floyd continues to play out on television screens, a new report from Horowitz Research underscores a growing disconnect between young viewers and the traditional news media.

Viewers 18-34 years of age get 53% of their news consumption from the internet compared to 21% for traditional television, according to Horowitz’s State of Viewing & Streaming 2020 study.

Young people question whether broadcast networks and cable news services like Fox News, CNN and MSNBC are providing a complete picture of the stories that they cover, according to the survey. Only 33% of 18- to 34-year-olds surveyed believe that television is the best way to get in-depth news reporting and analysis, said Horowitz. In comparison, 56% of adults 25-54 and 64% of adults 35+ offer a more favorable view of traditional television news.

“Can the major broadcast and cable outlets rise to the challenge of providing truth and perspective and less sensationalism?,” said Howard Horowitz, president of Horowitz Research. “Just like social media has provided new ways of exposing discrimination and misconduct, so too has it given young people a new way to view and understand the world around them, providing validation of what is really happening and holding major news outlets more accountable.”

Horowitz also reported that 58% of TV content viewers believe that the media plays a very big role in reinforcing stereotypes, and 68% say that they feel it is important that the media represent diverse people and communities in the U.S. in ways that challenge and break stereotypes.

“Poignantly, we are hearing from staff, family members, and social media that young people feel that their parents and older family members, who rely heavily on TV news, are not getting a well-rounded picture of the protests and why they are happening,” said Horowitz senior VP of insights and strategy Adriana Waterston. “Showing looting and sensationalizing violence creates more fear and obscures the issues of police brutality and persistent systemic racism that these young people are seeing, experiencing, and feeling.”

Related: Streaming Services Lead Broadcast Networks and Cable in Program Diversity

The report comes as the entertainment industry continues to use social media and traditional television platforms to reach out to African-Americans in light of the death of Floyd, who was killed while in Minneapolis police custody on May 25.

Streaming service UMC on Tuesday posted on Instagram its support of the African-American community. “There are no words to describe the pain that we feel. As Black people, it is an unspoken language that only we as a community truly understand. We are beyond tired. We have had MORE than enough,” stated the AMC-owned service.

BET on Tuesday announced that it would be developing a series of specials addressing the issues facing Black America, including Justice Now: A BET Town Hall later this month as well as a June 19 BET News Presidential Forum in which the network has invited both President Donald Trump and Presumptive Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden to discuss issues and concerns of the African-American community, according to network officials. 

“We stand in steadfast solidarity with George Floyd’s family, the many victims of racist brutality, and those who are using their voices and platforms to challenge it. There are no easy solutions for these systemic issues of racism, injustice, and trauma. BET is leveraging every platform and resource at our disposal to support and inform our community and help identify strategies and viable solutions in this time of crisis,” said BET President Scott Mills in a statement. "We are committed to using our unique ability to mobilize our powerful, cross-sector coalition of partners to help drive critical outcomes and amplify leading voices in the Black community.”

OWN will premiere its latest documentary, Dark Girls 2, on June 30, the network said Thursday.

The documentary, a follow-up to the 2011 documentary Dark Girls, continues the exploration of the prejudices darker-skinned women face around the world, according to the network. Dark Girls producer D. Channsin Berry will serve as executive producer of Dark Girls 2, which is produced by Urban Winter Entertainment Inc.

BET will bring back drama series Tyler Perry’sSistas and Tyler Perry’s The Oval for sophomore campaigns.

Production for The Oval, which tells of a family placed in the White House by people of power, and Sistas, which follows the lives of a group of single black females, will begin in July, according to the network.

“We are excited to continue our partnership with Tyler Perry and for the renewals of our two Wednesday night programming staples, The Oval and Sistas," said Scott Mills, president of BET in a statement. “BET is committed to investing in quality programming from top industry power players and giving viewers more of the content they love and expect from the brand across our platforms.”

BET+ has added a new drama series, Diggstown, to its lineup of African-American targeted programming.

The six-part series stars Vinessa Antoine as a corporate lawyer, who, after her aunt commits suicide following a malicious prosecution, decides to reconsider her priorities, according to the streaming service.

