Fuse Media said its series about women’s sports Like a Girl, will launch its second season on August 21.

Sponsored by Garnier Fructis and Pizza Hut, the new season features a half-dozen episodes about top female athletes including college basketball star and rapper Flau’jae Johnson of LSU.

Also featured in episodes are World Flag Football Champion Diana Flores, Combate Global’s Lucera Acosta and Milssa Amaya, soccer players Sydney Leroux, Ali Riley and Kennedy Fuller of Angel City FC, Wimbledon champion Taylor Townsend and Olympic gymnast Emma Malabuyo.

Like a Girl is hosted by MJ Acosta-Ruiz and Joy Taylor.

Fuse Media isn’t mincing words in a campaign urging its young viewers to register and participate in the 2024 elections.

Fuse, the Latino-owned entertainment company, is launching a series of public service announcements using the tagline “Just F✓ing Vote” — a slogan that’s a good fit for today’s coarse political climate.

“We knew that to have a real impact on a generation of young people who are understandably disengaged voters, we needed a campaign bold enough to break through the clutter, yet still inspire action. By leaning into the inherent ridiculousness of political theatre, this serious message becomes that much more accessible.” explained John Stover, design director for the Just F✓ing Vote campaign.

The PSA will appear on Fuse, FM, Fuse Plus, Fuse’s YouTube channels and on its social media channels.

The ads will send viewers to the website of NextGen America, the youth-vote organization Fuse is working with.

Fuse Media will also air issue-related programming stunts and feature factoids in the on-screen bottom third, providing viewers with information on the issues important to younger audiences and voting-related facts. 

NextGen America and Fuse Media will also work together to produce man-on-the-street interviews with young, diverse voters on the issues they are most concerned about.

“Fuse Media’s core mission is to raise the voices of underserved and underrepresented multicultural communities,” said Fuse Media CEO Miguel Roggero.

“Collaborating with NextGen America on their goal to engage the largest and most diverse young generation in American history aligns perfectly with our mission in an election year so important as this one. We couldn’t be more excited about our partnership and can’t wait to help inspire the biggest turnout yet of young voters during an election year,” Roggero said.

In the 2020 presidential election, 33% of eligible young voters failed to participate.

“NextGen America is proud to partner with Fuse Media to educate, mobilize, and register young voters across the country as a part of the Just F✓ing Vote campaign,” NextGen America president Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez said. “Building a democracy that represents and reflects all of us starts with meeting young people where they’re at. Together, we are empowering a new diverse group of voters with the tools to turn out and make their voices heard at the ballot box this year, and we are excited to see this program in action.”

Fuse Media said it signed an agreement that gives Fuse exclusive English-language rights to televise Combate Global’s mixed martial arts live events.

Univision airs Combate Global’s matches in Spanish.

As part of the deal, Fuse also gets linear rights to 12 shows produced exclusively for the Fuse audience and Fuse Media’s El Rey Rebel FAST channel gets access to over 500 hours of Combate Global’s library of past fights.

“Fuse Media is entering into an exciting new chapter by offering free, live, world-class professional MMA events to our viewers, and we couldn’t imagine a better partner to enter this space with than Combate Global," said Fuse Media CEO Miguel Roggero. “This is a perfect marriage of two minority-targeted companies. Combate’s dedication to entertaining and catering to a young, diverse audience integrates seamlessly with Fuse's own audience demographic."

The first event on Fuse will appear February 24. The card is headed by a welterweight matchup between Javier Basurto and Marco Lioreda.

Combate Global attracts a young audience for MMA programming. 

“Combate Global’s foundation and success has, to a great extent, been based on the growing Hispanic population in the U.S.” said Campbell McLaren, CEO, of Combates Global.

“In naming Fuse Media our official English-language broadcast partner, Combate Global will now reach the entire spectrum of the Latino audience, regardless of which language they consume their media,” McLaren said. “We are thrilled to be working with a partner that understands this audience and is as steadfast in their commitment to diversity as Fuse Media.” 

Fuse Media said it made a deal that will make its Fuse Plus premium subscription streaming service available via Amazon Prime Video.

Amazon’s Freevee platform already carries free ad-supported streaming television channels from Fuse, including Shades of Black, Backstage, Latino Vibes and OutTV Proud.

“To continue our partnership with Amazon bringing Fuse Plus to Prime Video subscribers is another testament to Fuse Media’s appeal to young, culturally diverse viewers eager for vibrant, authentic representations of their own lives on any screen they watch,” Fuse Media CEO Miguel Roggero said. “We look forward to building on this already successful partnership with Amazon, allowing us to share our award-winning, inclusive programming with even more audiences.”

Fuse Plus was launched in 2021. It costs $3.99 a month for the ad-free tier and features about 500 hours of original scripted and unscripted programming, documentaries and files for young, culturally diverse viewers.

“We are excited to work with Fuse Media,” Prime Video manager of content acquisition Ammon Lyle said. “Fuse Plus has a diverse selection of content and an amazing track record of introducing audiences to new voices.“

Fuse Media said it reached an agreement with Amazon’s free, ad-supported streaming platform Freevee to launch two additional channels, expanding their relationship.

The new channels — Latino Vibes and OUTtv Proud — joined the Freevee lineup today.

Freevee began carrying Fuse’s Shades of Black and Backstage channels last year.

“We’re thrilled to be extending our distribution deal with Freevee to include Latino Vibes and OUTtv Proud, and to be adding even more of Fuse Media’s empowering content to the Amazon Freevee portfolio of channels,” said Miguel Roggero, chairman and CEO of Fuse Media. “We’re really proud of our FAST channels, each showing tremendous growth with a curated slate of inclusive programming. We can’t wait for Freevee customers to have access to this programming.”

Latino Vibes programming includes programs like Dimelo and The Canvas: Los Angeles, Hip-Hop Houdini and Mario Lopez One-on-One, movies like Exposed, The 24 Hour Woman and Nothing Like the Holidays, and musical featurettes with artists including Jennifer Lopez, Bruno Mars, and Camila Cabello.

OUTtv Proud is a partnership between Fuse Media and OUTtv, a top  LGBTQ+ streaming service. It is streaming in the U.S. for the first time.

“OUTtv champions original content that spotlights and celebrates LGBTQ+ people, from documentaries to reality series to films — all starring icons of the community,” Brad Danks, OUTtv CEO, said. “We’re delighted to expand our distribution offering for OUTtv Proud with Fuse Media into the U.S., and to welcome new audiences with Freevee.”

A group of minority-owned media, led by Fuse Media, is asking the Federal Communications Commission to collect data on the diversity of content vendors used by licensed media and telecommunications companies. 

The group’s petition wants streaming services owned by licensed media companies included among those who have to report on diversity, as well as traditional platforms like broadcast, cable and satellite TV.

Those companies would include Alphabet, Fox, Amazon, Paramount, Comcast, The Walt Disney Co. and Dish Network.

“The commission is charged with promoting competition and diversity in the video marketplace yet, despite multiple information-gathering dockets, currently fails regularly to collect and report on data regarding the demographic diversity of vendors providing one of the most critical inputs to the video marketplace: content,” said the petitioners in their filing.

The petition said the vendor diversity report would help the FCC measure competition and diversity and help the public make more informed decisions about which services they want to consume.

Also: Latino Management Group Buys Control of Fuse Media

“Today, we take a step toward genuinely embracing diversity in the video marketplace,” said Miguel “Mike” Roggero, CEO of Fuse Media. “As a Latino-owned, independent company, we understand that a competitive and culturally authentic video marketplace features a wide range of voices, including from communities of color. Roggero added, “Accurate data about the market will help foster a more vibrant, inclusive media landscape, which is vital in enabling us to tell stories that are truly representative of all audiences.”

In the past, Fuse has charged that distributors including Comcast and AT&T  have discriminated against it because it is minority-owned. 

