Sean “Diddy” Combs remains estranged from the Revolt television network he founded 10 years ago amid multiple sexual abuse claims against the hip-hop entrepreneur. 

Revolt Media Tuesday announced via social media Combs’s decision to step down as chairman of Revolt, although the hip-hop mogul had no “operational or day-to-day role in the business,” according to the company. Still, reports say the move is “temporary.”

“This decision helps to ensure that Revolt remains steadfastly focused on our mission to create meaningful content for the culture and amplify the voices of all Black people throughout this country and the African diaspora,” Revolt said in the statement.

Last week, Combs was accused of sexual assault by two women who filed suits on the eve of the expiration of the Adult Survivors Act, a New York law permitting victims of sexual abuse a one-year window to file civil action regardless of the statute of limitations, according to the Associated Press. The lawsuit came after Combs settled another sexual abuse lawsuit filed by entertainer Cassie, who alleged Combs beat and raped her, according to AP. Combs has maintained his innocence from all charges.

Combs founded Revolt in 2013 as one of four minority owned-and-operated channels launched in 2012 by Comcast as part of its acquisition of NBCUniversal. The network is currently headed by Detavio Samuels, who was named CEO in 2021.

Revolt said it is launching RBN Studios which will house its headquarters and studio business, in downtown Atlanta.

The Black-owned media company founded by Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2013, said RBN Studios will produce news, talk and opinion programming for Revolt and other companies.

Also: Five Spot: Detavio Samuels

“The Black perspective has been deliberately hidden from the world for too long. With RBN Studios, we will leave no stone unturned and shine a light in the darkest of corners to find the truth through a Black diasporic lens,” said Revolt CEO Detavio Samuels. “Revolt has always strived to unveil critical information and viewpoints for ourselves and the world, so we chose a business model that enables us to scale impact beyond our own distribution platform.”

Revolt Black News Weekly is returning, starting Thursday, hosted by Neima Abdulahi and present stories from an authentic but not monolithic Black perspective. Rue McCullough will be Revolt’s entertainment and pop culture correspondent.

The new operation is overseen by Monique Chenault, Revolt’s president of news and documentary.

Also: Comcast to Expand Revolt Distribution

“Being that Revolt is a Black-owned media network, we’ve created a safe space for our communities to have raw family discussions that only we authentically understand,” said Chenault. “This is where we can unapologetically highlight our concerns while providing solution-driven conversations and content that fully reflects all aspects of the Black experience.” ■

Revolt TV CEO Roma Khanna is stepping down after three years of heading up the Sean "Diddy" Combs-founded network. 

Khanna, who took over as CEO in 2017, will now serve as advisor to the senior team and shareholders of the network, according to Combs.

Revolt TV EVP and Head of Finance and Operations Colin McIntosh and the network's COO and head of content Detavio Samuels will now also serve as co-heads of Revolt, according to network officials. 

Under Khanna’s tutelage, the music-themed network launched such initiatives and projects as State of the Culture and Revolt Black News as well as the multi-city and the multi-platform Revolt Summit x AT&T. On the distribution side, Revolt has launched across the AT&T platforms as well as on Mediacom and on streaming outlets such as Philo and Sling TV, said Revolt. 

“I am grateful for Roma’s relentless work over the last three years getting Revolt ready for the revolution,” said Combs in a statement. “She has been an ally to the culture and the company. Roma will always be a part of the Combs family and I am happy to have her as an Advisor to Revolt going forward.”

Added Khanna: “Revolt’s time is now and I am very proud to pass the reins to our next generation of amazing leaders as they rise and guide the future. I am grateful to our Chairman, Sean “Diddy” Combs, for his unwavering support and guidance along the way. Revolt is forever in my heart and I look forward to continuing to support the team, our audience and Sean Combs as an ally and Advisor.”

Virtual MVPD Philo is adding three networks to its "premium" $20-a-month tier, which now includes 50 channels.

