Byron Allen Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

I am Not Your Negro.”“We at Allen Media Group Motion Pictures are extremely passionate about sharing James Baldwin’s phenomenal story with the world,” said Founder/Chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group Byron Allen. “Billy Porter and Dan McCabe’s talent and commitment to amplifying James Baldwin’s legacy and contributions are invaluable and unmatched for this unique and epic story.”“As a Black queer man on this planet with relative consciousness I find myself, like James Baldwin said, ‘in a rage all the time.’ I am because James was,” said Billy Porter.

Billy Porter (Pose) and frequent collaborator Dan McCabe (Fruits of Thy Labor) have been tapped to script a James Baldwin biopic for Byron Allen‘s Allen Media Group Motion Pictures, with the former also to realize his longtime dream of portraying the cultural icon.

Diddy has reportedly teased that he wants to purchase BET, after commenting on the network and how he thinks it should be Black-owned.According to Variety, BET Media Group’s parent company, Paramount Global, wants to unload brands such as BET, BET+, BET Studios, and even VH1.A source, who is allegedly someone close to Diddy — real name Sean Combs — said the mogul is “exploring the opportunity to purchase BET as a part of his strategy to build a Black-owned global media powerhouse.”Combs’ recent Instagram post suggested that these claims can be true. He posted a video explaining the power of media and why Black people need a specific network by @earnyourlesuire.A post shared by LOVE (@diddy)“Media is the most powerful industry in the world but it’s the industry where we have the least amount of ownership, influence and control!” he wrote. “It’s time for @BET to be Black-owned again so we have the power to tell our own stories, control our own narrative! This is not about me it’s about WE!!!!”The caption concluded with Combs stating that he’s “building a team of leaders” to “pursue ownership in BET”.

Sean “Diddy” Combs on Wednesday bolstered recently media reports that his is kicking the tires of BET Networks, which is in the early stages of being shopped by parent Paramount Global.

Diamond Sports Group, operator of the largest string of regional sports networks in the U.S., has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Sean “Diddy” Combs has just joined the potential purchase party of Black Entertainment Television (BET), with the mogul setting his sights on majority stake, TheWrap has confirmed.A source close to Combs says the Grammy award-winning musician and record label executive  is “exploring the opportunity to purchase BET as a part of his strategy to build a Black-owned global media powerhouse,” Variety was the first to report. The source added that conversations around Diddy buying majority stake in the network has yet to happen. Diddy is the latest to take interest in the acquisitions of the network, following behind Tyler Perry, Byron Allen and Miami-based media company Group Black, which was founded by Richelieu Dennis, Bonin Bough, and its CEO Travis Montaque. Under the umbrella of BET Media Group lies brands BET, BET+, BET Studios and VH1, which was to the group from Paramount Media Networks in a restructuring rearrangement. This would be another lucrative entrepreneurial business move for Diddy, who founded media company Revolt in 2013.

BET, joining fellow media moguls Tyler Perry and Byron Allen as they vie to purchase a majority stake of BET Media Group amid reports that owner Paramount Global is exploring a sale of the asset, Variety has confirmed. Run by CEO Scott Mills, BET Media Group includes BET, BET+, VH1 (which was moved under the group in a restructuring at Paramount last November) and BET’s production arm, BET Studios. A source close to Combs tells Variety that the global music icon and record executive turned multi-industry entrepreneur is “exploring the opportunity to purchase BET as a part of his strategy to build a Black-owned global media powerhouse.”

Elizabeth Taylor Allen Media Group founder, chairman and CEO Byron Allen brought together Oscar night glitz and glamour for good with a little help from legendary singer Diana Ross Sunday night. It was a supreme affair for the philanthropic media mogul whose annual gala returned for a fifth year to the Beverly Wilshire to benefit Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The host, standing beside his family, welcomed a bevy of luminaries to the lavish gathering, including Smokey Robinson, Vivica A. Fox, Jeff Ross, Garcelle Beauvais, Adam Carolla, Candy Spelling and Johnell Young to the event, which all started as a way for Allen to give back to the organization that rescued him as a child.

reported on Friday. The company was founded in 2021 by Travis Montaque, Richelieu Dennis and Bonin Bough and recently put in a bid of $400 million for Vice Media.

Lashan Browning and her Antoinette Media banner is going further into business with Paramount.

Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish decided to, in his words, “cross the line” and address a recent bid the company received for Showtime.

BreAnna Bell Polaris, the television network and digital platform owned by radio personality Sway Calloway and Rahman J. Dukes, is partnering with Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group (AMG) free-streaming digital platform, HBCU GO in an exclusive deal to create content for the video on demand service as well as AMG’s other properties including The Grio. The programming will be focused on culture, music and news with special coverage around cultural moments including a special celebrating the 50th year anniversary of Hip Hop, and an investigative series around Jam Master Jay. “It’s important for us to showcase not only the amazing sports and news programming, but also the heartbeat of the HBCU and Black Experience – our culture,” said Byron Allen, founder, chairman and CEO of Allen Media Group. “This new partnership with Polaris will provide amazing programming for our HBCU GO and TheGrio audiences highlighting music, Black culture and more.”

Court is back in session for Judge Greg Mathis as the TV personality has found a new home with Allen Media Group.The Byron Allen-owned media giant has given a “firm go” for the production and launches of its 72nd and newest HD television series “Mathis Court with Judge Mathis.” The new court series is a daily one-hour strip for fall 2023, available to broadcast television stations, as well as global network, cable and digital distribution platforms.For 24 consecutive seasons, Warner Bros./Telepictures produced and distributed “Judge Mathis,” the second longest-running court show in continued production with the same host, behind only “Judge Judy.” The series is slated to end with Season 24. “Judge Mathis” won a Daytime Emmy in 2018 for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program, as well as the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding News, Talk or Information Series in 2004.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Just days after Warner Bros. announced the cancellation of “Judge Mathis” after 24 seasons, Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group has scooped up the services of Judge Greg Mathis to host a new first-run one-hour strip for fall 2023. “Mathis Court with Judge Mathis” has been given a “firm go” by Allen Media Group, which is now pitching the show for broadcast, cable and distribution platforms.In addition to broadcast syndication, the show will join Allen Media Group’s eight court series are carried on its television network Justice Central, available in more than 50 million U.S. homes. Allen Media Group’s “America’s Court with Judge Ross” (which premiered in fall 2010), as well as “Justice for All with Judge Cristina Perez,” “Justice with Judge Mablean,” “Supreme Justice with Judge Karen,” “The Verdict with Judge Hatchett,” “We the People with Judge Lauren Lake” and “Equal Justice with Judge Eboni K. Williams.” (“Equal Justice” also premieres in fall 2023.) “Judge Greg Mathis is an outstanding, charismatic, and iconic television host, and we are extremely confident that our eighth and newest court series with Judge Mathis will be very successful for years to come as he joins our outstanding roster of talent, including Judge Kevin Ross, Judge Mablean Ephriam, Judge Christina Perez, Judge Karen Mills-Francis, Judge Glenda Hatchett, Judge Lauren Lake, and Judge Eboni K. Williams,” said Byron Allen, Founder/Chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group, which produces and distributes globally.

Days after it was revealed that Judge Mathis would end its long run in daytime syndication, Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group has announced that it will launch Mathis Court with Judge Mathis in the fall.

Scott Satin, a television producer with credits on Funny You Should Ask and the NBC clip show Most Outrageous Moments, died Thursday after a long battle with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). He was 64 years old.

EXCLUSIVE: Johannes Roberts — the filmmaker behind the shark thrillers 47 Meters Down (2017) and 47 Meters Down: Uncaged (2019) — is reteaming with Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group Motion Pictures on a new film in the genre titled The Red Triangle.

Animated fairy tale The Amazing Maurice voiced by Emilia Clarke, Hugh Laurie, David Thewlish, Gemma Arterton and Himesh Patel, jumps from Sundance to 1,700 screens via Viva Pictures, the distributor’s widest release to date and a big one for any independently produced animated film.

EXCLUSIVE: Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group is set to launch another court series — Equal Justice with Judge Eboni K. Williams. The daily one-hour strip will bow fall 2023 and will be available to broadcast on television stations, as well as global cable, network, and digital distribution platforms.

Fast: Home Rescue, starring Cody and Felicia Walker (brother and sister-in-law of the late actor Paul Walker) has been set at Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group.

EXCLUSIVE: The new House Democratic leadership will appear this week at an event at the home of Byron Allen and Jennifer Lucas as the party sets its sights on the 2024 cycle.