Also signing on to the pettion were Common Cause, the National Hispanic Media Coalition, Public Knowledge and the United Church of Christ Media Justice Ministry. ■

Fuse will be going into the upfront market with a new free-ad supported streaming channel, Latin Vibes, and five new original series.

Going into its second year as a Latino-owned media company, Fuse is expanding its streaming portfolio, which already include Fuse Beat, Fuse Backstage and Fuse Sweat as free ad-supported television (FAST) channels and the Fuse Plus subscription service.

Latino Vibes will be devoted to English-language Latino entertainment when it debuts later this year. Fuse said it will also launch Camptastic, featuring the kings and queens of kitsch.

“Our stories have gone untold for too long,” Fuse Media CEO Mike Roggero said. “Fuse is committed to championing diversity and inclusion in media. By introducing new ways and platforms for fans to connect with our programming, we can continue to reach our audience everywhere they want to consume content, including our rapidly growing streaming platforms.” 

Fuse is also adding five new original shows to a lineup that aims to connect with a young, multicultural audience.

The new titles are We Need To Talk About America, Upcycle Nation, Filmmakers to Watch (working title), Like A Girl starring Denise Jones, and TallBoyz, a sketch company show featuring Vance Banzo, Guled Abdi, Franco Nguyen and Tim Blair.

“Fuse is the connector between advertisers and agencies looking to engage with diverse, young, multicultural audiences,” Fuse Media head of ad sales Fernando Romero said. “With years of proprietary research at our disposal, no one understands this underserved audience better than Fuse, or is better positioned to serve them with content that reflects their values and resonates with their life experiences. Our research consistently shows that brands that air ads on channels featuring multicultural content increase the favorability and purchase intent of their product, making Fuse the ideal partner for brands that want to authentically connect with this audience.” ■

The iconic series Buffy The Vampire Slayer will appear on Fuse starting October 1.

Fuse, a Latino owned media company aimed at younger viewers, obtained rights to the series through a licensing deal with Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution that covers all seven seasons of Buffy, which marks its 25th anniversary on Thursday.

Buffy originally ran from 1997 to 2003 on the WEB and UPN and embodied the empowerment of young women. The show is currently available on Disney's Hulu streaming service.

The series stars Sarah Michelle Gellar as a high school student who discovers she is the Slayer, responsible for fighting off supernatural monsters and other threats.

David Boreanaz, James Marsters, Alyson Hannigan, Seth Green, Anthony Steward Head, Nicholas Brendon, Charisma Carpenter, Emma Caulfield and Michelle Trachtenberg also starred. ■

Season three of Made From Scratch starts on Fuse Sept. 15, the “not-really-a-cooking show,” in the network’s words, showcasing artists preparing their favorite childhood dishes and sharing about their lives. 

Becky G, Maria Isabel, Omar Apollo, Smino, Joyce Wrice, Tinashe, Dumbfoundead and Guapdad4000 turn up this season. 

Fuse said the series is “about the intimate, genuine moments where food creates a bond, and artists can let down their guard and reveal how food and family have helped shape their identity, and inspired their art.”

Also Read: Fuse Provides Free Air Time to Support Diverse-Owned Businesses

Made From Scratch is produced by the Fuse Content Studio. Previous guests include Ally Brooke, G-Eazy, Big Boi, ASAP Ferg, Saweetie and Rick Ross.

Fuse Media describes itself as “a Latino-owned, multicultural focused, multiplatform entertainment company” that “unites cultures through colorful storytelling that celebrates our blended America.”

Streaming platform Fuse Plus launched Sept. 13.

Fuse Media is giving free air time to the first group of businesses as part of its Buy Small initiative, which was announced in the spring as part of Fuse’s upfront presentation.

The first company to get Fuse’s promotion is Rizos Curls, a Latina-owned clean haircare brand. Spots for Rizos Curls will start airing Wednesday.

In December, spots will start to air for Ilia by Tatiana Ilia, which makes gender-neutral products, including bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings and other accessories inspired by New York culture and the designer’s Haitian background.

Spots for Dosso Beauty will premiere in March. Dosso Beauty provides affordable gender-inclusive organic cosmetics, hair care, skin care and beauty supplies.

Also Read: Fuse Plus Streaming Service Launches with Original Series

In addition to commercial, the Buy Small program will feature programming stunts like Buy Small: Small Business Saturday in November and original programming featuring small businesses. Fuse will also promote small businesses on its social platforms.

“As a company that values empowerment and representation, it’s only fitting that small businesses are the focus of the first prosocial initiative we are rolling out since becoming a Latino-owned company less than a year ago,” said Fuse Media CEO Miguel “Mike” Roggero. “It’s a privilege to use the Fuse Media platform as a springboard so that other diverse business owners can also achieve their dreams.”

This month the cable television industry is celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month with several new programs and initiatives that recognize the contributions of Asian Americans.

This year’s celebration has taken on more significance in light of the recent escalation of hate crimes against AAPI communities across the country, according to industry executives. 

“It is critical during this uniquely important time in our society that we spotlight stories about people in the AAPI community who are making an impact and will continue to do so in the future,” Fuse Media CEO Miguel Roggero said. Throughout the month Fuse is running video interstitials spotlighting four changemakers -- singer/songwriter Dominic Fike, sex therapist and educator Sonalee Rashatwar, writer/comedian Kristina Wong and Congresswoman Grace Meng -- as part of its “Future Asian Pacific History Class of 2021” initiative.

MTV Networks will present a May 21 special, See Us Unite For Change, which will pay tribute to the Asian-American experience. Ken Jeong will host the special, which will air across the MTV Entertainment Networks and also stream on Facebook Watch. 

“We are outraged and deeply saddened by the escalation of hate crimes against AAPI communities and stand with them in the fight against xenophobia and bigotry,” said  MTV Entertainment Group Chris McCarthy said. “Hate against one of us is hate against all of us and by working together on a global scale, we can help end this senseless violence.”

Read Also: Ken Jeong to Host Asian-American Community Special on MTV Nets

Other networks celebrating AAPI Heritage Month on air include Cartoon Network, which is spotlighting four kids and the role their families play in shaping their lives as part of its Drawn to Ancestry series of monthly vignettes, and Ovation TV, which will air throughout May a daily, two-hour morning block featuring AAPI stories and talent. 

Fuse Media said it is launching a streaming division, creating another way for advertisers to reach the company’s young diverse audience.

As part of its upfront pitch, Fuse also said it was creating two streaming brands with Fuse Backstage and Fuse Sweat.

Also Read: Fuse Media Charges AT&T Discriminated Against It

Fuse Backstage is for music fans, featuring performances, interviews, documentaries and reality shows. It launches March 24 on Samsung TV Plus, Vizio SmartCast and on Redbox’s Free Live TV.

Fuse Sweat brings back the 1980s fitness craze. Look for Jane Fonda, Richard Simmons, Billy Blanks and Denise Austin, complete with the spandex and leg warmers you might remember. The service launches later this month on Vizio SmartCast.

The streaming strategy comes into view at Fuse’s first upfront since a management buyout that made it a Latino-owned and managed company led by CEO Miguel (Mike) Roggero.

“As a Latino-owned and operated company, Fuse Media is keenly positioned to serve our audience, because unlike others, we are this audience,” said Roggero.

“By aligning our board and management team with our content and audience, our company more than ever, fully reflects the diversity of our programming and viewers. This shift has made us one of the few minority-owned media brands in entertainment,” Roggero said. “Because we are able to turn on a dime to take advantage of the rapidly-changing media marketplace, we have been able to expand the Fuse Media brand to everywhere audiences want to view our content, including the rapidly-growing streaming universe.”

Four new original series are part of the Fuse upfront presentation including Sex Sells, Untitled Disruptor Art Show, Like a Girl and Shine True.