Diggstown is co-produced Circle Blue Entertainment and Freddie Films, with Floyd Kane, Amos Adetuyi (Jean of the Jones), Brenda Greenberg (Being Erica) and Todd Berger (Wynonna Earp) serving as executive producers, said BET+

Disney+ will resurrect the animated series The Proud Family 18 years after its initial premiere on Disney Channel, the network said Thursday.

The new series, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, will feature original series creators and executive producers Bruce Smith and Ralph Farquhar, and will feature most of the original cast, including Kyla Pratt, Tommy Davidson, Paula Jai Parker, Jo Marie Payton, Karen Malina White, Soleil Moon Frye, Alisa Reyes and Cedric the Entertainer.

The series, which ran on Disney channel from September 2001 to August 2005, follows the exploits of a young African-American girl, Penny Proud (Pratt), along with her family and friends. 

“The show’s humor and relatable stories are as relevant with audiences today as ever,” said Agnes Chu, senior VP, Content, Disney+ in a statement. “Our audiences have loved rediscovering their favorite episodes of The Proud Family, and we’re excited Bruce, Ralph, Calvin, and the returning cast are creating new stories for their new home on Disney+.”

Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide added: "The genius of the original Proud Family series was that, under the guise of a family comedy, it provided a brilliant social commentary on our life and times.  With this new series, Bruce and Ralph will once again challenge everyone to think differently about the world we share." 

TCM Sept. 9 named film professor Jacqueline Stewart as host of its Silent Sunday Nights franchise, making her the first African-American host in the 25-year history of the network.

Beginning Sept. 15, Stewart, a professor in the Department of Cinema and Media Studies at the University of Chicago, will introduce films as well as provide historical context for the franchise, which celebrates the best of classic movies from the silent era, according to TCM.

“Jacqueline is sharp, lively, and has an illuminating depth of information. We felt we could really elevate Silent Sunday Nights into a larger franchise for TCM – with the right person on board – and she was the perfect fit,” said Pola Changnon, senior vice president of marketing, studio production and talent for TCM, in a statement. “Her knowledge of the silent era and the way she weaves a beautiful narrative about this genre of film will surely entertain viewers while also allowing them a front seat to their own personal film class with her as their teacher.”

I recently spoke to Stewart about her new and historic role at TCM, as well as her thoughts on the current state of diversity in cinema. An edited version of the interview appears below.

You are the first African-American to serve as a regular host on TCM. What's the significance of that fact at this point in time?

I've been reflecting on that a lot, and I know the people at TCM have as well, especially when we look at what has been going on in our media culture over the last few years -- and I'm thinking especially about the ways in which the [Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences] has opened up in response to the lack of diverse nominees within the acting categories. The Academy's response was to really make a concerted effort to have a more diverse membership and to figure out ways to look beyond the usual suspects to find all of these important, and I think overlooked, groups that have expertise when it comes to our film history and our contemporary world. So I think that coming on board at TCM makes sense in light of what I hope will be an ongoing effort to try to reflect the true diversity of our culture in the ways that we make media and talk about our media landscape.

How important is this opportunity personally to you?

It is like a dream come true. I am a huge fan of TCM and as a scholar we speak to a really specific audience and our scholarly work and my teaching, so this is just an incredible opportunity for me to share my knowledge with a much larger public. TCM is like an archive; I'm a film historian so the range of work that TCM shows is just remarkable and has always been that way. Of course one of the things that has always made TCM stand out is the fact that it shows its [movies] uninterrupted. As somebody who studies film history and film style, to be able to appreciate films in that way on TCM is really beautiful to me. I'm absolutely thrilled.

What’s behind your affinity for silent films?

Silent film has been central in my research. My first book is called Migrating to the Movies, and it looks at the earliest days of African-American filmmaking. I looked at how going to the movies was such an important part of the lives of African-American people, especially as they were moving from the South to the North during the great migration in the [1910s] and 1920s. It's an era of filmmaking that's always been really important in my scholarship, and I've been intrigued to learn more about silent films especially because they have so many of the ingredients that become so important in the classic films that are made in later years.

Given what you have seen in recent years, are you confident that the movie industry is on the right track in terms of recognizing and honoring diverse content?

