BYRON ALLEN’S ALLEN MEDIA GROUP ANNOUNCES 10-YEAR PARTNERSHIP FOR HBCU GO AND THE CIAA

Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group (AMG) free-streaming digital platform, HBCU GO -- the leading media provider for the nation’s 107 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) – is proud to announce a 10-year media rights partnership with the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAA) that grants HBCU GO cable, linear, streaming, broadcast, VOD, and pay-per-view rights coverage of all CIAA team sports through June 30, 2032. Those sports include regular season contests for football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, Olympic sports, and the football championship game.

The deal kicks off with HBCU GO’s broadcast of five CIAA football games televised live on TheGrio Cable Television Network, including the 2023 CIAA Football Championship on HBCU GO and on broadcast television stations throughout the U.S. -- including the CBS owned-and-operated duopoly stations in key television markets such as New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas, Atlanta, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, Detroit, Sacramento, Miami, Tampa, and Pittsburgh. In addition, the CIAA will continue to stream the other team sporting events throughout the season live through the CIAA Network and provide first right to HBCU GO for their video on demand platform. The long-term goal is to broadcast all CIAA team sports on HBCU GO and Allen Media Group platforms.

As part of HBCU GO’s partnership with the CIAA, a portion of the funds will be invested to upgrade the CIAA’s 13 member schools' campus-wide sports and broadcast equipment to ensure everyone has equitable resources and to assure quality broadcasts across the conference. The CIAA utilized the summer months to visit each of the campuses to assess equipment, internet, and technology needs.

“We are proud to amplify the CIAA and all of their team sports. The rich heritage and legacy of the CIAA and the amazing athletes who have participated in the conference since its inception are a natural fit for HBCU GO,” said Byron Allen, Founder/Chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group. “The CIAA is an excellent organization, and Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams-Parker makes this a great partnership because of her phenomenal leadership.”

“This media deal with AMG is a game changer for the CIAA and unprecedented in Division II. We will expand the CIAA Sports Network platform through HBCU GO to give greater exposure for our 13 member schools and their student athletes,” said CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams-Parker. She added, “I am excited about the jobs being created, the talent identified, and the stories to be told through a platform developed to give HBCUs well deserved and long overdue exposure. This is a great day for CIAA, and we appreciate Byron Allen and his team seeing the value and importance of HBCU sports contributions to the world and how we can continue to work together to provide exposure and economic stability in our communities through sports.”

For more information about HBCU GO, visit HBCUGO.tv or follow the streaming network on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram. Find out where to watch and download the FREE app at HBCUGO.tv/how to watch


ABOUT HBCU GO
HBCU GO is a cultural lifestyle destination and leading sports media provider that embraces and represents the voice of Black Excellence every day of the year through an all-new platform that captures the rich history, diversity, perspectives, and cultural experiences at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). HBCU GO also provides a platform for emerging creatives in media production, branding, and broadcasting. We offer our viewers the best in live sports, original series, documentaries, films, comedy, and edutainment programming produced by African American leading producers, directors, and students from select HBCUs.

Launched in 2012, the free-streaming service HBCU GO was purchased by Byron Allen in 2021 and is part of Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group (AMG). AMG is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Charleston, SC. AMG owns 27 ABC-NBC-CBS-FOX network affiliate broadcast television stations in 21 U.S. markets and twelve 24-hour HD television networks serving nearly 300 million subscribers: THE WEATHER CHANNEL, THE WEATHER CHANNEL EN ESPAÑOL, THEGRIO TELEVISION NETWORK, PETS.TV, COMEDY.TV, RECIPE.TV, CARS.TV, ES.TV, MYDESTINATION.TV, JUSTICECENTRAL.TV, THIS TV, and PATTRN. AMG also owns the streaming platforms HBCU GO, THE GRIO STREAMING APP, SPORTS.TV, THE WEATHER CHANNEL STREAMING APP, and LOCAL NOW -- the free-streaming AVOD service powered by THE WEATHER CHANNEL and content partners, which delivers real-time, hyper-local news, weather, traffic, sports, and lifestyle information. For more information, visit www.allenmedia.tv

About the CIAA
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) was founded and incorporated in the District of Columbia in 1912 and adopted its current name in December of 1950. The conference is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is governed by a Board of thirteen (13) Presidents and Chancellors representing institutions from Pennsylvania to South Carolina. It has both private and public colleges and universities with enrollments ranging from 750 to over 8,000 students. The CIAA is committed to excellence in everything they do in DII to support the total student-athlete well-being and experience on and off the court through meaningful relationships and strategic partnerships to make the world a better place. Learn more.