Fuse said five series are returning, including Fuse Docs, Fuse Films, Future History, Made From Scratch and True Dating Stories. Future History will add Future Middle Eastern History editions in August.

Original shows in development include Brother Nature Saves the World, Borrowed Nation, Pay It Forward, The Mentorship, The Passport and You Can’t Stop Us.

“Fuse continues to adapt to the rapid shifts in consumer tastes by delivering authentic, entertaining content across all screens and harnessing our creative power to impact positive change,” said Fernando Romero, Fuse Media’s head of ad sales. “The benefit for advertisers and agencies is that Fuse authentically connects with the diverse audience they seek to engage. Empowered by our content across all platforms, these viewers have come to embrace Fuse as an inspiring reflection of the societal changes most important to them and their families. We’ve earned their trust and in turn they trust the brands that support Fuse.”

Fuse said it was working with Ipsy, the beauty subscription service, to create digital and social content tied to the original series Shine True. Shine True, a co-production of Fuse Media, OUTtv and Vice Studios, tracks trans and non-binary young adults leading up to a big event. It is hosted by transgender musician and activist Lucas Silveira and non-binary photographer and model Richie Shazam. Subjects featured on the show will receive beauty products from Ipsy’s Glam Bag, Glam Bag Plus and Glam Bag X.

Fuse is also expanding its branded content business by working with Sofar Sounds to create content around virtual live music events.

Fuse has also renewed its partnership with The Music Center and Grand Park.

Fuse has launched a new season of its Future History franchise.

The month the network is celebrating makers of Future Women’s History who are having an impact on the world today that will be talked about in the future.

First member of the Fuse’s Class of 2021 is Chloe x Halle, an R&B group signed to Beyonce’s label who use their platform to lift fans and address issues of racial injustics and women’s empowerment.

The video featuring Chloe x Hall started running March 1. Future History is sponsored by Procter & Gamble.

The other members of the Future Women’s History Class of 2021 are:  

Journalist, author, and advocate Paola Ramos for advocating, reporting and celebrating the unique and disparate character within Latino culture.

First female general manager in Major League Baseball Kim Ng for inspiring a nation of young girls, and proving that nothing is off limits.

Ferguson activist turned freshmen Congresswoman Cori Bush for using her own life experiences to help her community fight for equal justice, healthcare, housing, education and more.

Fuse Media is teaming up with Voto Latino Foundation for a town hall event focusing on the Georgia Senate run-off election.

Fuse Town Hall: The Georgia Run-off Election premieres Jan. 4 at 8 p.m. on Fuse.

The town hall will be moderated by Voto Latino Foundation president and CEO Maria Teresa Kumar. Panelists will include actors and Voto Latino board members Rosario Dawson and Wilmer Valderrama.

Other speakers include CHCI Public Policy Fellow Patricia Granada-Malaver and activist Jordan Gaeta.

Fuse and Voto Latino this year have worked together on Fuse’s "Be Change" initiative

Fuse Media has filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission charging that AT&T and its DirecTV unit are illegally discriminating against it in carriage negotiations and that AT&T’s behavior could drive Fuse into bankruptcy.

The complaint filed on Dec. 11 noted that AT&T's behavior has changed since it acquired Time Warner, now AT&T’s WarnerMedia division. WarnerMedia owns cable networks that compete with, and offers programming that is in some ways similar to what Fuse and its Fuse Music (FM) channels provide.

Also read: Fuse Says It is Being Dropped by Comcast

“AT&T’s conduct would also eliminate the only remaining Latino-owned and managed cable network,” Fuse said in its complaint.

In a statement Fuse said it would fight AT&T’s practices. "AT&T, the largest vertically-integrated media company, is using its immense market power to treat Fuse Media unfairly and unequally, particularly compared with networks that AT&T owns and operates,” Fuse said.

“ Fuse Media is an independent, minority-owned and led media company, and is in fact the only remaining cable network that is Latino-owned, controlled and managed. For 16 years, we have been committed to engaging, entertaining and empowering young, Latino and multicultural Americans; we will always fight relentlessly and vigorously for our audience and against discriminatory practices. Since January, Fuse has been the last English-language network carried by AT&T that serves Latinos,” Fuse said in its statement. “If AT&T truly values minority voices, then their words must match their actions, especially during a time in which our nation is undergoing a seismic social awakening.  We are hopeful that AT&T will reverse course and negotiate in good faith moving forward.”

“We treat all programmers fairly, including Fuse,” an AT&T spokesman said. “They want the FCC to order us to provide programming our customers don’t want or value. We look forward to responding.”

In the complaint, Fuse charges that after being mainly non-responsive in negotiations since August, AT&T made an offer to carry Fuse, but Fuse is calling that offer a “mockery.” 

Also Read: Fuse, Dropped by Comcast, Blasts Operator

Exactly when AT&T’s carriage of Fuse ends was not disclosed. 

Fuse is seeking that the FCC enjoin AT&T from further program carriage discrimination and order it to carry Fuse and FM on equitable terms that do now restrict Fuse’s and FM’s ability to compete fairly. Fuse also asks for any other relief the FCC deems appropriate.

In its complaint, Fuse noted it had a similar issue with Comcast. After an FCC order regarding carriage of independent programmers expired on Sept. 1 2018, Comcast dropped Fuse, leading to Fuse declaring bankruptcy in 2019. 

Also Read: Fuse Media Expected to Emerge from Bankruptcy Soon

“Now Fuse is faced with the same existential threat, now in the hands of the other major vertically integrated distributor,” the complaint said.

Also Read: Latino Management Group Buys Control of Fuse Media

After emerging from bankruptcy, Fuse management acquired control of the company from a group of private-equity firms, making it a minority-owned media company.

AT&T had carried Fuse under agreements dating back to 2006, according to the complaint. DirecTV also carried Fuse before AT&T acquired DirectTV in 2015. AT&T’s behavior changed after AT&T acquired Time Warner. Fuse was pushed onto a less-distributed tier while WarnerMedia’s Turner cable channels enjoy broad carriage, the complaint said.

With its current agreement about to end, Fuse made a presentation to AT&T in August and followed up fruitlessly until Nov. 25, when Fuse notified AT&T it would be making a complaint to the FCC.

On Dec. 1 Fuse got a counter offer from AT&T that Fuse said was “insultingly hollow.” Beside setting a low sub fee, AT&T sought other undisclosed conditions restricting how Fuse can do business.

In its first count, Fuse charges that it will be “significantly hampered in its ability to compete fairly” under the terms AT&T proposed. Its second count says Fuse will be “significantly" hampered in its ability to attract advertisers.”

The Latino-led management of Fuse Media headed by CEO Miguel Roggero has acquired a controlling stake in the company, which plans to create original content and become a minority-owned leader with the growing multicultural millennial and Gen-Z demographic.

Roggero’s management group acquired a majority interest from the private equity firms and hedge funds that owned Fuse after it emerged from bankruptcy last June. How much money changed hands was not disclosed. The private equity groups still have a minority stake in Fuse Media and will remain long-term investors, he said.

“It was important for us to take control and align the ownership with the leadership team with our target audience. There aren’t a lot of examples of that,” Roggero told Broadcasting+Cable. “A lot of times ownership wants you to go in this way when you want to go in that way and it can slightly dilute your focus. And so we don’t have that any more and we will continue with the mission that we started with 16 years ago.”

The Fuse management team includes Judi Lopez, head of content distribution; Fernando Romero, head of ad sales; Marc Leonard, head of programming; marketing chief Mark McIntire and Patrick Courtney, who runs digital.

The shift to minority ownership will be felt by the audience in subtle ways, Roggero said. 

“We probably will be able to go faster, be less distracted and do more,” he said. We’re a content company at the end of the day and we have a vast audience,” he said. “It’s the fastest-growing demographic in America and we have an opportunity to be the leading brand for this target audience. There’s a lot of white space and fertile ground. The election shows you the importance of this audience.”