I think they are on the right track. I mean you could see that in the last run of [Academy Awards] Best Picture nominees. It was just astounding to see the recognition of so many, very impressive and talented people of color who have been working in the industry and are making contributions that might not have caught the eye of conventional voters for Oscars. What's also so important is that the Oscars represent a really important, visible platform that so many other people see and think about that it activates change on multiple fights. So hopefully it's not just about getting more people of color to win Academy Awards and to be nominated, but ultimately it will have a ripple effect across the industry and among audiences across the country and around the world.

What else are you watching other than silent movies?

Oh wow. I love the stuff that [producer/director] Ava DuVernay is doing, whether it's her [Netflix] film about the Central Park Five or OWN’s Queen Sugar. I've been following her career carefully because of the way that she crosses media platforms to open up spaces for more women and people of color in this industry. She's someone that I follow a lot.

If you could create and host a TCM segment or special outside of Silent Sunday Nights, what would it be?

I'm always looking for places to highlight the contributions of women and people of color to film history. I've been very fortunate to be invited to the last two classic TCM Film Festivals in L.A. where I was part of a panel discussion about African-American images. I was also on a panel last year that looked at the complicated legacy of Gone With The Wind, which was screened at the festival. It was the very first film shown on TCM, so that's another area that I would love to talk about. Here we have some of our classic films that contain elements that are really difficult to talk about. We're not always proud of the politics of these films because they reflect what was going on during the era in which they were made. That could be another really interesting thing to discuss. It sort of sparks deeper conversation about the cultural politics of a classic film. 

BET has greenlit a new series from producer/director Tyler Perry dubbed Sistas, the network said Thursday.

The series, the second show created under BET owner Viacom’s exclusive multi-year partnership deal with Perry, follows a group of single black females from different walks of life who bond over why they are single, according to BET. 

Sistas, which will premiere later this fall, stars J Smith, Ebony Obsidian, Mignon Von, and Novi Brown. Principal photography for Sistas is underway at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta.

BET in June announced the development of Perry’s first original series for the network, The Oval.

BET Networks will jump into the digital streaming video arena with the fall debut of BET+, headed up by veteran digital executive Devin Griffin. The former Netflix executive will oversee operations for the African-American targeted subscription streaming service, which will feature more than 1,000 hours of exclusive and library content including new original programming from prolific producer Tyler Perry and other leading content creators such as Will Packer (Ride Along) and Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip.)

Related: BET Taps Devin Griffin to Head Up BET+

I had a chance to speak to Griffin about the business strategy behind BET+ as well as his thoughts on the explosion of media-branded streaming services set to launch later this year. An edited transcript of the interview appears below.

BET Networks is launching BET+ during a time when other high profile streaming services from media conglomerates like WarnerMedia (HBO Max) and Disney (Disney+) are entering the scene, so why is this the best time to launch BET+?

Consumers are telling us that in addition to the great stuff that’s already out in the linear world, there is this growing demand for content anytime, anywhere, which is why we feel like it's a really exciting opportunity for us to extend the way we can engage, connect and serve the BET audience through BET+. BET is obviously the underpinning for BET+, so we’re going to build from that strength in terms of what the brand means and what kind of stories have and need to be told. The plus piece of the service represents alot of other stuff that we can do to expand the tent through this platform, whether it's to tell edgier stories or to create more family co-viewing content, or to tell more younger male stories.

How much will the service cost?

We’re not commenting on price right now. Our focus is helping our target audience understand what the value is that we’re bringing to the table. We’re bringing the number one brand in television for African-Americans together with the number one creator for African-American content in Tyler Perry -- as well as other talented creators like Tracy Oliver and Will Packer -- so we want to establish what the value proposition is first so that we can build a service that is not only entertaining but also sustainable.

You mentioned Tyler Perry. How important is his contributions to the service, both from a marketing and a content production perspective?

We think its massive. To take the number one television brand among African-Americans and combine it with the undisputed number one producer of African-American stories in Tyler Perry is an absolutely killer combination. As prolific and successful a producer as Tyler is, his marketing machine is often overlooked; he knows how to play across different types of media. For us, to have such a fine-tuned marketing partner in Tyler Perry is a really great asset that we get to bring into the fold.

While Tyler Perry will have a major presence on the service, what else should consumers expect to see on BET+?

