OWN Sets Ratings Record With ‘Black Love’

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

OWN has ordered additional episodes of its unscripted series Black Love after the series’ Aug. 29 debut set a network ratings record for a reality series premiere.

The four-part series, created by Elaine Oliver and Tommy Oliver (The Perfect Guy), drew 1.2 million viewers for Tuesday's episode, becoming the network’s highest-rated unscripted series premiere in OWN history, according to network officials. The series highlights love stories from African-American married couples and examines the reality of what life-long love looks like, said network officials.

Featured couples for the current four-episode season include Viola Davis and husband Julius Tennon, actress Meagan Good and husband DeVon Franklin, Tia Mowry and husband/actor Cory Hardrict, actor Flex Alexander and his wife and musical artist Shanice.

New episodes for 2018 will include Sterling K. Brown and wife Ryan Michelle Bathe, Tina Knowles-Lawson and husband Richard Lawson, former NBA player Grant Hill and wife, recording artist Tamia.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.