The additions include aspireTV, Earvin “Magic” Johnson’s lifestyle channel focused on the icons and trendsetters of black culture; Revolt, Sean “Diddy” Combs’ hip-hop-themed network targeted to Gen Z audiences; and UPtv, a family-oriented network featuring hit archival TV shows such as Gilmore Girls, Home Improvement and America’s Funniest Home Videos, was well as PG-rated and safer box-office hits of yesteryear.

Related: Philo Unleashes Entertainment-Focused OTT TV Service

The additions come as Philo nears its one-year mark. The channels are added to the operator’s premium tier, which includes A&E, AMC, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, Lifetime, Logo, MTV Live, Nick Toons, TLC, Travel Channel, VH1 and Viceland. 

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.”

Revolt Monday announced several executive promotions within its marketing, sales and programming divisions.

James Brown has been promoted to executive vice president of content distribution, talent and marketing groups, adding to his duties of overseeing the network’s consumer, social and affiliate initiatives, said network officials.

Michael Roche has been named executive vice president of sales and partnerships, adding the Integrated Marketing and Research departments to his oversight of the rapid expansion of Revolt’s advertiser portfolio.

Angela B. Turner promotion to senior vice president of affiliate and consumer marketing will add oversight of the network’s new consumer marketing team to her affiliate marketing role, while Rahman Dukes’ promotion to senior vice president of news, programming and digital will allow him to continue to lead a team of young culture shifters creating innovative and grounding-breaking documentaries, digital and social campaigns, said the network.

 “It’s undeniable that Revolt’s continued success has a direct correlation to the hard work that Angela, Michael, JB, and Rahman have invested,” said Revolt CEO Keith Clinkscales in a statement.  "As the industry continues to evolve, Revolt is committed to being a leader in this space and I couldn’t think of a smarter, stronger and dedicated executive team to work alongside.” 

fuboTV, a virtual MVPD focused on cord-cutters and millennial audiences, said it has inked distribution deals with Univision Communications, Pivot and Revolt Media & TV.

Those agreements, it said, bring 15 new networks to its lineup, including Pivot, Revolt, Univision, UniMás, Univision Deportes, Galavisión and El Rey Network, among others. fuboTV noted that its deal with UCI (also a fuboTV investor) includes local broadcast stations from Univision and UniMás across 60 markets.

Those deals mark a significant programming expansion for fuboTV, an OTT service that initially focused on soccer via carriage deals with networks such as  beIN SPORTS, GoITV and Benfica TV. fuboTV secured a $4 million “A” round of funding last year (expanding total funding to $5.6 million), and recently joined up with Binge On, T-Mobile’s new, optional mobile streaming service that delivers video at 480p resolution and zero-rates streams delivered from content partners.

Update: fuboTV said it has 40,000 subscribers, putting it behind only Sling TV among providers in the virtual MVPD category. fuboTV launched in January 2015. 

“Signing these agreements with Univision, Pivot and REVOLT is a huge milestone for our company, as we work to grow fuboTV’s premium sports offering and complement it with entertainment content that appeals to young sports fans and other Millennials,” said David Gandler, co-founder and CEO of fuboTV, in a statement. “In the first year since our launch, we have quickly become the number-two virtual MVPD in the U.S., and we are confident that, through more partnerships and complex carriage agreements, we will continue to be positioned strongly as we build on our mission to bring consumers the video distribution platform they crave.”

fuboTV, which currently sells for $9.99 per month,  is offered on Web browsers, Amazon Fire TV devices, Android and iOS mobile devices, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and Roku. 

Music-themed service Revolt recevied an early Christmas gift Thursday, announcing a long-term carriage deal with satellite service DirecTV.

The Sean 'Diddy' Combs founded service will launch on DirecTV's Xtra package, according to network officials. The deal comes six months after Revolt reached a deal with DirecTV owner AT&T for carriage on the telco's U-Verse service. 

“Our new agreement with DirecTV is further proof we are on a fast track to revolutionizing the media industry,” said Chairman of Revolt Sean “Diddy” Combs. “We are achieving what we set out to do 18 months ago - our programming is available on more screens, and our audience is bigger and more powerful than ever before. What a great way to end an already successful 2015 and launch us into the new year. 

