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Type | Digital broadcast television network |
---|---|
Country | |
Availability | Nationwide (available on OTA digital television and LPTV) |
Headquarters | Beverly Hills, California |
Owner | Allen Media Group |
Launch date | December 22, 2016 |
Former names | Light TV (2016-2021) |
Picture format | 480i (SDTV) |
Affiliates | List of affiliates |
Official website | thegrio |
TheGrio, styled as theGrio, is an American digital TV channel and website with news, opinion, entertainment and video content geared toward African Americans.[1] Originally launched in June 2009 as a division of NBC News,[2][3] it became a division of MSNBC in 2013. It was founded by the team who created the documentary film Meeting David Wilson. In 2014, it was sold to its founders.[4] In June 2016, Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios acquired the site.[5] The TV channel was founded as Light TV in 2016 and was relaunched as TheGrio TV in January 2021.
History as web site
TheGrio's editorial mandate is to "focus on news and events that have a unique interest and pronounced impact within the national African Americans audience,"[6] offering what co-founder and Executive Editor David Wilson feels "are underrepresented in existing national news outlets".
The website's name is derived from the word griot, the term for a West African oral historian and storyteller.[7]
Personnel
Founders
- David A. Wilson* (Co-founder, Executive Editor)[8]
- Daniel Woolsey (Co-founder, VP of Operations)[8]
- Barion L. Grant* (Co-founder, Former Director of Sales)[8]
(*) No longer with the company
Leadership
- Todd Johnson (Chief Content Officer)[8][9]
- Natasha S. Alford (VP, Content Creation)[8][9]
- Gerren Keith Gaynor (Managing Editor)[8]
- Shana Pinnock (Social Media Director)[8][9]
- Mariel Turner (Senior Editor)[8][9]
History as Light TV
The then-new over-the-top (OTT) faith-based channel was under development as early as September 2014 when MGM purchased 55% of One Three Media and LightWorkers Media, owned by Hearst Entertainment, Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, and consolidated them into United Artists Media Group.[10] With MGM purchasing Hearst and Burnett and Downey's shares in UAMG, the channel was still a planned streaming service. However, Hearst and Burnett and Downey retained their stakes in the channel.[11]
MGM announced the formation of Light TV on December 15, 2015, with a launch planned for December on thirteen major market stations owned by Fox Television Stations.[12] The network launched on January 20, 2016[13] with two stations, and the rest of the group's stations.
Light TV was sold by MGM TV in October 2020 to the Allen Media Group division of Entertainment Studios, along with its movie-oriented sister channel This TV.[14] On December 3, 2020, it was announced that the network would be relaunched as TheGrio.TV on January 15, 2021, carrying lifestyle and entertainment programming of interest to the African American community. It was an extension of the Entertainment Studios-owned website TheGrio.[15]
On or after that date, Entertainment Studios stopped feeding Light TV programming to some of the network's affiliates (mainly those associated with Fox Television Stations), leaving a test pattern card promoting TheGrio.TV's upcoming launch, though MGM continues to feature a live stream of Light TV on its website, suggesting only the satellite transponder for Light TV was sold to Entertainment Studios; some affiliates have thus taken the subchannel dark due to a current lack of programming on that satellite space. FTS confirmed on December 9 that it would indeed carry TheGrio.TV on its stations when it launched on January 15, 2021.[16]
Programming
Light TV featured several series and movies meant to fit the network's family-oriented approach, including content from the MGM film and TV library or acquired through outside sources.[17][18] Infomercials were added to the Light TV lineup in 2019, occupying all of the overnight hours and into the early morning.