The company’s new board  includes Latino business leaders Tony Nieves, president of marketing agency MARCA, and Emeli Colletta, former head of marketing for Univision Interactive.

”In a complex and diverse society, media plays an important role in amplifying authentic storytelling and Fuse Media does the work to ensure Latino representation in front of and behind the camera,” said Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), chair of the House Small Business Committee. “I’d like to congratulate them on their transition from Latino-led to Latino owned. Minority-owned businesses like Fuse Media are the heartbeat of our nation and the backbone of our economy,”

As a minority owned company, Fuse now may have access to additional financial resources as well as government and business set-aside programs. “I think that's an opportunity we have to explore,” Roggero said.

Fuse has a long history of ownership changes. It started in 1994 as MuchMusic USA, a joint venture of Cablevision’s Rainbow Media unit and CHUM Ltd. of Canada. CHUM sold its stake to Cablevision in 2000 and it rebranded in 2003 as Fuse, a music TV alternative to MTV. Fuse moved from Rainbow to Cablevision’s Madison Square Garden Co. in 2009.

Fuse was acquired for $226 million in 2014 by SiTV, backed by creative officer Jennifer Lopez. SiTV’s NuvoTV was merged with Fuse in 2015. The network lost distribution in 2018 and filed for bankruptcy in 2019. CEO Michael Schwimmer resigned and was replaced by Roggero, who had been COO and CFO.

The bankruptcy process let Fuse reduce its debt, Roggero said.

“That freed us everything and really just re-energized us. We emerged refreshed without the burden of debt and we’ve been full steam ahead,” he said.

Fuse will look to put more original content on its schedule. It creates much of its content through its own studio, which is more economical than buying from the outside. It also ensures that its programming consists of “the best entertaining and authentic stories that we can deliver to our audience,” Roggero said.

The company will also be focusing on expanding the Fuse brand oversees and is looking forward to the return of live events.

Fuse last year made a deal to create a branded channel on Pluto TV. It’s priority at this point is linear, but “as streaming platforms continue to grow, it’s definitely an area that’s important. We need to make sure we have a way to reach our audience across any platform.”

Fuse Media will premiere a new special in October that will focus on the upcoming election.

The special, Fuse Town Hall: Our Votes Matter, will premiere Oct. 23 and will feature discussions about issues that, heading into the election, are important to the network's multicultural, millennial audience, said the network. 

The special will be moderated by Singer/author Amara La Negra and will feature political rights activist María Teresa Kumar, LGBTQ+ and Latinx advocate Ingrid Duran, immigrant rights activist Sara Mora, former Houston city council candidate Marcel McClinton, environmental activist Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali, human and civil rights activist Pete White, and climate change activists Julian Brave NoiseCat and Jamie Margolin.

Fuse has also partner with Color of Change PAC, which will participate in and promote the Town Hall special and will work with Fuse to encourage its young, multicultural audience to register and vote through linear, social and digital content pieces featuring musicians, comedians and activists. 

“We are coming together with our partners and a strong, diverse group of influencers, activists and experts to encourage and rally Americans as we head closer to November 3,” Miguel Roggero, Fuse Media CEO said in a statement.  “As young people are heading to the polls to decide who will help them move the country forward, our goal is to inform voters about the importance of casting a ballot on both a macro and micro level.”

Fuse Media has teamed with politician/activist Stacey Abrams and advocacy group Climate Power 2020 to develop cross-platform interstitials revolving around the issue of climate change, the network said Wednesday.

Starting July 5, a series of 30-second vignettes featuring Abrams will air on the Fuse and FM (Fuse Music) linear channels, on Fuse.tv and across the Fuse Media social accounts, and will detail the impact of climate change on communities of color, said the network. The vignettes will also encourage people to vote for politicians that include environmental responsibility as part of their platform,.

Additional vignettes featuring Abrams are being produced to run in August and will focus on voter participation in November.

"Environmental justice is an issue that is incredibly important, especially for our young, multicultural audience - with climate change disproportionately affecting people of color. Climate Power 2020's mission aligns with our commitment to use Be Change campaigns to educate, inform and empower," said Fuse Media CEO Miguel (Mike) Roggero in a statement. "As we have since the company was formed, we will continue to use our platform to encourage our viewers to hold politicians accountable and drive real change."

Long time media executive and former Fuse CEO Michael Schwimmer will join Dish Network and its sister streaming service Sling TV in June as EVP of international, business development and strategy, the satellite company said Tuesday. He will report to Dish EVP of programming and group president of Sling TV Warren Schlichting.

Schwimmer will be responsible for growing the company’s Dish TV and Sling TV multicultural businesses, as well as pursuing development and partnership opportunities in the U.S. and abroad for Sling.

“Michael is one of the key architects of what has become the Dish TV and Sling TV international businesses, and everything we are doing today traces directly back to his early work at Dish delivering international content,” Schlichting said in a press release. “His track record of creativity and innovation in our industry will be a tremendous asset for Dish as we seek growth in our international offerings.”

Schwimmer first joined Dish Network in 1996 as a member of its legal team and later was tapped to lead the company’s marketing and programming organization, playing a key role in launching the Dish International and DishLatino brands. He left Dish in 2005 to lead SiTV, later rebranded NUVOtv, a premier English-language destination for Latino entertainment. In 2014 he oversaw the acquisition of the Fuse Media enterprise from the Madison Square Garden Company. He resigned from Fuse in April. 

“My career has been devoted to helping build new businesses that champion great content for diverse audiences,” Schwimmer said in a press release. “I look forward to making a contribution to help grow the already strong position of the Dish brands as the destinations for the best multicultural content available and create new opportunities for the Sling platform.”

Longtime Fuse Media executive Michael Schwimmer has resigned from his position as CEO, the network said Monday.

Fuse COO/CFO Mike Roggero has been named interim CEO and will oversee operations for the Latino and multicultural youth-themed company.

Schwimmer, who will depart effective April 12, has served as CEO of the company since 2005. He oversaw the network’s growth and rebrand from then SiTV Media to NUVOtv in 2011 before spearheading the company’s 2014 acquisition of Fuse from Madison Square Garden Company.

RELATED: Fuse CEO Michael Schwimmer Looks to Reach Young, Multicultural Viewer (Video)

In 2012 Schwimmer established an historic strategic alliance entertainer/entrepreneur, Jennifer Lopez, including a multi-faceted collaboration with her company, Nuyorican Productions. 

RELATED: Jennifer Lopez talks about NuvoTV production deal (Video)

“Michael’s grit and determination over the years – often in the face of long odds - have been a key ingredient to our culture and our success,” Roggero said in a statement. “We’ll greatly miss his steady hand and sense of humor.”

Added Schwimmer: “I have spent nearly 16 years working closely with this incredible company, its board, executive team and some of the most talented people in media and entertainment, and am very proud of what we have built together. I am excited about what’s next, both for myself and with Fuse, and glad to know that the company is in the excellent hands of a strong executive team under the leadership of Mike Roggero – someone who has played a large role in setting Fuse up for future success.”

Roggero takes over the company after serving as an integral part of its leadership team for more than 12 years. Roggero has overseen the company’s multiplatform operations, finance, legal, pricing and planning and technology departments, and is responsible for the company’s relationships with the investment and analyst community.

RELATED: FUSE Blasts Comcast for Dropping Network 

Fuse will launch several new original series as part of its 2019-2020 programming slate, the network announced Wednesday.

The Latino and multicultural youth-targeted network’s new series include Made From Scratch, a docu-cooking series featured Latinx rapper Young M.A bonding with her grandmother over food; The Read with Kid Fury and Crissle West, a talk/variety show based on a popular podcast; and Sugar and Toys, an adult animated series. 

Also in development is Reverse Brothers with Ayo & Teo, an animated series that features a hip-hop/dance duo as they face challenges associated with galactic characters that frequent their pawn shop, said the network. 

