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TheGrio

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TheGrio
TypeDigital broadcast television network
CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaUnited States
AffiliatesList of affiliates
HeadquartersBeverly Hills, California, U.S.
Programming
Picture format1080i master feed (cable and satellite distribution), reduced to 480i SDTV for most over-the-air affiliates
Ownership
OwnerAllen Media Group
History
LaunchedDecember 22, 2016; 7 years ago (2016-12-22)
Founder
ReplacedBlack News Channel (after network purchase and merger into TheGrio TV)
Former namesLight TV (2016–2021)
Links
Websitethegrio.com
thegriotv.com

TheGrio, styled as thegrio, is a website with news, opinion, entertainment and video content geared toward African-Americans.[1] TheGrio is also an American television network.

History

[edit]

TheGrio is to "focus on news and events that have a unique interest and pronounced impact within the national African Americans audience,"[2] 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.[3]

The website originally launched in June 2009 as a division of NBC News,[4][5] 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.[6] In June 2016, Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios acquired the site.[7]

The TV channel was founded as Light TV in 2016 by reality television producer Mark Burnett and his wife, actress Roma Downey, as an inspirational network as part of his chairmanship of MGM Television, which operated the network. It was sold to Entertainment Studios in late 2020, and relaunched as TheGrio TV in January 2021, with a Black-specific programming focus.

After Entertainment Studios purchased the assets of the bankrupt Black News Channel in late July 2022, that network was merged into TheGrio TV on August 1, including the former's existing cable, satellite and advertiser supported on-demand streaming carriage, and plans to add more news and commentary to TheGrio TV's schedule.[8]

Television network

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TheGrio TV (2021–present)

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Light TV and This TV were both sold by MGM TV in October 2020 to the Allen Media Group division of Entertainment Studios.[9] 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 Black American community as an extension of the website.[10]

That same day, Light TV's satellite transponder space was taken over by Entertainment Studios, which stopped carrying programming in the interim and instead transmitted a test pattern promoting the launch of TheGrio (later a looping launch promo), while MGM continued to carry a stream of Light TV through the network's website. Fox Television Stations confirmed its stations would be a part of TheGrio's charter launch group, and much of its affiliate body transferred over through the month-long dark period, though some stations departed for other networks.[11] The network officially relaunched as TheGrio on January 15, 2021, that year's Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and that same day MGM handed over the domain of Light TV to Entertainment Studios, ending the stream of Light TV.

Programming

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TheGrio TV currently provides 16 hours of programming to its affiliated stations every day from 8:00 a.m. to midnight Eastern Time, with paid programming filling the remaining vacated hours.

From 2016 until 2021, TheGrio TV (as 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.[12][13] Infomercials were added to the Light TV lineup in 2019, occupying all of the overnight hours and into the early morning.

Light TV (2015–2020)

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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.[14] 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.[15]

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.[16] The network launched on January 20, 2016[17] with two stations, and the rest of the group's stations.

The network was intended to carry new and original content from LightWorkers as part of Burnett's chairmanship of MGM's television division, but never ended up carrying any new content, only featuring rerun and library content already seen on MGM's This TV (a film-oriented network) and MGM HD, along with low-cost barter programming such as Heartland, which was already in wide syndication across multiple channels, along with other generic inspirational or family-friendly content. By 2019, the network added paid programming which made up its late night and early morning schedule, reducing its programming commitment further.[18]

Current programming

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Below is a current list of programming broadcast on TheGrio:[19]

Former programming

[edit]

Light TV

Affiliates

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As Light TV, the network space 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] The Allen Media Group-owned stations will be in bold since they own the network as of 2021.