Current programming
Below is a current list of programming broadcast on The Grio:[19]
- America's Court With Judge Ross (November 1, 2021)
- Animal Rescue
- Comics Unleashed (November 1, 2021)
- The First Family (January 15, 2021)[20]
- Jeremiah (November 1st)
- Justice With Judge Mablean (November 1, 2021)
- Mr. Box Office (January 15, 2021)[20]
- Supreme Justice With Judge Karen Mills (November 1, 2021)
- The Verdict With Judge Hatchett (November 1, 2021)
- Wild Times at the San Diego Zoo
Former programming
- The Adventures of Paddington Bear (2016-2019) (aired in rotation with Franny's Feet)
- All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series (December 22, 2016 – September 29, 2019)
- Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?[12] (2016–2019, 2020-January 14, 2021)
- The Busy World of Richard Scarry (December 22, 2016 - October 2, 2020)
- The Country Mouse and the City Mouse Adventures (December 22, 2016 - October 2, 2020)
- Flipper
- Flipper – The New Adventures
- Franny's Feet (2017–September 30, 2019) (aired in rotation with The Adventures of Paddington Bear)
- Green Acres (2016-2018; October 1, 2019 - January 14, 2021)
- Heartland
- Heathcliff (October 6, 2018 – September 30, 2019)
- Highway to Heaven[12] (December 22, 2016 – January 14, 2021)
- Inspector Gadget (December 22, 2016 – October 5, 2018; October 1, 2019 - April 2020)
- It's About Time (October 5, 2019 – January 14, 2021)
- Madeline (December 22, 2016 – September 30, 2019)
- Mister Ed
- My Mother the Car (October 5, 2019 - January 14, 2021)
- Naturally Sadie (October 1, 2019 - April 2020)
- The Patty Duke Show (September 3, 2018 – January 14, 2021)
- The Pink Panther Show (December 24, 2016 – September 29, 2019)
- Sea Hunt
- Wimzie's House (December 22, 2016 – September 30, 2019)
Affiliates
Light TV initially launched on subchannels of fourteen Fox and MyNetworkTV stations owned by Fox Television Stations, with most of the initial affiliates being owned-and-operated stations of the Fox Broadcasting Company.[21] MGM then offered the network to stations outside the initial markets.[22]
City | Station[23] | Physical channel |
Virtual channel |
Owner (management company) | Date of affiliation | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | ||||||
Greensboro | WDVZ-CD | 3 | 3.2 | University of Alabama | ||
Tuscaloosa | WVUA | 6 | 23.2 | June 1, 2017 | ||
Birmingham | WVTM-TV | 7 | 13.4 | Hearst Television | 2021 | |
Arkansas | ||||||
Harrison | K26GS-D | 26 | 26.4 | Reynolds Media, Inc. | 2017 | |
Little Rock | KTVV-LD | 18 | 18.2 | Larry Morton | ||
California | ||||||
Fresno | KAIL | 7 | 7.2 | Tri-State Christian Television | October 19, 2017 | |
Sacramento | KCSO-LD | 3 | 33.4 | NBCUniversal | 2018 | |
Santa Barbara | KZDF-LD | 8.3 | HC2 Holdings | December 2017 | ||
Colorado | ||||||
Sterling | KCDO-TV 3 | 23.6, 34.6[24] | 10.1 | E. W. Scripps Company | 2017 | KCDO-TV 3's display channel for Light TV is 10.1[24] |
Florida | ||||||
Miami | WSVN | 7.2[25] | 7.2 | Sunbeam Television | July 14, 2017[26] | |
Orlando | WOFL | 22.4[27] | 35.2 | Fox Television Stations | ||
Georgia | ||||||
Atlanta | WAGA-TV | 27 | 5.4 | Fox Television Stations | 2017 | |
Hawaii | ||||||
Honolulu | KWHE-TV | 31 | 14.2 | Family Broadcasting Corporation | 2017 | |
Idaho | ||||||
Boise | KRID-LD | 22 | 22.7 | Karlo Maalouf[28] | July 2017 | |
Idaho Falls | KVUI | 31 | 31.3 | Ventura Broadcasting | ||
Twin Falls | KXTF | 34 | 35.3 | Tri-State Christian Television | ||
Illinois | ||||||
Chicago | WPWR-TV | 24 | 32.4 | Fox Television Stations | 2018 | |