The new shows join returning shows T-Pain’s School of Business, Future-History, Lie Detector, Complex x Fuse and Mind Massage.

“To successfully target this highly elusive audience, we’ve needed to experiment across platforms and find innovative ways to engage viewers,” said Fuse Media chief content officer J-T Ladt in a statement. “Continuing with this strategy, Fuse is migrating nontraditional IP that already has a built-in multicultural audience to the linear channel.”

Cable network Fuse said it was being dropped by Comcast, effective Dec. 31, a move Comcast confirmed.

Fuse said it had not received an explanation for the decision from the cable operator, but complained that the decision runs contrary to the promises Comcast has made about making a commitment to support diverse and independently-owned programmers.

Update: Fuse on Monday said Verizon Fios also was dropping the channel as of Dec. 31. Fios, which on Dec. 28 dropped BlazeTV, also has warned customers it is facing a possible loss of Tegna TV stations as of 5 p.m. Dec. 31.

In a statement, Michael Schwimmer, CEO of Fuse, said dropping the network comes after Comcast was freed from the consent decree it agreed when it acquired NBCUniversal. The decree was designed to ensure that Comcast treated networks it didn’t own fairly.

Related: ACA Says DOJ Needs to Keep Leash on Comcast-NBCU

Comcast is set to launch two new African-American targeted networks this month as part of a promise made in securing the NBCU merger approvals. 

Fuse, which includes Jennifer Lopez among its owners, has been carried by Comcast for 10 years and says that its ratings are up among young viewers at a time when cable networks overall are down. Fuse also noted that its viewership is nearly three-quarters multicultural. Nielsen's household universe estimate of basic cable channels had Fuse in about 60 million homes in November.

Comcast confirmed it was dropping Fuse.

“We regularly evaluate our channel lineups and sometimes make changes to ensure we’re offering customers a wide variety of the content that they want to see at the best value," Comcast said in a statement. "In this case, much of the content carried by Fuse is similar to content that is also available on other networks. We understand that some customers may find Fuse’s programming of interest, and we will work with them to find options that will help them continue to watch other content like this programming.”

Here is the full statement from Fuse president Michael Schwimmer:

"Despite Comcast’s publicly-stated commitment to support diverse and independently operated networks, Comcast has elected to drop Fuse, a multicultural-focused television network, on December 31, after more than a decade of carriage. This decision is both surprising and troubling considering that Fuse met Comcast's financial demands and no other requirements were ever communicated to us.

"A commitment to diversity is an enduring value, not a politically expedient card for Comcast to play until such time as consent decrees or business objectives no longer require it. Comcast’s behavior leading to its decision to drop Fuse reveals an agenda inconsistent with their public statements, giving further credence to the merit of on-going DOJ oversight.

"We have been dedicated from the very beginning to providing opportunities for diverse creative talent to entertain and inform diverse communities. By removing our network from its consumer offering, Comcast is silencing yet another independent media company, in this case one that is devoted to providing a platform for inclusive voices and authentic representation at a uniquely important time in our society."

Update: Regarding Fios, Fuse Media said in a statement that "Verizon Fios’ final offer contained terms Verizon Fios understood were unacceptable and as a result, the telecommunications giant will be removing Fuse’s multicultural-focused television network from the Verizon Fios service. The impact of Verizon Fios’ decision will be a low single-digit reduction of Fuse’s distribution versus 2018 levels.

"This is another instance of one of our nation’s largest telecommunications companies taking action inconsistent with its public posture regarding diversity. While claiming to be committed to supporting customers from underserved communities, Verizon Fios is removing unique content programmed to the passions and values of the large and growing multicultural millennial audience."

Featured image credit: Getty Images for The ALMA Awards, which aired on Fuse in November.

Fuse has secured the rights to a new scripted series featuring former NBA All-Star Baron Davis, the network said Thursday.

The series, WTF Baron Davis, stars Davis and social media personality Brandon Armstrong, and depicts the antics that transpire when an opinionated and self-centered celebrity “invests” in the lovable yet incompetent screw-ups who hang around him, according to Fuse.

Rapper Flava Flav, Lamorne Morris (New Girl), Jerry Ferrara (Entourage), and basketball player Nick Young are scheduled to make appearances on the series, which is produced by Fullscreen and No Label, according to Fuse.

“Fuse’s engagement with our core, young audience has significantly grown over the last year, driven by an enhanced focus on content that embraces their passion for music and youth culture,” said Fuse Media Senior VP of Content Strategy Marc Leonard. “WTF Baron Davis leans into these cornerstones with an outrageous collision of comedy, basketball, social media and music that is sure to engage this hard-to-reach audience.”

Actor, producer and activist Wilmer Valderrama (pictured) will headline The ALMAs 2018, a live, televised special celebrating the contributions of Latino artists and influencers. Honorees will include actress and philanthropist Eva Longoria and the cast of Jane the Virgin, including actors Gina Rodriguez, Jaime Camil and Andrea Navedo. Parkland survivor and activist Samantha Fuentes and Zero Hour founder Jamie Margolin have been named Trailblazer honorees. The evening will also include performances by Ally Brooke, Amara La Negra and house DJ and FM (Fuse Music) host Cipha Sounds. 

The ALMAs 2018 will be presented by Fuse and its sister channel FM (Fuse Music) on Sunday, Nov. 4, from the event deck of LA Live in DTLA at (8 PM ET / 5 PM PT) as a 75-minute special.

The ALMAs 2018 will be a high-energy party featuring a combination of live musical performances and special presentations reflecting the theme: “This Is Our America!” Honorees, presenters and performers will share personal stories of the America they have experienced, envision or seek to build in a celebration of unity. The spirit of the artists and influencers spotlighted and their commitment to positive impact and representation will be recognized throughout the evening.

“This is a critical time in history. The achievements of Latinos and our contributions need to be spotlighted more now than ever,” Valderrama said in a release. “I am thrilled to be involved with The ALMAs 2018 and to share the stage with some of the leading voices in entertainment making an impact on our country and inspiring our generation”

This year marks the 50th anniversary of UnidosUS (formerly NCLR), the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization, which created the ALMA Awards (which began in 1995 as the Bravo Awards) as a way to promote fair, accurate, and balanced portrayals of Latinos in the entertainment industry. As a nationally-telecast, English-language show recognizing the important accomplishments of Latinos in American entertainment and media, The ALMAs remains highlights how diversity strengthens the entertainment industry and our nation as a whole. ALMA stands for American Latino Media Arts.

The ALMAs 2018 will be produced by Done + Dusted (Stand Up To Cancer, iHeartRadio Music Awards and Co-Producers of the 2018 Emmys). David Jammy and Rudy Crew will serve as executive producers of the event and Wilmer Valderrama will serve as producer.

As Hollywood prepares for Sunday’s Academy Awards, Fuse is shining a light on the underrepresentation of Hispanics among the major Oscar acting categories.

Fuse has teamed with the National Hispanic Media Coalition to bring more attention to the fact that none of the Oscar nominees for best actor or actress is Latino. Further, Latino actors and actresses have only garnered 16 nominations and six wins in 90 years, according to the Huffington Post.

The NHMC is planning to demonstrate the day before the Oscars to bring light to the disparity.

“We want to help them get the conversation going – they are the watchdog of Latinos in media, and they are there to elevate Latino voices on air and online, and that’s what we are here to do,” said Judi Lopez, Fuse senior vice president of distribution and affiliate marketing. “It’s important that we’re raising the issue and locking arms with them.”

Added NHMC president Alex Nogales: “We applaud Fuse for standing up for the Latino community by helping us drive awareness for this incredible inequity in representation. More media companies need to take notice and need to follow the example.”  