City Station[23] Physical
channel
Virtual
channel
Owner (management company) Date of affiliation Notes
Alabama
Birmingham WDVZ-CD 3 3.2[24] University of Alabama
Huntsville WAAY-TV 17 31.6 Allen Media Group
Montgomery WCOV-TV 22 20.4
Arizona
Phoenix KSAZ-TV 10 10.4 Fox Television Stations 2017
California
Los Angeles KTTV 11 11.3 Fox Television Stations 2020
San Francisco Bay Area KICU-TV 36 36.5
Florida
Orlando WRBW 28 65.4 Fox Television Stations 2020
Pensacola WBQP-CD 12 12.1 Watson Broadcasting Inc. of Pensacola, Florida
TampaSt. Petersburg WFTT-TV 25 62.5 Entravision Communications
Georgia
Atlanta WAGA-TV 27 5.4 Fox Television Stations 2017
Savannah WGCB-LD 36 35.4[25] Bridge Media Networks
Idaho
Idaho Falls KVUI 31 31.3 Ventura Broadcasting
Illinois
Chicago WFLD 24 32.4 Fox Television Stations 2018
Louisiana
Baton Rouge KPBN-LD 14 14.4 Pelican Broadcasting Network January 1, 2018
Monroe KMCT-TV 22 39.11 Carolina Christian Broadcasting May 1, 2021
Michigan
Flint-Saginaw-Bay City WJRT 12 12.3 Allen Media Group Previously on WAQP and replaced Circle
Minnesota
MinneapolisSaint Paul KMSP-TV 9 9.5 Fox Television Stations 2017
Mississippi
Jackson WAPT 21 16.4 Hearst Television
New York
Syracuse WWLF-LD 35 35.2 Metro TV, Inc. September 1, 2021
New York City WNYW 27 5.4 Fox Television Stations December 2016
Oho
Toledo WMNT-CD 36 48.5 Community Broadcast Group, Inc.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City KTUZ-TV 29 30.5 Tyler Media Group 2024
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia WTXF-TV 31 29.3 Fox Television Stations 2017
Tennessee
Knoxville WEZL-LD 16 28.3[26] Living Faith Ministries
Memphis WBII-CD 20 20.2[27] Tony Tidwell
Nashville WLLC-LD 42.3 42.3 JKB Associates 2021
Texas
DallasFort Worth KDFI 27 27.5 Fox Television Stations 2017
Houston KTXH 19 20.3 2020
San Antonio KGMM-CD 36 24.2[28] CNZ Communications
Washington
Seattle KYMU-LD 6 6.2[29] Word of God Fellowship 2019
Spokane KSKN 36 22.5 Tegna, Inc.
Yakima KYPK-LD 32 32.4[30] Hispanavision
Wisconsin
Eau Claire WQOW 25 18.6 Allen Media Group January 2024
La Crosse WXOW 28 19.6
Madison WKOW 26 27.6