Byron Allen's theGrio Launches Inaugural "The Grio Heroes;" Nomination Submissions for Everyday Heroes Starting March 1

Allen Media Group’s news/entertainment media platform theGrio proudly announces the launch and an official call for nominations for the inaugural theGrio Heroes initiative, starting March 1, 2023 via the platform’s website. TheGrio Heroes are about the everyday heroes in our world dedicated to the community and the culture. Some have been working unheralded for years and others are emerging. They all share a determination to make a significant impact on our communities and humanity. TheGrio Heroes have demonstrated outstanding goodwill and achievements for the benefit and welfare of our communities, leading by example through service and finding solutions with compassion, dedication, and determination.

“We are excited to bring theGrio Heroes initiative for public participation as we continue to elevate the theGrio brand globally,” said Byron Allen, Founder/Chairman/CEO of theGrio parent company, Allen Media Group. “TheGrio is about amplifying and celebrating excellence every day and everywhere.”

“Black people are central to the fabric of American culture,” said Geraldine Moriba, SVP, News, Entertainment and Empowerment, theGrio. “We are honoring people who uplift, support and build the Black community by moving us forward.”

Anyone is encouraged to nominate single individuals of African-American descent whose accomplishments occurred or continued after December 1, 2021. More information about theGrio Heroes, including descriptions of categories and frequently asked questions can be found here.

Submissions will be accepted through May 1, 2023, theGrio Heroes finalists and winner will be selected by the community as they will tell us about the heroes in their community who impact and change lives daily. These individuals share a determination to make a significant impact on our communities, and humanity as a whole.

Keeping in mind community impact, innovation and influence, an editorial committee at theGrio will conduct the first round of evaluations and choose a select number of nominees to move forward to the next round. Leading independent industry experts including Karen Boykin-Towns, NAACP National Board of Directors; Candice C. Jones, President & CEO of Public Welfare Foundation; Cameo George, Executive Producer, American Experience, PBS; Jade Magnus Ogunnaike, Vice President of Corporate Power, Color of Change; Irving Washington, Senior Fellow, Health Disinformation, Kaiser Family Foundation and Blair C. Smith, Senior Director for Center for Financial Markets, Milken Institute will then judge as they conduct another assessment to identify the top 20 names. Then the general public will vote online on picking the top 10 finalists. From there, the person with the most votes will be announced this summer and named as the inaugural theGrio Hero for 2023.

THE GRIO TELEVISION NETWORK' LAUNCHES NEWS BLOCK FEATURING EBONI K. WILLIAMS AND MARC LAMONT HILL

Allen Media Group's African American-focused news, lifestyle, sports and entertainment platform theGrio (www.thegrio.com) is proud to announce the launch of THE GRIO WITH EBONI K. WILLIAMS and THE GRIO WITH MARC LAMONT HILL on Monday, October 24, 2022. The daily two-hour news block from America's largest Black newsroom will feature critical news and information in the U.S. and around the world. Reaching over 50 million television households, plus 250 million device users, these two news programs will also be available on demand via the TheGrio Streaming App. Hosted by lawyer, author and television personality Eboni K. Williams and author, activist, and scholar Marc Lamont Hill, each one-hour program brings a unique perspective and analysis of world news and events.

Eboni K. Williams is an American lawyer, author and television host. She currently hosts and is executive producer of the Warner Music Group podcast HOLDING COURT WITH EBONI K. WILLIAMS. In addition to guest hosting ABC's THE VIEW, Williams previously co-hosted the late-night talk show STATE OF THE CULTURE on Revolt TV and was host and executive producer of REVOLT BLACK NEWS. Williams also starred on season 13 of the Bravo series THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK CITY, becoming the show's first Black cast member ever. Her new book, BET ON BLACK: THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT BEING BLACK IN AMERICA will be published in 2023. Williams is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law.