On Sunday, against the Oscars telecast, Fuse will air commercial-free the 2014 dramedy film Dear White People, which examines escalating racial tensions at a fictitious college. As part of that telecast, Fuse will also premiere several interstitials featuring footage from the 1950 classic film Cyrano de Bergerac, starring José Ferrer (pictured) -- the only Latino actor ever to win an Oscar for best actor. The remixed footage will use humor to call attention to the lack of Latino representation and provide thought-provoking facts on inclusion in entertainment, Fuse said.

“The interstitials are a play on what’s going on and how ludicrous the [Latino] representation – or lack thereof – is in the Oscar categories and in Hollywood,” Lopez said. 

Indeed, Latino actors and actresses represented only 3.1% of speaking roles in major Hollywood films from 2007 to 2016, Lopez said. With 56 million Hispanics in the U.S., the numbers are embarrassing.

The lack of Latino actors and actresses in prominent speaking roles may also be affecting Latino movie attendance. Lopez said Latinos represent 24% of movie ticket buyers today, down from 32% of movie ticket buyers just four years ago.

On the flip side, movies that have significant Latino representation and reflect the culture, such as Disney’s animated film Coco, can perform well at the box office. The Mexican folktale-themed film with a predominately Hispanic vocal cast has generated more than $208 million in domestic box office sales since its November 2017 release, according to Box Office Mojo.

“At 18% of the population, Latinos are still over-indexing on buying movie tickets, but you have to ask the question as to why those movie ticket buying numbers are down,” Lopez said. “Maybe its because they’re not seeing themselves represented in the movies, and representation and engagement is key. When you see yourself on television or in the movies, it resonates deeply.” 

Lopez said the network is in the planning stages of developing other initiatives that will continue to tackle the issues of inclusion and diversity beyond the Oscars both on its linear network and online. 

“This is going to have at least raised the issue during the moment in time we have here during the Oscars, and we’re going to keep on that mission,” she said. “I think there’s going to be a lot of visibility within the Latino community, and we’ll continue to look for opportunities to keep amplifying it.”

Fuse Media said it reached an agreement with Dish Network for continued carriage of FM, the music-centred network. FM is available on channel 180 in Dish programming packages including America’s Top 120, America’s Top 200, America’s Top 250 and America’s Everything Pack.

"With music at its core, FM is the ultimate music destination on every platform,” Judi Lopez, Fuse Media SVP Distribution and Affiliate Marketing, said in a release. "We are pleased to continue our partnership with Dish Network to bring FM to young multicultural fans who want a deeper dive into the world of music."

FM is in about 40 million homes, according to Nielsen figures. Sister channel Fuse is in about 61 million homes, again per Nielsen.

Fuse Media has named former VH1 and TLC executive Jennifer McGovern to the newly created position of senior vice president, current and development, the network said Thursday. 

McGovern will be responsible for all original content development and production as well as the generation of new original content strategies, said network officials. McGovern, who will report to Fuse chief content officer J-T Ladt, will also be responsible for identifying new material and opportunities for long and short-form programming for Fuse Media’s diverse content platforms.

Most recently McGovern worked at VH1 and was responsible for the development of all VH1 East Coast original programming. McGovern also had stints at Oxygen and TLC.

Fuse has teamed with the NAACP civil rights organization to raise awareness of the issues highlighted in the network’s documentary Show Me Democracy airing this Saturday, the network said Thursday.

As part of the partnership, the NAACP will provide additional information on the issues showcased in Fuse’s April 29 documentary, which centers on seven St. Louis college students as they evolve into advocates and activists, demanding change through policy and protest in the wake of the 2014 Ferguson uprising, said the network.

Information provided by the NAACP will appear during the broadcast, and the organization will support tune-in through a variety of strategic social media account activations, said the network. 

“We are proud to partner with the NAACP to present a viewing experience that goes beyond traditional and expands the level of engagement and awareness of crucial issues,” said Fuse Media President and CEO Michael Schwimmer in a statement. “As the inaugural project in our documentary series, our partnership with this legacy organization supports Fuse Media’s vision of creating a multiplatform conversation and providing key resources and additional content across all of our platforms.” 

Fuse will serve as the official music sponsor for the October ESL One New York 2016 E-Sports tournament, the network said Friday.

As part of the sponsorship with ESL, which will host the Oct. 1-2 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament in Brooklyn, N.Y., the network will present electronic dance music duo Krewella at the tournament, according to network officials.

Fuse will offer event coverage throughout the weekend of the tournament featuring exclusive video interviews with e-sports participants as well as celebrities attending the tournament.  Fuse will also produce and premiere an e-sports themed special coming out of ESL One with more details to be announced soon.

“This partnership is an incredible opportunity for Fuse to enter the esports arena and connect with players and fans, and to bring our audience a glimpse into a sport that is growing exponentially in popularity,” said Fuse Media President & CEO Michael Schwimmer in a statement.  “Gaming culture resonates deeply with our core multicultural, millennial audience, and ESL One New York 2016 is the perfect entry point for us as we enter this space.”

Multicultural entertainment networks are prepping for the biggest entertainment event of the summer: the Democratic and Republican conventions, and their respective presumptive presidential nominees, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

This month, networks such as Fuse, Revolt, BET and TV One will provide both TV and digital coverage of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland (July 18-21) and the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia (July 25-28).

Providing news coverage through a multicultural lens — especially during an important and unpredictable campaign season — should appeal to the networks’ target viewers despite the channels’ entertainment-programming pedigrees, network executives said.

“I think the landscape for this particular election season is uncharted territory,” Fuse Media CEO Michael Schwimmer said. “We have candidates on both sides that are controversial, and particularly on the Republican side, with regard to the Hispanic community. I don’t think we’ve seen this kind of change and acrimony in a way that so directly effects our audience.”

Fuse will air segments from the convention both on its air and online. They will be reported by correspondents Arlene Santana and James Villalobos, who were chosen by Fuse viewers last month as part of the network’s “Crash the Parties” initiative with nonprofit political organization Voto Latino, Schwimmer said.

Having covered the 2008 and 2012 conventions, Schwimmer added that there is far more interest among young viewers this year than in the previous elections.

“The interest in both candidates, along with the explosion of social media over the past eight years, makes this a better experience for us as an organization and for viewers who will get that content multiple ways,” Schwimmer said.

TV One president and CEO Brad Siegel said the network’s live daily coverage from the convention floors, via morning news program News One Now with Roland Martin, will provide its African-American audience with a more in-depth look at the issues important to them.

The show’s website, newsone.com, will also offer live reports from the conventions.

“Viewers expect us to be covering the most important news of the day, and be able to interpret and ask the questions of the newsmakers regarding how their politics affects African-Americans,” he said. “That’s our job — to ask the questions from a perspective that no one else is asking, and our viewers expect us to represent their point of view, their situations and how their policies affect their lives.”

Coverage of the conventions won’t be limited to what’s happening in the arenas. Revolt TV chief political correspondent Amrit Singh said he plans to complement the network’s convention coverage with reports from outside the proceedings, where major protests are expected.

“The story there is not only what’s happening in the convention halls but very much what’s happening in the streets,” he said.

As part of Revolt’s “Revolt 2 Vote” initiative, the network will feature live segments from the convention floor that will air on the network’s daily Revolt Live show as well as on network website revolt.tv, Singh said. The network will also break into regularly scheduled programming during the conventions to offer live updates and interviews from the convention floors, he added.

“These conventions are really four-day reality shows,” Singh said. “This is really an opportunity to galvanize the attention of our audience.”

Myx Tv general manager Miguel Santos added that a diverse offering of voices and images on television helps to assure that all voters have a chance to have their issues and concerns heard. 

“It’s important for multicultural networks to ensure that their viewers feel like they have a voice and their needs are being addressed,” said Santos, whose network is in process of planning its on-air and online election coverage.

“You’ll hear presidential candidates say ‘We have the African-American, Latino and event the LGBTQ+ vote’ but rarely is there a mention of Asian Americans," he added. "Our viewers need to know that  they can and should demand more attention because their votes matter too.”