Our first original is coming from the mind of Tracy Oliver, a fast-rising producer that has had tons of success through her work on Girls Trip and the Barbershop film franchise, and we’re really excited to have her series TheFirst Wives Club premiering when the service launches in the fall. We also have a series coming from Will Packer that will premiere on the service. We want to be in business with some of the best and brightest African-American storytellers, producers and talent, so we plan to continue to build on that. We want to build a cadence for the service over the course of the first year or two of regularly providing our audience with new and exclusive original content just for BET+.

What drew you to the prospect of launching an upstart, BET-branded streaming service?

It’s a combination of two things: I’m a lifelong fan and follower of BET -- it's an important and key part of the experience of being African-American in this country. If you look at BET’s track record, its something like 17 years running in which its been the dominant player in the African-American [media] space. Unfortunately the [African-American audience] is grossly underserved in the digital space, so it's really a rich opportunity to help build an exciting business. That’s something that has alot of meaning to me personally.

You’ve also worked for Netflix … do you consider the service competition for BET+?

We have tons of respect for what Netflix is and has done in the global business, and our point of view is that we want to be complementary to what they’re doing. I don’t think it's our desire to go head-to-head with them -- we’ll try to compliment them and step into the areas where our viewers say they want more programming. We’re not trying to compete with Netflix or anyone else; we’re just trying to serve our viewers and our consumers as best as we can.

TV One's launch of African-American female millennial-targeted cable network Cleo TV earlier this year added to the industry momentum for the development of TV content created by and for multicultural audiences. 

TV One general manager Michelle Rice discusses Cleo TV as well as the growing demand for multicultural programming in a new MCN Original Videos segment. 

UMC (Urban Movie Channel) Thursday released a first-look trailer for its new scripted drama series A House Divided, premiering July 12.

The series, which stars Demetria McKinney, Paula Jai Parker, Brad James and Lawrence Hilton Jacobs, follows the exploits of a wealthy Los Angeles family that's forced to come together after the mysterious death of the family's matriarch or risk the ultimate demise of their long-standing legacy, according to UMC. 

The debut of A House Divided comes on the heels of the movie-themed, African-American targeted streaming service's second season renewal of scripted series Craig Ross Jr's Monogamy.

Starz will end its most watched drama series Power with the show's upcoming sixth season, which launches in August, the network announced Thursday.

The series will finish with a 15-episode sixth season debuting Aug. 25, the network said. Power, which is executive produced by Courtney Kemp and Curtis “50-Cent” Jackson, is the second most-watched original drama series on premium cable networks behind Game Of Thrones, and the number one rated show among African-American viewers, according to Starz.

Starz president of programming Carmi Zlotnik in a statement hinted about potential Power spinoffs in the near future.

“Season six brings us to the end of what we know is just the first chapter of the Power story. However, as one chapter comes to an end, another will begin,” said Zlotnik. “Courtney Kemp and 50 Cent have created a world rich with complex and dynamic characters and there are a number of stories we plan to tell as we continue to explore and expand the Power universe.”

The upcoming season will mark the directorial debut of Jackson, as well as the return of director Anthony Hemingway (The People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story), who helmed the first two episodes of the series when it debuted in 2014 and will helm the show’s finale, according to Starz.

The series stars Omari Hardwick, Lela Loren, Naturi Naughton, Joseph Sikora, Rotimi, Alani “La La” Anthony, Jerry Ferrara, Shane Johnson, Michael Rainey Jr. and Larenz Tate.

RELATED: Courtney Kemp, 50 Cent discuss their hopes and vision for Power's future (Video). 

Veteran tv producer Lemuel Plummer will look to reach faith-based African American viewers with a new streaming service set to launch in third quarter 2019.

The service, Black Box Faith, will feature hundreds of thousands of hours of sermons and other religious-themed content currently archived by churches and pastors, according to service officials. 

Plummer (Preachers of L.A., Zeus Network) will team with ICM Partners, Ebony/Jet magazines and Vimeo on the project, which he said will be the first ever SVOD platform to provide instant access to the word of God anytime, anywhere and on any device. The subscription price for Black Box Faith as well as distribution deals will be released at a later date, according to service officials. 

“With Black Box Faith we are delivering sermons and faith-based content to a deeply religious and dedicated African American audience that is very adept using technology to access must-watch content whenever, wherever and on any device,” said Plummer in a statement. “We want to change a generation, changing how committed, faith-based audiences receive content.”