Marc Lamont Hill is an award-winning journalist, author, scholar, commentator, and television host. He has been named one of the 100 Most Influential Black Leaders by Ebony magazine and The Root 100. As a social activist, he has led numerous campaigns to free political prisoners and stop executions. For more than 16 years, Hill has been a staple in mainstream media, offering incisive political commentary on television outlets including CNN, BET, and Fox News. Mr. Hill has also been the host of multiple programs, including BET NEWS, OUR WORLD WITH BLACK ENTERPRISE, UPFRONT, VH1 LIVE, and HUFFPOST LIVE. He is the author of seven books, including the New York Times bestseller NOBODY. A noted scholar, Marc Lamont Hill holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and is currently a professor of media studies at Temple University.

"Eboni K. Williams and Marc Lamont Hill are extremely talented, very smart, and will bring much-needed new voices to the global conversation," said Byron Allen, Founder/Chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group. "The Grio News has a strong and trusted relationship with the Black community. Allen Media Group is committed to investing heavily in The Grio, working with the best talent, and increasing our worldwide distribution as we continue to deliver excellence."

"I am thrilled to join The Grio and lead a show that centers Black culture and directly speaks to what our people need to know relating to the American legal system," said host Eboni K. Williams. "We know the system is rigged, but each night I'll give the people what they need to know in order to successfully navigate it and relentlessly pursue justice."

"This is an exciting time to be launching these bold new shows," said Marc Lamont Hill. "Given the current social, political, and economic climate, we have an opportunity to provide programming that informs, inspires, and empowers our community. Our goal is not to play nice, but to tell the truth from our perspective."

BYRON ALLEN'S ALLEN MEDIA GROUP WINS SIGNIFICANT LEGAL VICTORY IN RACIAL DISCRIMINATION-BASED LAWSUIT AGAINST MCDONALD'S

Byron Allen's Allen Media Group (AMG) divisions Entertainment Studios Networks, Inc. ("Entertainment Studios") and Weather Group, LLC ("Weather Group") won a significant legal victory in federal court on Friday, September 16, 2022. The AMG lawsuit initially filed on May 20, 2021 against McDonald's Corporation ("McDonald's") seeks $10 billion in damages for racial discrimination. According to the lawsuit, McDonald's intentionally discriminated against AMG divisions Entertainment Studios and Weather Group through a pattern of racial stereotyping and refusals to contract in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, 42 U.S.C. § 1981, and the California Aruh Civil Rights Act, Cal. Civil Code § 51.5. On Friday, September 16, 2022, defendant McDonald's was denied a Motion to Dismiss by Judge Fernando M. Olguin of the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The case will now proceed to trial before a jury in May 2023.

McDonald's is the world's leading global food service retailer with over 39,000 locations that generate over $100 billion in annual revenue. African Americans represent approximately 40 percent of McDonald's U.S. sales, with McDonald's taking billions of dollars each year from African American consumers. Per the lawsuit, of its approximately $1.6 billion annual advertising budget, McDonald's spends less than approximately $5 million each year on African American-owned media, and it has refused to advertise on Entertainment Studios networks or The Weather Channel since Allen acquired the network in 2018. Per the lawsuit, the McDonald's President and CEO Chris Kempczinski makes approximately $11 million per year, which is more than double what McDonald's spends per year on ALL of Black-owned media combined.

The lawsuit (case number 2:21-cv-04972-FMO-MAA Entertainment Studios Networks, Inc. et al v. McDonald's USA, LLC) alleges that McDonald's refusal to contract is the result of racial stereotyping through McDonald's tiered advertising structure that differentiates on the basis of race. The primary advertising tier for McDonald's is referred to as "general market" and it constitutes the vast majority of McDonald's advertising budget. McDonald's, however, created a separate "African American" tier with a much smaller budget and less-favorable pricing and other terms. McDonald's contracts with a separate ad agency, Burrell Communications, for this African American tier, thereby creating separate and unequal tracks for Black-owned media companies to earn advertising revenue. McDonald's has created a discriminatory environment that is separate but not equal.