The shocking and untimely death of Prince has inspired more programmers to schedule tributes or specials related to the Purple Rain artist. 

READ MORE: Cable Networks, Fans, Celebs React to the Death of Prince | MTV Acknowledges Prince's Passing During Upfront

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network will re-air one of the music legend's most notable television interviews, from The Oprah Winfrey Show (pictured) in 1996, on Saturday, April 23, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on OWN.  In what was the first interview following his iconic name change, Oprah Winfrey chats with the artist about his musical genius, lifestyle, soul mate and future in music (video preview). She visits Prince’s personal recording studio at Paisley Park in Minneapolis, where Prince played a few bars of "Purple Rain" for her on his purple piano. 

TV One tonight (April 21) from 8-10 p.m. ET has secheduled a Roland Martin-hosted live program, A News One Now Special: Prince Remembered. “Prince is such an iconic figure in our community. There is no way we could not do a primetime special on this legendary musician,” Martin said in a statement. “I met, admired, and absolutely love his music. There is no better way to pay tribute to his life and legacy than with a News One Now special on TV One.” Scheduled guests include another legendary singer, Aretha Franklin (Chaka Khan had been previously announced but is no longer participating); Cedric The Entertainer; Londell McMillan, publisher (The Source) and attorney for Prince; Russ Parr, radio DJ, film director, writer, actor and television personality; Peter Himmelman, a singer-songwriter that came up with Prince in Minnesota; Cori Murray, entertainment director at Essence magazine; Full Force, the R&B group. TV One also will encore an episode of Unsung featuring Sheila E., Prince’s former protégé, collaborator and ex-fiancée, throughout the weekend.

VH1 -- sister network to MTV, which Thursday night paid tribute to the iconic performer at its upfront in New York -- kicked off on-air remembrances by airing Prince's iconic movie "Purple Rain" at 5:30 p.m. ET, the first of what will be several airings over the weekend. VH1 also planned a Prince music video block starting at 8 p.m. 

READ MORE: MTV Acknowledges Prince's Passing During Upfront.

AXS TV said it would celebrate the life and legacy of the genre-defying Prince with a tribute block on Saturday, April 23, featuring the Prince episode of AXS TV’s Rock Legends at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT, and the television premiere of the acclaimed documentary Slave Trade: How Prince Re-Made The Music Business at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.  The network noted that, with his inimitable style and fearless blending of rock, R&B, soul, funk, hip-hop, disco, pop and more, Prince cemented his position as one of music’s most innovative figures. Rock Legends: Prince will re-air Monday, April 25, at 7 p.m. ET and Tuesday, April 26 at 8 p.m. ET. Slave Trade will will be broadcast again on Monday, April 25, at 11 p.m. ET and Tuesday, April 26, at 9 p.m. ET.

Fuse will honor Prince during tonight’s special Dearly Beloved, premiering at 7 p.m. ET/PT and repeating at 11 p.m. ET/PT. This one-hour Prince music-video tribute takes viewers through music history with The Purple One who will never be forgotten, the network said. Dearly Beloved will air throughout Friday, April 22, as well. 

As coverage of the cantankerous and unpredictable 2016 political election season draws big TV ratings for traditional cable-news networks, upstart channels targeting young millennials with political-themed content are campaigning online to reach one of the largest voting blocks in U.S. history.

Networks like Fusion, Revolt TV, Pivot and Fuse are looking to secure the votes of a politically engaged group of 18-to-34-year-olds looking for content that speaks to issues important to them — topics that aren’t always addressed by the cable news channels.

From online voter registration campaigns to millennial-focused reports from the major political party conventions to social-media initiatives on key issues such as immigration, police brutality and LGBT rights, network executives said it’s critical to provide content to millennials when and where they want it.

“We have seen from our audience that they are an active, socially relevant group, and they care about issues that can affect not only them but society at large, from Black Lives Matter to [the drinking-water crisis in] Flint to immigration issues and LGBT issues — this audience is vocal and they care about these issues,” Revolt TV CEO Keith Clinkscales said. “We wanted to make sure that we were uniquely positioned to impact the political conversation, and give the young people who consume our media an opportunity to amplify their voices.”

CROSSING PLATFORMS

To accomplish that, networks are taking a multiplatform approach to disseminating political news to an audience that watches less TV and spends more time online, executives said.

Millennials aged 18-34 may watch less live TV than any other demographic group, but they’re the most likely to use a connected-TV device such as Apple TV or Roku, according to a new Nielsen Total Audience Report for fourth-quarter 2015.

That age group also spent more than 11 hours per week using smartphones to access the Web and apps during fourth-quarter 2015, up from eight hours during the same period in 2014, according to Nielsen.

Millennials have followed the 2016 presidential campaign closely because the candidates have been so active on social media, David Quinn, senior brand lead for digital marketing firm Beamly, said.

“All the candidates are active on Twitter and using video on YouTube and have remained active in the political conversation with millennials,” Quinn said.

That leaves an opening for millennial-targeted networks to provide political content to an already engaged audience.

For Fuse, that means teaming with Hispanic-targeted, non-profit political organization Voto Latino to create a multiplatform initiative dubbed “Crash the Parties,” Fuse Media CEO Michael Schwimmer said. Millennial Latinos can vie for a chance to become Fuse reporters at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland and the Democratic convention in Philadelphia.

Would-be reporters can submit a video to Fuse.tv for network viewers to vote on. Two winners will be chosen to represent the network at the conventions, providing frequent video updates both online and on he linear channel.

The network (then called Sí TV) ran a similar campaign with Voto Latino in 2008. “With the social media tools that are available in 2016 that were not available in 2008, it’s going to be even easier and more effective in getting out the word and getting people engaged in the process,” Schwimmer said.

Revolt’s “Revolt 2 Vote” initiative will include a weekly digital series on the revolt.tv website, featuring interviews with political leaders and insights from millennial thought leaders and influencers, Clinkscales said.

The music channel’s primarily digital political content will be headed by millennial journalist Amrit Singh as well as a “kitchen cabinet” of young political voices who will discuss the campaign on Revolt.tv and social-media outlets such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

“The main thing is we have digital coverage because that’s where millennials are aggregating political content, and then we’ll do some linear programming as well,” he said.

As some 93 million millennials will be of voting age going into this year’s election, Clinkscales said it’s imperative to provide them information to make informed decisions.

“More than 30 million young people stayed home in 2012,” he said. “[Turnout] was very low — one of the lowest numbers on record. The frustration that young people have with the American political system is an opportunity to make sure we provide them with the engagement they need.”

The emerging networks are also hoping to reach millennial viewers in a way the bigger, more mainstream news networks haven’t so far. While both Fox News Channel and CNN ranked among the top 10 most-watched cable networks among total viewers during the first quarter 2016 among total viewers, neither is among the top 15 networks within the 18-49 demo, according to Nielsen.

“Millennials are not turning on the TV and watching the cable news networks,” Quinn said. “The shows that are speaking to the group are from external video Web shows.”

“They have their hands full,” Clinkscales said. “We have the luxury of going after one of America’s largest generations ever — 93 million strong and 40% from communities of color. This is the time to understand what’s going on with this 18-to-34-year-old audience.”

GOING TO THE MOVIES

Pivot will take a different tack to inform millennials about the political process, relying on politically-themed movies throughout the summer to keep politics on the minds of its younger viewers, Pivot general manager Kent Rees said.

The network will feature such films as All the President’s Men, Wag the Dog and The Fog of War.

“We’re more contextualizing the political process through these films that we’ve identified,” Rees said. “Millennials crave context and they crave it in all different directions, and having them sit down and watch a fi lm that comments on the process in general as well as documentaries like Caucus that touch on how the process works.”

The network will feature around the #justvote public-awareness campaign, which encourages young people to register and vote. Rees said there often isn’t a lot of information in the marketplace as to how to vote, so the eff ort will explain the process to help get millennials to the voting booth.