Marion | WTCT | 30.5[29] | 27.3 | Tri-State Christian Television | ||
Oakwood Hills | WCHU-LD | 7.2[30] | 59.2 | Venture Technologies Group, LLC | December 2020 | Relocated from WPWR-TV 50.3 and WFLD 32.4 |
Oswego (Chicago) Pekin (Peoria) |
WAOE | 39.3[31] | 59.3 | Venture Technologies Group | 2017 | |
Indiana | ||||||
Angola | WINM | 12 | 12.3 | Tri-State Christian Television | September 2017 | |
Fort Wayne | WEIJ-LD | 38.5[32] | 38.3 | |||
Indianapolis | WALV-CD | 46.4 | 46.4 | Tegna, Inc. | ||
South Bend | WNDU-TV | 27 | 16.4 | Gray Television | January 31, 2022 | |
Iowa | ||||||
Des Moines | KDMI | 19.5[33] | 19.3 | Tri-State Christian Television | ||
Iowa City | KWKB | 25.1005 | 20.5 | Tri-State Christian Television | 2017 | |
Kansas | ||||||
Wichita | KAGW-CD | 24 | 26.7 | Great Plains Television | ||
Kentucky | ||||||
Lexington | WLJC-TV | 7 | 65.2 | Hour of Harvest | ||
Louisville | WBNA | 8 | 21.3 | Word Broadcasting Network | March 2017[34] | |
Louisiana | ||||||
Baton Rouge | KPBN | 14 | 14.4 | Pelican Broadcasting Network | January 1, 2018 | |
Monroe | KMCT-TV | 22 | 39.11 | WGGS Inc. | May 1, 2021 | |
New Orleans | WDSU | 19 | 6.5 | Hearst Television | October 5, 2021 | |
Maryland | ||||||
Baltimore | WBAL-TV | 12 | 11.4 | Hearst Television | September 24, 2021 | |
Michigan | ||||||
Detroit | WHNE-LD | 20.1[35] | 14.1 | Tait Broadcasting, LLC[35] | Since late August 2017 | |
Traverse City-Cadillac | WMNN-LD | 14.6[36] | 26.6 | Freelancer Television Broadcasting, Inc.[36] | Since August 2017 | |
Flint/Saginaw/Bay City | WAQP | 48.5[37] | 49.3 | Tri-State Christian Television | Since September 2017 | |
Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo | WTLJ | 24 | 54.3 | 2018 | ||
Minnesota | ||||||
Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota | KMSP-TV | 9 | 9.5 | Fox Television Stations | 2017 | |
Missouri | ||||||
Kansas City | KSMO-TV | 32.4[38] | 62.2 | Gray Television | May 6, 2018 | |
Springfield, Missouri | KRFT-LD | 21 | 8.2 | Craft Broadcasting | November 9, 2017[39] | |
Nevada | ||||||
Las Vegas | KGNG-LD | 26 | 47.5 | King Kong Broadcasting, Inc.[40] | October 23, 2017 | Century Link Cable Channel 22 |
Reno | KTVN | 11 | 2.2 | Sarkes Tarzian, Inc. | 2018 | |
New Mexico | ||||||
Albuquerque | KTVS-LD | 36.1[41] | 36.1 | Alpha Omega Broadcasting[41] | October 2017[42] | (physical and virtual) channel 36.3 is a simulcast of 36.1[41] |
New York | ||||||
Albany | WNYA | 13.4[43] | 51.2 | Hubbard Broadcasting | November 1, 2017 | Replaced Antenna TV |
Jamestown | WNYB | 26.5[44] | 26.3 | Tri-State Christian Television | ? | |
Buffalo | WBNF | 15.5[45] | 15.3 | Tri-State Christian Television | ||
Syracuse | WWLF-LD | 35.2[46] | 35.2 | Metro TV, Inc. | September 1, 2021 | |
New York City | WNYW | 5.4 | 5.4 | Fox Television Stations | December 2016 | |
North Carolina | ||||||
Charlotte | WJZY | 47.10[47] | 46.8 | Nexstar Media Group | 2017 | |
Ohio | ||||||
Cincinnati | WBQC-LD ("WKRP-TV") | 47.7[48] | 25.5 | Elliot Block | 2018 | |
Mansfield | WMFD-TV | 12 | 68.3 | Mid-State Television, Inc. | 2017 | |
Marion | WOCB-CD | 22.5[49] | 39.5 | Central Ohio Assoc. of Chr. Broadcasters | ||
Oklahoma | ||||||
Oklahoma City | KOCO-TV | 7 | 5.5 | Hearst Television | 2021 | |
Pennsylvania | ||||||
Johnstown | WWCP-TV | 8 | 8.3 | Cunningham Broadcasting (operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group) |
2021 | |
Philadelphia | WTXF-TV | 31.5[50] | 29.3 | Fox Television Stations | 2017 | |
Pittsburgh | WPCW | 19 | 19.5 | CBS News and Stations | ||
South Carolina | ||||||
