Discovery said that BET founder Robert L. Johnson will join the Discovery board of directors, effective Jan. 1.

The company also announced that S. Decker Anstrom, who has been on the board since 2012 will be stepping down, effective Dec. 31. Anstrom is the former president of Weather Channel parent Landmark Communications and a past CEO of the NCTA.

In addition to BET, now a part of ViacomCBS, Johnson is founder and chairman of RLJ Cos., which sold its streaming business to AMC Networks.

Also Read: AMC Networks to Rebrand SVOD Service UMC as ALLBLK

"Bob is a legendary entrepreneur and one of media's true pioneers and innovators, dating back to his creation of BET and continuing throughout his distinguished career," said Robert Miron, chairman of Discovery's Board of Directors. "As we embark on a transformative year for Discovery, we are honored to add Bob as an independent director. We look forward to benefiting from his business acumen and exceptional track record in media." 

Anstrom had been a preferred stock director. Susan Swain, current common stock director on the Discovery board, will assume Anstrom’s role as a preferred stock director. 

"We are grateful to Decker for his many years of outstanding contributions to the Discovery Board," said Miron. "Discovery's stockholders have been well served by the dynamic skillset and wealth of experience in media, finance and government that Decker brought to our Board."

AMC Networks reported higher profit in the second quarter as lower losses in its international operation offset declines at its U.S. networks.

Net income rose 3% to $106 million, or $1.82 a share, from $103 million, or $1.54, a year ago.

Revenue rose 7.2% to $761 million.

At the company’s national networks in the U.S., including AMC, We TV, Sundance TV, IFC and BBC America, operating income was down 0.8% to $210 million. Programming expenses rose including a $4 million write-off of programming assets.

Related: AMC Networks Sets Senior Programming Leadership Team

Revenue rose 3.7% to $627 million. Distribution revenue increased 5.8% to $380 million. Advertising revenue edged up 0.6% to $247 million despite lower ratings.

The company cut the operating losses at its international and other segment by 673.7% to $11.3 million. International revenue rose 32.4% to $146.7 million.

Other revenue was up by $30 million because of the acquisition of Levity Entertainment Group.

“We continued to deliver solid financial and operating results in the second quarter, growing revenue and adjusted operating income; generating strong free cash flow; and using our capital to position the business for the long-term,” said CEO Josh Sapan. 

“Our recent transactions related to RLJ Entertainment and Levity are strategically consistent with several of our larger goals, including furthering our interests in ad-free direct-to-consumer businesses that we own and control, through RLJ Entertainment’s growing Acorn TV and UMC SVOD services, and content ownership," he added.

Related | broadcastingcable.com: AMC Acquiring Johnson’s RLJ Entertainment for $65M

Sapan noted that as an independent programmer, the company’s content and networks were carried by the most virtual MVPDs, including AT&T’s Watch. AMC Networks's total number of subscribers is up 2% from a year ago at a time when cord-cutting is reducing pay-TV customers.

“In an environment that is rapidly changing, our strong track record, along with our size and our attractive price to distributors, will enable us to continue operating from a strong competitive position, take advantage of growth opportunities, and create value for shareholders," Sapan said.

BET founder Robert Johnson will look to reach urban online viewers with the launch of UMC – Urban Movie Channel.

The service, which will feature urban-themed movies including documentaries, comedies, horror films and stage plays, will launch with a free trial period through Feb. 4 before charging an limited introductory price of $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year. Eventually the service will retail at a suggested price of $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year.

Johnson’s RLJ Entertainment company will incorporate its content produced under the One Village brand into UMC’s library, which will also include live stand-up performances featuring Kevin Hart, Jamie Foxx, and Charlie Murphy; documentaries Dark Girls and I Ain’t Scared of You: A Tribute to Bernie Mac; and feature films All Things Fall Apart and The Suspect; and the stage play production of What My Husband Doesn’t Know by David E. Talbert.

“UMC was designed so that the African American and urban creative community could directly reach consumers in a way that removes many of the restrictions associated with the legacy content development and distribution models,” said Johnson in a statement. “As more video is consumed over broadband, we believe that we can quickly become the preeminent provider of quality urban entertainment to what has largely been an underserved, yet highly engaged audience.  I am convinced that urban consumers will gravitate to the economic and entertainment value proposition of UMC and that the creative community will embrace UMC as the best way to reach their loyal fans and benefit financially from showcasing their outstanding work product.”