Former affiliates

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Market Station Channel Current owner Years of affiliation Notes
Albany, New York WNYA 51.2 Hubbard Broadcasting November 1, 2017-2024
Albuquerque, New Mexico KTVS-LD 36.1[31] Alpha Omega Broadcasting October 2017[32]-202?
Anchorage, Alaska KAUU 5.5 Gray Television 20??-202?
Angola (Fort Wayne, Indiana) WINM 12.3 Tri-State Christian Television September 2017-202?
Austin, Texas KGBS-CD 19.5 HC2 Holdings October 9, 2017-202? Replaced by Infomercials
Baltimore, Maryland WBAL-TV 11.4 Hearst Television September 24, 2021-2024 Replaced by Get
Birmingham, Alabama WVUA 23.2 University of Alabama June 1, 2017-2022
WVTM-TV 13.4 Hearst Television 2022-2024
Boise, Idaho KRID-LD 22.7 Karlo Maalouf[33] July 2017-202?
KTVB 7.6 Tegna, Inc. 2022-2024
Bryan/College Station, Texas KBTX-TV 3.4[34] Gray Television 2022-2024 Replaced by The365
Buffalo, New York WNYB 26.3 Tri-State Christian Television 20??-202? Replaced by Get
Charlotte, North Carolina WJZY 46.5 Nexstar Media Group 2017-2024 Replaced by Shop LC
Chattanooga, Tennessee WRCB 3.2 Sarkes Tarzian, Inc. 2018-2023 Replaced by Dabl
Cincinnati, Ohio WBQC-LD 25.5 Gray Television 2018-2024 Replaced by The365
Colorado Springs, Colorado KWHS-LD 51.2[35] Christian Television Network 2017-2019 Replaced by CTN Lifestyle[35]
Columbia, South Carolina WLTX 19.8 Tegna, Inc. 2023-2024
Des Moines, Iowa WOI-DT 5.8
Detroit, Michigan WHNE-LD 3.1[36] Bridge Media Networks August 2017-2023 Replaced by NewsNet
Flint/Saginaw/Bay City, Michigan WAQP 49.5[37] Tri-State Christian Television 2017-2023 Replaced by Ion Mystery
Fresno, California KGPE 47.3 Nexstar Media Group Replaced by Antenna TV
KAIL 7.2 Tri-State Christian Television October 19, 2017-202? Replaced by SonLife
Gary, Indiana (Chicago, Illinois) WPWR-TV 50.3 Fox Television Stations 2016-2018
Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo WTLJ 54.3 Tri-State Christian Television 2018-202? Replaced by Healing Streams TV
Greenville, South Carolina WGGS-TV 16.4 Carolina Christian Broadcasting 2017-2024 Replaced by Ion Plus
Grundy, Virginia WLFG 68.2 Living Faith Ministries, Inc. February 3, 2018-202
Honolulu, Hawaii KWHE 13.3 Family Broadcasting Corporation 2017-202?
Houston, Texas KRIV-TV 26.2 Fox Television Stations 2017-2020 Decades (now Catchy Comedy) and theGrio exchanged channel positions, with theGrio activated on KTXH-DT3 on launch day.[38]
Huntsville, Alabama WZDX 54.8 Tegna Inc. 2022-2024
Indianapolis, Indiana WALV-CD 46.4 Replaced by Nosey
Jacksonville, Florida WJXX 25.6
Johnstown, Pennsylvania WWCP-TV 8.3 Cunningham Broadcasting
(operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group)
2021-2024 Replaced by TBD
Kansas City, Missouri KSMO-TV 62.2 Gray Television May 6, 2018-2024 Replaced by Heroes & Icons
Las Vegas, Nevada KDNU-LD 7.3[39] Bridge Media Neworks 2023-2024 Replaced by Ace TV
KGNG-LD 26.7 King Kong Broadcasting 2024 Replaced by an independent channel.
Lexington, Kentucky WLJC-TV 65.2 Margaret Drake 20??-202? Replaced by Story Television
Little Rock, Arkansas KTVV-LD 18.2 Bridge Media Networks 20??-202?
Los Angeles, California KCOP-TV 13.8 [40] Fox Television Stations 2016-2020
Louisville, Kentucky WBNA 21.3 Word Broadcasting Network March 2017-?[41] Replaced by This TV
WLKY 32.5 Hearst Television 202?-2024
Lubbock, Texas KMYL-LD 12.2[42] Gray Television February 6, 2022-2024 Replaced by MeTV Toons
Mansfield, Ohio WMFD-TV 63.3 Mid-State Television, Inc. 2017-2024
Marion, Illinois WTCT 27.3 Tri-State Christian Television 20??:-202?
Marion, Ohio WOCB-CD 39.5[43] Central Ohio Assoc. of Chr. Broadcasters 20??-202?
Miami, Florida WSVN 7.2[44] Sunbeam Television July 14, 2017[45]-202? Replaced by The365
Milwaukee, Wisconsin WISN-TV 12.5 Hearst Television 2021-2024 No replacement for subchannel
New Orleans, Louisiana WHNO 20.2 Christian Television Network 2016-2018 Replaced by CTN Lifestyle
WDSU 6.5 Hearst Television October 5, 2021-2024
Oakwood Hills, Illinois WCHU-LD 7.2[46] Bridge Media Networks December 2020-2023 Relocated from WPWR-TV 50.3 and WFLD 32.4
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma KBZC-LD 42.2 HC2 Holdings 201?-2021 Replaced by CBN News Channel, and later paid programming
KOCO-TV 5.5 Hearst Television 2021-2024 Replaced by Nosey
Orlando, Florida WOFL 35.2 Fox Television Stations 2016-2020
Oswego (Chicago)
Pekin (Peoria, Illinois)
WTVK 59.2 Venture Technologies Group 2017-2024
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania WPKD-TV 19.5 CBS News and Stations 2021-2024 Replaced by HSN
Portland, Maine WCSH 6.8 Tegna, Inc. 20??-202?
Portland, Oregon KGW 8.6 2022-2024
Reno, Nevada KTVN 2.2 Sarkes Tarzian, Inc. 2018-202? Replaced by Scripps News
Sacramento, California KCSO-LD 33.4 NBCUniversal 2018-2023 No replacement for subchannel
St. Petersburg/Tampa, Florida WTOG 44.3[47] CBS News and Stations 2017-2021
Salt Lake City, Utah KTMW 20.5 NBCUniversal 20??-2024 Replaced by Nosey
Santa Barbara, California KZDF-LD 8.3 HC2 Holdings December 2017-202? Replaced by The365
Spokane, Washington KSKN 22.5 Tegna Inc. 2021-2024 Replaced by Nosey
South Bend, Indiana WNDU-TV 16.8 Gray Television 20??-2024
Springfield, Missouri K26GS-D 26.4 Reynolds Media, Inc. 2017-202? Replaced by TBD
KRFT-LD 8.2 Craft Broadcasting November 9, 2017[48]-20?? Replaced by Binge TV
Sterling (Denver, Colorado) KCDO-TV 10.1[49] E. W. Scripps Company 2017-202? Replaced by Bounce TV
Traverse City/Cadillac, Michigan WMNN-LD 26.6 Bridge Media Networks August 2017-20??
Tulsa, Oklahoma KWHB 47.2 Christian Television Network 2017-2019 Replaced by Dabl
KGEB 53.2 Oral Roberts University 2019-2021 Replaced by Shop LC
Tuscaloosa, Alabama WVUA 23.2 University of Alabama June 1, 2017-202?
Tucson, Arizona KTTU-TV 18.5 Tegna, Inc. 20??-202?
Twin Falls, Idaho KXTF 35.3 Tri-State Christian Television 2016-2021 Replaced by Defy TV
Washington, D.C. WDCA 20.4 Fox Television Stations 2017-2018 Was dropped due to channel share with sister station WTTG
WRZB-LD 31.1 J. Christopher Blair
(DC Broadcasting, Inc.)
2021-202?
Wichita, Kansas KAGW-CD 26.7 Great Plains Television 20??-202?
Worcester (Boston, Massachusetts) WUTF-TV 27.4 Entravision Communications 20??-202? Replaced by ShopHQ