Added AT&T chief content officer Dan York: "Revolt brings a fresh and exciting point of view to our channel lineup and we’re pleased to offer it to our customers."

Cable music/entertainment channel Revolt will look to extend its reach into digital media with original content and network-created apps that will allow fans to better interact with the service.

The Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs-founded cable channel, which launched in October 2013, will soon launch several new digital apps including one targeted to XBOX One users that will provide content and live authenticated viewing, according to network officials.

In addition, the network’s Revolt App will look to feature more exclusive content as the network looks to reach its target multiethnic, millennial audience on all platforms. Executives said Revolt is also undergoing a new website re-design that will provide a more mobile-friendly, “mobile-first design,” and will develop short-form video content that can be easily accessed and shared on iPhones and other portable devices.

“The audience we reach– the Authenticators–want their content on every screen, at any time, and Revolt meets that mandate”, said Revolt CEO Keith Clinkscales. “Revolt is the fastest growing multi-platform, multi-genre network with unparalleled growth across all mediums and showing no signs of slowing down.”

As for the linear channel, network executives say that Revolt is projecting to reach the 50 million homes mark with new partnership and distribution deals expected to be announced in the near future. The network would not reveal specific subscriber numbers but has said that it attracts more 50 million young adults through television, digital, social and mobile properties.

“As we continue our goal to create unique content that influences the media landscape and captivates our audience, we anticipate new distribution partnerships adding to our existing availability on Comcast, Time Warner and Verizon FiOS,” said Clinkscales. 

In programming news, Revolt said it follow the life of rapper Wiz Khalifa in a new documentarj Day Today, whileteaming with Snoop Dogg to bring his popular YouTube show GGN to the network. 

Revolt also said that they finalized a partnership with ESPN/X Games to bring X Games althlete-themed programming and music content to the network.  

Revolt TV is gearing up for inaugural music conference in Miami next month with talent and performance announcements.

Scheduled from Oct. 16 through 19 at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel, the Revolt Music Conference will feature live music and performances from Jhene Aiko, G Eazy, DJ Khaled, Rae Sremmurd, DJ Cassidy, Funk Flex, DJ VICE.

A spokesman for Revolt TV, which currently counts carriage on Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Century Link, said the network will announce additional artists and that is in the process of finalizing the programming block that will air on Oct. 17 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

In addition to the live music, the Revolt Music Conference will feature 10 full conference panels, eight artist showcases, and countless networking opportunities designed to address key industry topics and discuss the ever-changing world of music and media.

The conference will combine education and entertainment over the course of two and a half days for 500 industry executives and students, as well as a remote audience through Revolt’s new iOS and iPhone app.

Attendees will learn what’s next for the future of music business from over 40 speakers including keynote sessions from Clear Channel chairman/CEO and MTV co-founder Bob Pittman; CEO of All Def Digital and co-founder of Def Jam Russell Simmons; and co-founder and chairman of Interscope Records Jimmy Iovine and chairman of Combs Enterprises and Revolt TV Sean Combs. Additional speakers include excutives from Shazam, Spotify, Beats by Dre, Pandora, Grey Advertising, VEVO, SoundCloud, Sirius XM, The Wall Street Journal, Billboard, and more.

The Music Weekender package encompasses daytime access to the exclusive Revolt pool and lawn, outdoor music showcases, reserved cabanas and daybeds, specialty curated drink and food menus, daytime entertainment and gaming, musical styling by Revolt guest DJs, and night events, including music showcases and expedited access to one of America’s top nightclubs, LIV. Learn more about Revolt Music Conference at www.revoltmusicconference.com or http://bit.ly/1Avqhrm.

Revolt TV will air several short vignettes featuring artists reflecting on the life of R&B singer James Brown on the eve of the premiere of Brown’s theatrical biopic Get On Up, the network said Thursday.

The network, in partnership with Universal Studios, is currently running a series of on-air promo spots featuring such artists as Ludacris, Bobby Brown and Common discussing the life and influence that Brown had on the music industry, said network officials.

Get On Up, premieres Aug. 1 and stars Chadwick Boseman, Nelsan Ellis and Viola Davis.