Greenville | WGGS-TV | 16.6[51] | 16.4 | Carolina Christian Broadcasting | 2017 | |
Tennessee | ||||||
Chattanooga | WRCB | 3 | 3.2 | Sarkes Tarzian, Inc. | 2018 | |
Nashville | WJFB | 44.3[52] | 44.3 | Tri-State Christian Television | November 20, 2017 | |
Texas | ||||||
Austin | KGBS | 19 | 19.5 | CNZ Communications | October 9, 2017 | Operated by HC2 Holdings |
Lubbock | KMYL-LD | 14 | 14.2 | MyNetworkTV | February 6, 2022 | Operated by HC2 Holdings |
San Antonio | KGMM-CD | 24.4[53] | 24.2 | CNZ Communications | ||
Utah | ||||||
Ogden | KULX-CD | 14 | 10.5 | NBCUniversal | ||
Salt Lake City | KTMW | 20 | 20.5 | |||
Virginia | ||||||
Grundy | WLFG | 49.4[54] | 68.2 | Living Faith Ministries, Inc. | February 3, 2018 | |
Washington | ||||||
Seattle | KYMU-LD | 6.2[55] | Seattle 6 Broadcasting LLC | 2019 | ||
Wisconsin | ||||||
Milwaukee | WISN-TV | 28 | 12.5 | Hearst Television | September 30, 2021 |
Former affiliates
Market | Station | Channel | Current owner | Years of affiliation | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Los Angeles, California | KTTV | 11.3 | Fox Television Stations | 2020-2022 | |
Chicago, Illinois | WFLD | 32.4 | Fox Television Stations | 2018-2020 | |
Colorado Springs, Colorado | KWHS-LD | 51.2[56] | CTN | 2017-2019 | Replaced by CTN Lifestyle[56] |
Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas | KDFI | 27.5 | Fox Television Stations | 2017-2020 | |
Houston, Texas | KRIV-TV | 26.2 | 2017-2020 | Decades and theGrio exchanged channel positions, with theGrio activated on KTXH-DT3 on launch day.[57] | |
Los Angeles, California | KCOP-TV | 13.8 [58] | 2016-2020 | ||
New Orleans, Louisiana | WHNO | 20.2 | CTN | 2016-2018 | Replaced by CTN Lifestyle |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | KBZC-LD | 42.2 | HC2 Holdings | Replaced by CBN News Channel, and later Revenue Frontier. | |
Phoenix, Arizona | KSAZ-TV | 10.4 | Fox Television Stations | 2017-2020 | |
Pittsburgh | WPCW | 19.4 | CBS News and Stations | 2018-2020 as LightTV 2021 as theGrio |
Occupied channel 19.4 as Light TV until that service was discontinued, whereupon Circle was moved there from 19.5, thus vacating that channel until TheGrio arrived in 2021 |
Tampa Bay | WTOG | 44.3[59] | 44.3 | CBS News and Stations | |
Tulsa, Oklahoma | KWHB | 47.2 | Christian Television Network | 2017-2019 | Replaced by Dabl |
KGEB | 53.2 | GEB America | 2019-2021 | Replaced by Shop LC | |
Washington, D.C. | WDCA | 20.4 | Fox Television Stations | 2017-2018 | Was dropped due to channel share with sister station WTTG |
References
- ^ Kee, Tameka (June 10, 2009). "Can NBCU's TheGrio.com Succeed Where RushmoreDrive.com Failed?". CBS News. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
- ^ "The Grio Web Site". C-SPAN Video Library, August 20, 2012.
- ^ "TheGrio reveals annual Top 100 list". Today, February 4, 2013.
- ^ Jordan Chariton (August 14, 2014). "NBC News Selling TheGrio.com". TVNewser. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
- ^ Debbie Emery (June 14, 2016). "Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios Acquires TheGrio". TheWrap. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
- ^ Ham, Jon (August 10, 2009). "NBC’s theGrio.com needs diversity training". Carolina Journal Online.
- ^ Mayes, Julia (October 3, 2011). "Positively Black: NBC Launches The Grio". 4 NBC New York.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "theGrio team". theGrio. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
- ^ a b c d "How to Tell Stories for a Living, According to 3 Game-Changing Women in Media".