Harold Morgenstern is joining Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group (AMG) President of Direct Advertising Sales & Partnerships.

EXCLUSIVE: Allen Media Group’s free streaming service for local news and entertainment Local Now announced today a partnership to include live streaming of local PBS stations and that network’s Kids 24/7 channel. Local Now’s audience will have access to PBS’s award-winning content, from locally-produced shows to high-quality educational series to viewer favorites like PBS Newshour, Frontline and Antiques Roadshow.

CBS has set a date for Byron Allen presents theGrio Awards special where African-American excellence is honored. Co-hosted by Sheryl Underwood from The Talk and Taye Diggs, the two-hour award show will air on Saturday, Nov. 26 starting at 8 p.m. ET.

It’s all Jamie Kennedy, all 24/7 on the new Jamie Kennedy Channel on Allen Media Group’s digital platform Local Now.

Hulu is adding 14 new channels to its pay-TV package in the coming weeks, among them Hallmark Channel and the Weather Channel.

EXCLUSIVE: Allen Media Group, the African American-focused news, lifestyle, sports and entertainment platform founded by Byron Allen, is set to launch The Grio With Eboni K. Williams and The Grio with Marc Lamont Hill, a daily two-hour news block beginning Monday, October 24. It will also be available via TheGrio streaming app.

The inaugural gala for The Grio Awards are set to honor icons, leaders and legends like Tyler Perry, Patti LaBelle, Dave Chappelle and Normal Lear.

EJ Panaligan editor Allen Media Group’s African American-focused news, lifestyle, sports and entertainment platform theGrio has announced the inaugural The Grio Awards. The black-tie event will take place at the Beverly Hilton on Saturday, October 22th with co-hosts comedian Sheryl Underwood and Taye Diggs. The award show’s inaugural honorees are slated to attend in-person, including: The event will also feature special musical performances by Yolanda Adams, Tyrese, Fantasia and LaBelle. Greg Phillinganes will serve as musical director, and DJ Kiss will serve as both DJ and announcer. Additional guests slated to attend include Sheryl Lee Ralph, Judge Christine Perez, Dave Winfield, Judge Lauren Lake, Judge Mabelean Efphram, April Ryan, Natasha Alford, Michael Harriot, Panama Jackson, Nikole Hannah Jones, Ben Chavis and Marla Gibbs.

EXCLUSIVE: Oliver de la Hoz has been hired as Chief Financial Officer of Allen Media Digital, a division of Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group (AMG).

2ND UPDATE, 2:45 PM: A federal judge in Los Angeles today rejected a motion to dismiss Byron Allen’s $10 billion lawsuit against McDonald’s Corp that alleges racial discrimination.

In this newly-created role, Ghee will help AMG’s senior advertising and marketing executives to strategically work with brands for significant partnerships with the AMG portfolio, including theGrio digital, broadcast, and television network platforms, as well as the HBCU GO streaming app and the global HBCU GO sports network. Ghee is based at the AMG offices in New York City.

Allen Media Group’s streaming platform HBCU Go is huddling with CBS O&O duopoly stations on a nationwide carriage deal for the 2022-23 sports season. Key markets in include Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Dallas, Atlanta, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Tampa, Detroit, Miami, and Pittsburgh.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterByron Allen’s free streaming service HBCU Go has struck a nationwide licensing agreement with CBS stations that will run through the 2022-2023 college football season.Under the distribution pact between the Allen Media Group-owned digital platform, which focuses on coverage of the U.S.’s 107 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), HBCU Go’s sports programming will be carried on CBS owned-and-operated duopoly stations in these key TV markets: New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas, Atlanta, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Tampa, Detroit, Miami and Pittsburgh.As a result of the new CBS stations deal, HBCU Go — which recently got the rights to air premier NCAA Division 2 HBCU conference sporting events in a pact with Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAA) — will be available in 60% of U.S. television households and 70% African-American households.

Capping a challenging multi-year development process, Sinclair Broadcast Group’s regional sports unit has set September 26 as the nationwide launch date for direct-to-consumer streaming service Bally Sports+.

Veteran academic, author, activist and television host Marc Lamont Hill will join AMG’s Black news/entertainment media platform theGrio. Hill will bring his perspectives on culture, politics, race, sports, and education to all of theGrio media platforms, including its television network, free streaming app, theGrio news/entertainment website, and the new theGrio Black Podcast Network.