According to the lawsuit, McDonald's relegated Entertainment Studios to the less-favorable African American tier even though the companies own and operate television networks that have general market appeal and do not specifically target African American audiences. McDonald's does so because the companies are owned by Allen, an African American. Through this stereotyping, McDonald's prevented Entertainment Studios and Weather Group from accessing McDonald's general market advertising budget and deprived the companies of advertising revenue that otherwise would have been paid if McDonald's treated the companies the same as similarly situated, White-owned companies.

Numerous key points from the court ruling (see attached PDF) that are favorable to the AMG/Entertainment Studios/Weather Group position include, on page 11 of its opinion, the court recognized that racist comments by senior executives—even if not directed to the plaintiff—can evidence racial bias to support a racial discrimination claim under Section 1981. The lawsuit alleges that senior McDonald's executives, including its current CEO, made racially derogatory comments that evidence a culture of racial hostility within the company.

"This is about economic inclusion of African American-owned businesses in the U.S. economy. McDonald's takes billions from African American consumers and gives almost nothing back. The biggest trade deficit in America is the trade deficit between White corporate America and Black America, and McDonald's is guilty of perpetuating this disparity. The economic exclusion must stop immediately," said Byron Allen, Founder/Chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group. "McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski got caught sending racist text messages and McDonald's has been sued by the Black franchisees, the Black executives, the Black employees, the Black vendors, and 52 percent of the McDonald's stockholders recently voted to hire a third-party firm to investigate McDonald's for civil rights violations. This is historic!!! The overt and systemic racism at McDonald's is undeniable and indefensible. McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski, McDonald's Chief Marketing Officer Morgan Flatley, and the Board of Directors must be fired."

"As alleged in our complaint, McDonald's has engaged in pernicious racial discrimination in violation of federal and state law," said counsel for Mr. Allen and his companies, David Schecter and Skip Miller, partners in Miller Barondess, LLP. "We are confident the jury will recognize the injustice that has occurred here and will award significant damages. We are looking forward to our day in court."

BYRON ALLEN'S HBCU GO/THE GRIO ATTRACTS MAJOR FORTUNE 500 SPONSORS FOR HBCU SPORTS NETWORK

Byron Allen's Allen Media Group (AMG) is proud to announce it has secured numerous major Madison Avenue advertising sponsors for the launch of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) sports for HBCU GO and theGrio Television Network's 2022-23 sports programming season. Brand sponsors include: Procter & Gamble, Honda, AT&T, Stellantis, Walmart, Toyota, Bank of America, Verizon, Lexus, Meta, Allstate, Boost Mobile, Lowes, Kia, SC Johnson, UnitedHealthcare, Safelite, Macy's, Taco Bell, T.J. Maxx, Dairy Queen, Capital One, Geico, Pizza Hut, Mastercard, Target and many more.

HBCU GO is the leading media provider for the nation's 107 HBCUs, and recently announced nationwide clearance for their 2022-23 sports season as part of a new carriage deal with CBS owned-and-operated broadcast television stations in key broadcast television markets including New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas, Atlanta, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Tampa, Detroit, Miami, and Pittsburgh. AMG's FREE-streaming digital platform HBCU GO brings together major HBCU NCAA conferences, with major market carriage across broadcast television, cable, satellite, and digital platforms. HBCU GO's 2022-23 season began this past Saturday, September 3 with "The HBCU GO Sports Kickoff Show." The three-hour pre-season special aired LIVE on the AMG platforms HBCU GO, theGrio Television Network, theGrio Streaming App, Sports.TV, Local Now, and on broadcast television stations throughout the U.S.