RELATED: Lemuel Plummer Looks To Light up Web  With Zeus OTT Service 

Comcast will add two new African-American owned networks to its Xfinity TV lineups in January to satisfy provisions set during its purchase of NBCUniversal.

The two services, dubbed Cleo TV and Afro, will bring to eight the number of minority-owned networks Comcast promised to launch as part of its memorandum of understanding revolving around its 2011 acquisition of NBCUniversal. The networks were chosen from a list of 50 proposed networks submitting requests for proposals (RFPs) for the two slots, according to Comcast senior executive vice president David Cohen.

“We had a lot of strong proposals,” Cohen said, adding that Comcast created a diverse advisory committee made up of Comcast employees to determine what networks would receive the two slots. Cohen also is Comcast's chief diversity officer.

Cleo TV, which will be owned and operated by TV One parent Urban One, will target millennial and Gen X African American women. TV One general manager Michelle Rice --who will oversee day-to-day operations of Cleo -- said that the network will create original content for an undeserved segment of the audience.

“We're at a pivotal moment in history where women are making a huge impact in our society and culture, especially women of color,” Rice said. “We view young women of this time as rule breakers and standard bearers, so Cleo will focus on lifestyle and entertainment programming targeting millennial and Gen X women.”

Afro, owned by Orlando-based production company Afrotainment, offer movies, dramas, sitcoms, music, talk, and late night comedy shows primarily targeted to African-American audiences. 

“We celebrate the richness and diversity of the Black culture with original and exclusive content with our tagline ‘All Shades of Black,’” said Yves Bollanga, founder and CEO of Afrotainment.

The new channels stem from a condition Comcast agreed to in its 2011 acquisition of NBCUniversal, in which it agreed to launch eight minority-owned and operated channels. Hispanic-owned channels Primo and Kids Central launched in 2016, following the 2012-2013 launches of four networks including kids-targeted BabyFirst Americas; music-themed service Revolt TV, founded by hip hop artist Sean “Diddy” Combs; African-American targeted entertainment network Aspire TV, led by NBA hall of famer Magic Johnson; and millennials-aimed El Rey Network, backed by producer and director Robert Rodriguez.

RELATED: Comcast to Launch Two Kids-Targeted Hispanic Networks 

Cohen said both networks will launch in January of 2019, but would not reveal specific subscriber numbers at launch. Sources close to the situation say the networks will launch with around eight to 10 million subscribers -- approximately the same amount as Comcast’s six prior minority-owned network launches. 

“They will be given significant carriage on our digital tier and comparable to what we’ve given the other six minority-owned MOU networks when we first launched them,” Cohen said. “We and they think its sufficient carriage to give them a shot at getting additional carriage and becoming financially viable.”

Cohen also said he believes the prior six networks have found success after initially launching on Comcast.

“They are all still on the air – some of them have been more successful than others – but they are all doing more than hanging in there,” he said. “The vision of this from our perspective was to determine if we helped get some networks started."

African American consumers not only watch more linear television compared to all audiences, but they also stream content at a higher percentage than all other consumers, according to a new report from Horowitz Research.

Nearly three quarters (74%) of black TV viewers report streaming at least some of their TV content, compared to 68% of all television viewers, according to Horowitz’s FOCUS Black: The Media Landscape report. Further, 65% of African-American streamers say they watch more TV content than they did five years ago.

The high percentage of African-American video streamers shouldn’t be surprising given the group’s voracious consumption of media. A recent Nielsen Total Audience Report for the first quarter of 2018 reported that African-American adults consume nearly 13 and a half hours of media per day, almost two and one-half hours more than the average adult.  

“Black consumers have long been some of traditional multichannel’s best customers," says Adriana Waterston, senior vice president of Insights & Strategy at Horowitz. "Super-serving this valuable and entertainment-oriented audience is critical for any player in the pay TV space.”

Indeed, African-American viewers overwhelmingly tune into content that feature their images and stories, particularly on digital platforms. Horowitz reported that 64% of African-American streamers say they will check out a show if it features a Black character or cast, and 57% say that shows featuring racial or other sociopolitical themes appeal to them.

