TV One is an American basic cable television channel targeting African American adults. It is owned by Urban One, and headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland. Originally launched as a joint venture with Comcast, Urban One would acquire the former's stake in 2015.[4]
As of November 2023, TV One is available to approximately 43,000,000 pay television households in the United States; down from its 2016 peak of 60,000,000 households.[5] The channel is also an associate member of the Caribbean Cable & Telecommunications Association, Inc. (CCTA)[6]
History
Launch and early programming
In January 2003, Radio One and Comcast announced an agreement to a joint venture to create a television network aimed at African Americans aged 25 to 54.[7] TV One would launch on January 19, 2004, on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and was positioned as an older-skewing competitor to BET.[8] At the time of its launch, the channel was in approximately 2.2 million homes in 16 markets.[8][9] Initially launched in 2.2 million households, TV One's coverage would increase to 42.2 million homes by the end of 2007.[8]
On July 7, 2008, the channel's president and CEO Johnathan Rodgers announced that TV One would provide extensive coverage of the Democratic National Convention that August.[10]
In 2011, TV One's original co-owner Comcast acquired NBCUniversal, effectively integrating TV One and the other Comcast Entertainment Group channels into NBCUniversal's portfolio. Radio One's ownership stake in TV One would then grow from 36.8% to 50.8%.[11]
Rebrand and programming shift
In August 2012, TV One updated its on-air look and logo, as part of a plan to "tell stories about how African-American life unfolds and to distinguish it from a growing number of competitors."[12] By this point, TV One had reached 57.4 million homes.
On July 9, 2013, TV One announced that it would debut its first live one-hour, weekday morning news program that would be hosted by commentator Roland S. Martin.[13] The program, NewsOne Now, premiered on November 4, 2013.[14]
In December 2014, Brad Siegel was hired as president of TV One. Siegel was formerly president of Turner Entertainment Networks, and vice chairman of Up TV, which he co-founded in 2004.[15][16]
In March 2015, Radio One announced a deal to buy out Comcast's 47.9% share of TV One for $550 million.[17]
In February 2016, TV One updated their logo again, along with a new slogan: "Represent."[18]
Programming
As of 2024, TV One's current original programming includes true crime shows (such as Fatal Attraction and ATL Homicide), documentaries (including Unsung, the network's longest-running series), scripted films, and award show telecasts.[19] The network previously produced reality shows, talk shows, and sitcoms.
TV One's main programming consists of reruns of popular Black sitcoms from the 1970s through the 2000s.[20]
Cleo TV
Cleo TV (stylized as CLEOTV) is an American cable television network owned by Urban One targeting young millennial and Generation X African American women. It takes its name from the Ancient Egyptian Queen Cleopatra.
Cleo officially launched on January 19, 2019, after a week-long soft-launch period highlighting its programming offerings. At launch, Comcast Xfinity and Charter Spectrum served as the network's main debut base.[21][22]
Cleo primarily airs original and acquired lifestyle programming. Original shows produced for the channel have included New Soul Kitchen, Lens of Culture, Cleo Speaks, and the Jazz and Jake Smollett-hosted Living by Design.[23][24] Like TV One, Cleo TV also carries syndicated sitcoms, dramas, and Black film telecasts.[25]
External links
References
- Richard Prince. TV One Launches, With Adding Markets a Challenge The Robert C. Maynard Institute, January 19, 2004, retrieved July 8, 2013^
- Radio One's Buyout Of Comcast… www.urbaninsite.com, Urban Insite, retrieved July 7, 2015^
- Dave Seyler. Radio One Closes on TV One Cable Channel rbr.com, Radio & Television Business Report, retrieved April 19, 2015^
- Sarkan Bolat. Marvel retrieved 12 July 2021^
- U.S. cable network households (universe), 1990 – 2023 wrestlenomics.com, May 14, 2024, retrieved July 28, 2019^
- Staff Writer. Membership - CCTA Associate Members retrieved 15 May 2021^
- Seth Schiesel, "Comcast and Radio One in TV Joint Venture", The New York Times, January 13, 2003.^
- Felicia R. Lee, "A Network for Blacks With Sense of Mission," The New York Times, December 11, 2007.^
- Rob Owen, "Tuned In: TV One aims to be BET for grown-ups", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 12, 2006.^
- Victor Balta. Network Commits to Obama-only Coverage Comcast.net, July 9, 2008, retrieved July 20, 2008^
- Wayne Barrett, "Al Sharpton's Radio Power Play", The Daily Beast, July 28, 2011.^
- TV One Rebrands Around Storytelling The Hollywood Reporter, June 20, 2012, retrieved August 17, 2012^
- Sara Bibel. Roland S. Martin to Host 'News One Now', TV One's First Daily News Program TV by the Numbers, July 9, 2013^
- TV One Sets Premiere of "News One Now" with Host and Managing Editor Roland S. Martin, Monday, November 4, 9AM/ET The Futon Critic, October 24, 2013^
- "Brad Siegel Named TV One President," Deadline Hollywood, December 17, 2014.^
- Cynthia Littleton, "TV One Taps Cable Vet Brad Siegel as President," Variety, December 17, 2014.^
- "Radio One Gears Up for TV One Deal", Inside Radio, March 20, 2015.^
- TV One Launches New Brand Identity Evolving Network in a Bold, New Way Business Wire, February 3, 2016, retrieved December 30, 2024^
- Featured Shows - TV One^
- TV ONE - TV Listings Guide; On TV Tonight; retrieved May 26, 2024^
- Karu F. Daniels. Television for Colored Girls: CLEO TV Cozies Up to Black Millennial Women The Root, December 14, 2018^
- Cynthia Littleton. Comcast Sets TV One's Cleo TV, Afro as Latest Independent Channel Launches Variety, November 15, 2018^
- TV One launches Cleo TV with exciting new shows in the lineup Rolling out, March 23, 2019^
- Jake & Jazz Smollett Return for Cleo TV Hit 'Living by Design with Jake & Jazz' Blackfilm.com, April 21, 2021^
- SCHEDULE - CLEO TV; Retrieved on August 3, 2024^