“Their involvement is clear, and it’s a great way to galvanize them,” Rees said. “It’s the largest generation in American history, and they’ve only just begun to understand their power and the opportunities to affect change in the country at large.”

Fuse will launch a mobile app as part of several new digital initiatives developed to increase the network’s reach with its audience, the network announced Wednesday. 

The network has launched its new Fuse app on both iOS and Android devices, according to network officials. The app will feature exclusive access to select Fuse original series prior to their linear premiere, including the March 31sophomore season debut of Fluffly Breaks Even starring Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias.

“With Gabriel Iglesias’ broad appeal and tremendous social media following, Fluffy Breaks Even is the perfect title to showcase on the Fuse mobile app,” said Fuse Media CEO Michael Schwimmer in a statement.

In addition, the network will develop original products for the app including Live Alive, a series of concert specials premiering this Spring. The first concert in the series will feature Australian soul band Hiatus Kaiyote, said network officials.

The Fuse mobile app will also provide consumers the ability to set TV schedule reminders, share what they’re watching with their social networks, and watch content on the big screen via their Apple TV device.

Fuse will also launch a new podcast network that will feature three weekly half-hour podcasts launching of Fuse.Tv that will offer in-depth conversations with Fuse experts, artists and tastemakers from the hip-hop, pop and K-pop worlds, said network officials.

“The expansion of Fuse Media’s digital strategy underscores our commitment to reach Latino and multicultural millennials in new, innovative ways,” Schwimmer said.

The new Fuse — a merger of the long-running music network and its new owner, Hispanic-targeted service NUVOtv — will officially launch on Wednesday Sept. 30. Currently in 70 million homes, the network will feature multicultural-themed programming such as Transcendent, a documentary series about young transgender women, and Fluffy Breaks Even, starring comedian Gabriel Iglesias, both of which will debut the on weekend of the network’s rebrand. The 40 million-subscriber channel now known as NUVOtv will be rebranded as FM, a music channel featuring live event programming targeted to millennials. Fuse Media president Bill Hilary spoke with Multichannel News programming editor R. Thomas Umstead about the Fuse rebrand, the launch of FM and the challenge of being heard amidst the roar of a very crowded entertainment marketplace. An edited transcript follows.

RELATED MCN ORIGINAL VIDEO:One Question for ... Bill Hilary

MCN:How would you define the new Fuse brand?

Bill Hilary: NUVOtv built a strong foundation, and now we’re building on top of that. The foundation was very much built around the Latino audience, and we’re still going to be reflecting that with such stars as Gabriel Iglesias and shows like the Transcendent Girls.

MCN:Will we continue to see music content on the new Fuse?

BH: Here’s the great thing about the two channels — they actually reflect each other. Fuse had a large African- American audience because of its strong music base. You can’t have millennial programming without music being part of the language, and you can’t have multiculturalism without African-Americans, Asians and Hispanics. So when you put them together you have a very strong foundation, which is what we have in Fuse.

MCN:Is there still a void to fill for multicultural content, given the explosion of content targeted to multicultural audiences in the last year on both broadcast and cable?

BH: I actually don’t think it’s actually as crowded as people say it is, and actually it’s quite the opposite: there still aren’t a lot of opportunities to offer multicultural programming in television. I think Viola Davis is saying what she said, that they need the opportunity, we need the opportunity. In many ways the media is behind, because we’re not reflecting the way America is changing, especially with the young millennial. [Davis on Sept. 21 became the first African-American woman to win an Emmy for best actress in a drama, ABC’s How to Get Away With Murder, and said in her speech that “the only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity.”]

MCN:Could you see a potential OTT offering for either Fuse or FM down the road?

BH: Absolutely. We’re looking at every means of distribution. The thing about millennials is that it’s not about the means of distribution for them; it’s about the content. So all of our content is going to live on linear but also very much on digital, and also live events. As we continue to get the right content for the network it will live in linear and in digital. Times are changing so quickly, especially for the young millennial. I don’t know if they’re changing as quickly as everyone thinks they are, but there’s no doubt that young millennials are accessing content on different platforms. We have to move with those times, but I don’t believe that in the next 24 hours everyone is going to stop watching TV. They still watch content, and at the end of the day that’s what it’s about. How you get it is a very different story, because they’ll get it on their phone, their computer, their television screen or they like to experience it when they go to a live event. So it’s more about the content and less about the means of distribution. But if you’ve got great content they will find it. What we should be more concerned about is finding programming that reflects their point of view.

MCN:How would you define FM?

BH: We’re excited about FM, but it will be a slow launch. It’s a very digital network, so every show on the air will live digitally. In November, we’re launching three new series that we haven’t announced yet, but one of the shows that I’m excited about it is called Explicit Language. It follows the tastemakers and those who are making noise in music and brings them together to have a voice on our linear channel about music and the new America. We will also have live events on the channel, and that’s important to FM as well. You’re going to see concerts as well as other big events like [standup] comedy shows. Concerts are still relevant because people want to experience a comedy or music event. Overall, we hope to tap into something that showcases the diversity within the community of music, instead of just showing pop videos.

MCN:Where do you see the Fuse and FM brands evolving into a year from now?

BH: This time next year, I hope we look like a media brand and not just two networks. It would be networks, live events digital with a host of big stars coming aboard that I can’t announce today. I’m hoping we have a family of news stars to reflect the new America and celebrate what’s happing in America in a multicultural, millennial way.

Fuse has picked up the rights to air games from the Legends Football League (formerly the Lingerie Football League), said network officials.

Fuse will broadcast the entire LFL USA 2015 season in primetime which includes 18 regular season games, two conference Playoff games as well as the Legends Cup championship game. The season begins April 18. MyNetwork TV and MTV Networks previously distributed games from the LFL, which launched in 2009.

The deal comes on the heels of a new LFL reality series, Pretty.Strong., to be distributed by Oxygen later this year.

"This is a key acquisition for Fuse as we continue to roll out programming that extends beyond music and resonates with our core audience of New Young Americans as well as the established LFL fan base," said Bill Hilary, President Fuse Media, Inc.  "LFL is primed to become the next major sports and entertainment franchise on television and we are excited to build on this momentum and bring these athletes, games and compelling stories to the network."

Fuse and NuvoTv will fuse together to create a new network that will focus on millennial viewers with several new shows that will broaden Fuse’s lineup beyond its traditional music-based content, network officials said during an upfront call Wednesday morning (March 4).

Nuvo TV, which launched in 2011 as a rebrand of the Si TV English-language entertainment network targeting Hispanic viewers, will be folded into Fuse during the third quarter. Fuse, which was acquired last summer by Nuvo TV from Madison Square Garden Co., will evolve into a pop culture network targeted to a diverse 18-34 year old audience, which Bill Hilary, president of the recently rechristened Fuse Media, termed “The New Young Americans.”

“The name Nuvo is going away, but the nature and content of Nuvo is not going away,” Hillary said on the conference call, adding "it’s like a marriage” of the two networks.

Hilary said the new Fuse channel will continue to work with Nuvo TV chief creative officer Jennifer Lopez, who will develop an unscripted show for the new Fuse service.

Hilary also said Fuse Media later this year will launch a new network and digital media brand tentatively titled FM that will be music-centric.

“We will be delivering an innovative programming lineup with music at its core but relying heavily on digital as well,” Hilary said.

On the new original programming front, the network Fuse will launch White Guy Talk Show, a daily pop culture talk show featuring a diverse cast and hosted by comedians Grace Parra and Saurin Choksi. The show will be executive produced by Brian McCann (Conan).

The network has greenlit a weekly, music-themed series, Skee TV, starring  producer/digital media entrepreneur DJ Skee, debuting April 9, and is working with comedian Gabriel Iglesias to develop a scripted, animated comedy.