That should bode well for targeted subscription video on demand services like Urban Movie Channel and Brown Sugar -- which directly target African-American viewers -- as well as mainstream video streaming services like Netflix, which looks to appeal to African-American viewers with targeted, original content like its Spike Lee-produced series She’s Gotta Have It and the recently launched comedy All About the Washingtons. 

HBO will produce four additional 2 Dope Queens specials for 2019, the network said Monday.

The new 2 Dope Queens specials, featuring Jessica Williams and Phoebe Robinson and based on the hit comedy podcast of the same name, will follow four specials that aired this past February. 

The season one specials were directed by Tig Notaro and featured such special guests as Uzo Aduba, Tituss Burgess, Sarah Jessica Parker and Jon Stewart.

Season one of 2 Dope Queens was executive produced by Robinson, Williams, Amy Aniobi, Carrie Byalick, Chenoa Estrada, Jon Thoday, Richard Allen Turner, David Martin Ravi Nandan and John Hodges, said the network. 

Netflix Sunday night unveiled a new spot showcasing nearly 50 African-American actors and producers associated with content airing on the streaming service, days after it fired a top level public relations executive for using the N-word.

The ad, which debuted during Sunday's BET Awards telecast, features such stars as Ava DuVernay, Alfre Woodard, Laverne Cox, Lena Waithe, Russell Hornsby, Mike Culter, Spike Lee and Caleb McLaughlin, and promotes the streaming service's Strong Black Lead initiative, which highlights content starring and created by African-American talent, according to the Los Angeles Times. 

The spot comes days after the streaming service let go its top communications executive, Johanthan Friedland, after he was caught using the N-word on more than one occasion in the presence of others at the company who later reported the incident. 

FX will bring back its critically-acclaimed comedy series Atlanta back for a third season, the network said Thursday.

The Emmy Award-winning series, created by and starring Donald Glover, will return to the network in 2019. Atlanta is produced by FX Productions and is executive produced by Glover, Paul Simms, Dianne McGuingle, Stephen Glover and Hiro Murai.

“Atlanta is phenomenal, achieving and exceeding what few television series have done,” said FX Networks and FX Productions co-president Nick Grad in a statement. “With Atlanta Robbin’ Season, Donald and his collaborators elevated the series to even greater heights, building on the enormous success of their award-winning first season. We’re grateful to the producers and our extraordinary cast and crew for achieving this level of excellence, and we share the excitement with our audience about the third season knowing they will continue to take us to unexpected and thrilling places.”

Longtime BET Networks executive Debra Lee is stepping down as chairman and CEO after a more than 30-year career at the network.

Lee, who started with BET as a vice president and general counsel in 1986 and rose through the ranks before eventually being named president and CEO in 2005, will officially leave on May 28.

“Debra’s vision and creativity have cemented BET Networks as a premier network for African Americans and lovers of black culture,” said Viacom CEO Bob Bakish in a statement. “As BET continues to move forward, we will always be grateful to Debra for her leadership and commitment to creating top-notch entertainment that both entertains and empowers. Her passion for the BET brand has resulted in countless wins and has allowed BET to stay competitive in a growing media landscape.”

Lee said in a statement: “In 1986 I joined BET Networks to be its very first in-house counsel. As a young corporate attorney I saw my role as the protector of the BET brand and its employees and today, more than 32 years later, I still see myself as the protector and defender of a brand that I have helped to grow as a top destination for audiences across the globe.”

Under Lee’s tutelage, BET enjoyed record-breaking success, including the 2014 series premiere of The Game, the most-watched sitcom premiere in cable TV history with 7.68 million viewers, and the 2017 hit mini-series The New Edition Story, which brought in 28.4 million viewers from the initial run through subsequent encores, making it the highest-rated TV biopic of all time.

Lee also oversaw the launch of the network’s website, BET.com; developed BET Her, the first network for African-American women, and acquired television rights to Black Girls Rock. Other shows such as Being Mary Jane, The Real Husbands of Hollywood and In Contempt have helped BET Networks remain the most watched network group among African-American viewers for the past 17 years.

This past December, Lee handed day-to day duties of the African-American targeted network to BET Networks president Scott Mills.

Lee plans to stay involved in the media industry and continue her role on corporate and non-profit boards, according to Viacom officials.