- ^ Busch, Mike Fleming Jr,Anita (September 22, 2014). "MGM Buys 55% Of Roma Downey And Mark Burnett's Empire; Relaunches United Artists". Deadline. Penske Business Media. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
- ^ Lieberman, David (December 14, 2015). "MGM Taps Mark Burnett To Run TV Operation After Buying Out JV Partners". Deadline. Penske Business Media. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
- ^ a b c Busch, Anita (December 15, 2015). "Roma Downey, Mark Burnett And MGM Launch Light TV With Fox Stations On Board". Deadline. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
- ^ Bouma, Luke (March 3, 2017). "Three New Over-the-Air TV Networks Recently Launched - Cord Cutters News". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
- ^ "Allen Media Group Buys Two Networks From MGM," from Deadline, 10/28/2020
- ^ Haring, Bruce (December 4, 2020). "Byron Allen's Light TV Will Transition To 'TheGrio.TV' Next Month To Kick Off MLK Day Weekend". Deadline. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
- ^ Miller, Mark (December 9, 2020). "Fox O&Os Adding TheGrio.TV To Subchannels". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- ^ "MGM Launches Light TV on Fox Owned Stations and Affiliates". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. November 16, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
- ^ "Faith-Based LIGHT TV Coming To FOX 32.2 In December". Chicagoland Radio & Media. November 16, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
- ^ "LIGHT_SCHEDULE_AUGUST_24_UPDATE" (PDF). August 1, 2017.
- ^ a b "GrioTV Schedule - Check What's on".
- ^ "Fox Stations Sign on For Roma Downey and Mark Burnett Network". TVSpy. Prometheus Global Media. November 16, 2016.
- ^ Kate Stanhope (November 16, 2016). "Roma Downey, Mark Burnett and MGM to Launch Faith Digital Network on Fox Stations". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
- ^ "Stations for Network - Light TV". RabbitEars.Info. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
- ^ a b RabbitEars TV Query for KCDO
- ^ "Digital TV Market Listing for WSVN". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
- ^ Jacobson, Adam (January 5, 2018). "Exclusive: 'Estrella TV' Ready For A Big Miami Return". Radio & Television Business Report. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
On July 14, 2017, Sunbeam Television-owned WSVN-7 dropped Estrella TV from its DT2 multicast channel, replacing it with LIGHT TV…
- ^ "Digital TV Market Listing for WOFL". RabbitEars.Info. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
- ^ "KRID-LD 22". FCCData.org. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
- ^ RabbitEars TV Query for WTCT
- ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for WCHU". RabbitEars. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
- ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for WAOE". RabbitEars. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
- ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for WEIJ-LD". RabbitEars.Info. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
- ^ RabbitEars TV Query for KDMI
- ^ "About Us". WBNA 21. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
- ^ a b RabbitEars TV Query for WHNE
- ^ a b "Digital TV Market Listing for WMNN-LD". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
- ^ RabbitEars TV Query for WAQP
- ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for KSMO-TV". RabbitEars. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
- ^ "KRFT-LD TV8 Launches Nuestra Vision on Channel 8.6". Craft Broadcasting. March 14, 2018.
- ^ "KGNG-LD 26". FCCData.org. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
- ^ a b c "RabbitEars TV Query for KTVS-LD". RabbitEars.info.
- ^ "KAZQ/KTVS - Alpha Omega Broadcasting". www.facebook.com. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
- ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for WNYA". RabbitEars.info.
- ^ RabbitEars TV Query for WNYB
- ^ RabbitEars TV Query for WBNF
- ^ "Digital TV Market Listing for WWLF-LD". RabbitEars.Info. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
- ^ "Digital TV Market Listing for WJZY". RabbitEars.Info. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
- ^ RabbitEars TV Query for WBQC
- ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for WOCB-CD". RabbitEars. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
- ^ "Digital TV Market Listing for WTXF". RabbitEars.Info. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
- ^ RabbitEars TV Query for WGGS
- ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for WJFB". Rabbitears.Info. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
- ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for KGMM-CD". RabbitEars. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
- ^ RabbitEars TV Query for WLFG
- ^ https://lighttv.com/#footer LIGHT TV - Find Light TV in Your Area (via Zip Code search query)
- ^ a b RabbitEars TV Query for KWHS
- ^ What's On FOX TitanTV (via fox26houston.com). Retrieved 2 December 2020
- ^ RabbitEars TV Query for KCOP
- ^ "Digital TV Market Listing for WTOG". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
External links
- Official website
- "MSNBC will air the world premiere of 'Meeting David Wilson,' Friday, April 11, 9 p.m. ET". NBC News. March 22, 2008.
- "TheGrio.com". NBC Universal Media Village. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013.