HBCUs are widely known for graduating exceptional athletes, celebrities, politicians, and historical figures including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Wilma Rudolph, Althea Gibson, Walter Payton, Michael Strahan, Jerry Rice, Spike Lee, Alice Walker, Samuel L. Jackson, astronaut Ronald McNair, Alex Haley, Earl Graves, Oprah Winfrey, Chadwick Boseman, Justice Thurgood Marshall, Common, Booker T. Washington, Taraji P. Henson, Judge Kevin Ross, Langston Hughes, Katherine Johnson, Kenya Barris, and Vice President Kamala Harris, to name a few.

"The HBCU brand represents over 184 years of historic excellence, dating back to 1837, which helped cultivate some of the world's greatest minds and talent," said Byron Allen, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Allen Media Group. "HBCU GO and theGrio position our advertisers to speak to the heart and soul of Black America 24/7, and help our sponsors stay strongly connected with one of the most valuable, untapped audiences in the world."

For more information about HBCU GO visit HBCUGO.TV or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram.

Byron Allen’s HBCU Go streamer enters deal with CBS stations to air HBCU football games

Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group (AMG) free-streaming digital platform, HBCU GO -- the leading media provider for the nation’s 107 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) – proudly announces nationwide clearance for their 2022-23 sports season as part of the new carriage deal with CBS owned-and-operated duopoly stations. Key television markets include: New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas, Atlanta, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Tampa, Detroit, Miami, and Pittsburgh. HBCU GO will kick off the fall sports season on September 3rd with a star-studded pre-season show featuring the nation’s top Gridiron NFL and Black College Hall of Famers and HBCU alums.

With this new carriage deal, HBCU GO is currently in 60 percent of U.S. television households and 70 percent of African-American households. This news comes on the heels of HBCU GO’s recent announcement of the distribution partnership with the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAA) -- that grants HBCU GO cable, linear, streaming, broadcast, VOD, and pay-per-view rights to premier NCAA Division 2 HBCU conference sporting events.

In addition to the newly announced CBS owned-and-operated duopoly station clearances, HBCU GO has secured distribution with group-owned television stations including Nexstar, Gray, Cox, Scripps, Tegna, Sinclair, Lockwood, Allen Media Broadcasting, Hearst, Circle City Broadcasting, McKinnon Broadcasting, Cowles, Graham, Block, Sun Broadcasting, Tougaloo College, Sagamore Hill, and Marquee. HBCU GO programming is available on HBCUGO.TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV. Viewers can also access programming by downloading the HBCU GO App.

“Allen Media Group is thrilled that the CBS O&O stations have joined our excellent group of broadcast television station partners to increase the reach of HBCU GO’s high-quality sports programming,” said Byron Allen, Founder/Chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group. “We are proud to amplify these amazing athletes and HBCUs, while at the same time helping to finance the education of these young adults. Now sports fans across the country will have access to best-in-class games from America’s HBCUs.”

“We are honored to work with our partners at Allen Media Group to bring live broadcasts of HBCU football games to our audiences in 12 major markets,” said Wendy McMahon, President and Co-Head, CBS News and Stations. “As a Louisiana native and football fan, I am personally and professionally proud to play a role in having our stations shine a light on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the student athletes who are living out their dreams both on the field and in the classroom.”

Byron Allen Buys Black News Channel

Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group is buying the Black News Channel, with plans to revive the bankrupt cable news outlet and significantly grow its distribution footprint.

Allen’s company is acquiring “substantially all” of BNC’s assets for $11 million, with a bankruptcy court in Tallahassee, Florida, formally signing off on the sale.

Allen says that his company “will deliver a best-in-class network to serve the underserved African American community and the advertisers who want to reach this extremely valuable audience.

“Also, we appreciate the opportunity to provide cable operators, satellite companies, telcos and digital platforms diversity of ownership, voices and viewpoints on their programming lineups by having a 100 percent African-American-owned network,” he added.

Allen says that his company “will deliver a best-in-class network to serve the underserved African American community and the advertisers who want to reach this extremely valuable audience.

“Also, we appreciate the opportunity to provide cable operators, satellite companies, telcos and digital platforms diversity of ownership, voices and viewpoints on their programming lineups by having a 100 percent African-American-owned network,” he added.

[SOURCE: HOLLYWOOD REPORTER]