Below is Lee’s full statement:

“In 1986 I joined BET Networks to be its very first in-house counsel. As a young corporate attorney I saw my role as the protector of the BET brand and its employees and today, more than 32 years later, I still see myself as the protector and defender of a brand that I have helped to grow as a top destination for audiences across the globe. I have called BET Networks home for over three decades and this team is part of my extended family.”

“In addition to the legacy I have built for BET Networks in the media landscape, I am also extremely proud of the legacy of values that I helped to instill at the network during my tenure. My belief that we can do well and do good has been a guiding principle and one that I hope you will continue after my departure. Together, we have built a world-class brand that connects with fans through the power of storytelling and we have attracted and nurtured top talent across the globe.”

“I feel a tremendous amount of gratitude to our parent company, Viacom, for their continued belief in the power of the BET brand and their unwavering support of my long and fulfilling career here. I would especially like to thank Bob Bakish for supporting me as I start the next chapter in this exciting journey.”

“I could not be prouder of the enormous amount of talent and creativity at BET Networks today and I will always be BET’s number one fan, rooting for each and every one of you as you continue to break barriers and share your authenticity with the world. I leave with pride, gratitude, and joy for a life-changing professional and personal journey. Continue to do it “for the culture” and much success to you all. You deserve it.”

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network tonight (May 12) launches the second season of its successful documentary series Black Love, which takes an unflinching and honest look inside African-American marriages. 

The series’ first season debuted last fall with 1.2 million total viewers, becoming OWN’s most-watched unscripted series debut in network history and its highest-rated unscripted series debut in more than four years in the network’s key female 25-54 year-old demo.

Black Love creators and executive producers Codie Elaine Oliver and Tommy Oliver (The Perfect Guy) recently spoke to me about the success of the show’s freshman run and their expectations for the upcoming season, which will feature such celebrity couples as Emmy Award-winning actor Sterling K. Brown and wife Ryan Michelle Bathe; Emmy Award-winning actress Niecy Nash and husband Jay Tucker; and NBA All-Star Grant Hill and Grammy-nominated recording artist Tamia.

What was your inspiration to create the show?

Tommy Oliver: Part of it was so much of what we seen on reality and scripted TV is an incredibly poor rendering of black families and black married families in particular. For us, we knew that there was information and images that we wanted to see, and we assumed that many other people wanted to see it as well. Most TV is generated by ratings and advertising, so drama and sensationalism tend to do well. Beyond that, it comes down to the people who are creating the content and have the ability to greenlight content. When you are not a part of the decision-making process, you don’t have the ability to really inform what you see and shape the narrative, and a lot of that is why we end up with these poor renderings [of black marriages] that are dangerous to the psyche of folks who want to get married, or want to see themselves and the aspirational elements of what they are endeavoring toward.

Were you surprised at the success of the first season of Black Love?

TO: Yes. We suspected that people would be excited about seeing wholesome content and seeing us in that light, but to see how much people responded emotionally and how much it seemed to resonate with people certainly exceeded our hopes and expectations.

What is the secret sauce behind the success of the show?

Codie Elaine Oliver: First, I think that there was just a lack of this kind of programming in the marketplace, so when something doesn’t exist, people are very appreciative and excited about it, and want to take part in the experience. Add to that the mix of regular [married] folks who were just like us as well as [married] celebrities -- all of whom were treated the same. We don’t include last names or professions; we just wanted to highlight Viola and Julius or Andre and Latoya as happy, loving couples just as you or me, or -- if you’re a single person watching – you may want to be because it is so aspirational. So the secret to the sauce was making it as relatable as possible by showing people as they are, talking about their highs and their lows.

What should audiences expect to see from the second season?

CEO: Structurally it’s the same in terms of interweaving different couples’ stories – there are new themes and questions, but we also use some of the old themes. How love begins is really important to us to make sure we’re showing the romantic starts -- or the false starts -- to how couples find each other. 

TO: We deal with other subjects that we didn’t really get into in season one. While we dealt with infidelity in season one, it was exclusively from the male side. This time we have a woman who cheated on her husband, and another who had an emotional affair. So much of what we explore in the show comes from our couples. We don’t go in with a theme or thread in mind, but we talk to them and figure out what they went through, and then we figure out how to put the best episodes together.

This past Sunday (Feb. 21), Hallmark Channel debut its first unscripted reality series, Meet The Peetes, which follows the lives of ex-NFL star Rodney Peete, actress Holly Robinson Peete and their family. The series drew a respectable 705,000 viewers in its premiere as the network looks to attract a younger, diverse audience. 

I recently spoke to Rodney Peete about Meet The Peetes, its place on the Hallmark Channel, and the importance of portraying positive, African-American marriages and families within the reality TV genre.

Why did you decide to take Meet The Peetes to Hallmark Channel?

We started the series two years ago on OWN, but after the network started [hesitating] about picking us up, Hallmark stepped in and said we want to do it. They were looking for diversity and wanted to do a reality series, which they hadn’t done before, so we said yes. They are a great network and a wonderful family to work with. They are really making a push toward diversity, which is really cool. It doesn’t feel like its forced – it feels like they’re trying to do it organically. The first time they take a dive into reality they chose a black family, so it says a lot about them. I’m pretty excited about that.

What will we viewers see in the new season?

The show continues to document our family. We’ve been married for 22 years with four kids, and have a son with autism. For me I’m usually a private guy, but when we go out and get the feedback from families that said you helped us so much –they say we were going through the same thing, or they like the way you talk to your daughter about the safety an dangers of being in college and away from home -- I know it resonated with people. That lets us know that we are doing the right thing. We wanted to have a positive show where people can see some of the realness of our lives – sometimes people see your name and think that you're so out of touch and this and that -- but when they see us on the show, they see that we’re just a regular black family and have regular issues like everybody else.

Following up on that, reality tv doesn’t portray a lot of African-American marriages in a positive light. How important is it for you to showcase your successful marriage in a series?

It’s super important. First, I had that growing up with my parents -- they’re still married today. I wanted to be a good role model for my kids, and as you said you don’t see that dynamic that often on TV and especially in reality TV. You often see Black folks flipping tables and somebody yelling at someone else – its a lot of negative stuff going on. So even though we have our issues we’ve stayed together and kept the family together and tackled real problems. There’s a way to do that all without going crazy and nuts. 

Are you working on any other projects?

My wife has a couple of movies with Hallmark (Holly Robinson Peete stars in the March 17 Hallmark Movies & Mysteries original movie Morning Show Mysteries: Mortal Mishaps), and I do a local radio show with Fred Roggin on AM Radio LA Sports, so that keeps me in the middle of [sports].

In a significant leadership transition move, BET Networks Chairman and CEO Debra Lee will hand off oversight of the African-American-targeted company to newly named BET Networks President Scott Mills. 

Mills, who is currently executive vice president and chief administrative officer at Viacom, will assume overall strategy and day-to-day operations of BET Networks beginning Jan. 1, including oversight of the brand’s programming, ad sales and digital teams, said network officials.

Lee, who will remain chairman and CEO of the network, will serve as an advisor to Mills and focus on BET’s relationships with key external stakeholders and committees.

“I have spent more than 20 years leading this incredible enterprise and I am so proud of the BET team and all that we have accomplished,” Lee said in a statement. “As I look to the future, I believe it is the right time to take a step back from day-to-day responsibilities at BET. “

Viacom president and CEO Bob Bakish said in a statement that Lee has built BET into a global entertainment powerhouse. “Her vision and leadership, unmatched intuition for what audiences want, and ability to attract and foster top talent – both behind and in front of the camera – have been pivotal to this success,” he said. “We’re grateful that we will continue to benefit from Debi’s experience and insights.”

BET general manager Michael Armstrong will remain in his position where he will oversee multiplatform scheduling, marketing, corporate communications and operations, reporting to Mills.

Mills, who earlier in his career was president and COO for BET Networks, said in a statement: “BET has consistently produced exciting, thought-provoking content, shaping culture and conversation with African Americans and young audiences around the world. I am honored to work alongside Debi, Michael and the incredible team at BET as we accelerate the network’s evolution across film, digital and live experiences.” 

Bakish said of Mills: “Scott is a proven leader who has made exceptional contributions to Viacom and BET for more than 20 years. His strong relationships across the industry – which were instrumental in securing our recent cross-house deal with Tyler Perry – as well as his track record of success initiating innovative creative ventures, including BET Experience, make him the right person for this role, as we continue to extend this brand across platforms and markets around the world.”