References

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  1. ^ Kee, Tameka (June 10, 2009). "Can NBCU's TheGrio.com Succeed Where RushmoreDrive.com Failed?". CBS News. Archived from the original on April 15, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  2. ^ Ham, Jon (August 10, 2009). "NBC’s theGrio.com needs diversity training". Carolina Journal Online.
  3. ^ Mayes, Julia (October 3, 2011). "Positively Black: NBC Launches The Grio". 4 NBC New York.
  4. ^ "The Grio Web Site". C-SPAN Video Library, August 20, 2012.
  5. ^ "TheGrio reveals annual Top 100 list". Today, February 4, 2013.
  6. ^ Jordan Chariton (August 14, 2014). "NBC News Selling TheGrio.com". TVNewser. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  7. ^ Debbie Emery (June 14, 2016). "Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios Acquires TheGrio". TheWrap. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  8. ^ "Black News Channel is now theGrio" (Press release). TheGrio. August 1, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  9. ^ "Allen Media Group Buys Two Networks From MGM," from Deadline, 10/28/2020
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Miller, Mark K. (December 8, 2020). "Fox O&Os Adding TheGrio.TV To Subchannels". TVNewsCheck. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  12. ^ "MGM Launches Light TV on Fox Owned Stations and Affiliates". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. November 16, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  13. ^ "Faith-Based LIGHT TV Coming To FOX 32.2 In December". Chicagoland Radio & Media. November 16, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  14. ^ 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.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ Bouma, Luke (March 3, 2017). "Three New Over-the-Air TV Networks Recently Launched - Cord Cutters News". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  18. ^ Masters, Kim (November 19, 2020). ""He Makes You Feel Like You're Questioning Your Sanity": Mark Burnett's Disruptive Reign at MGM". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  19. ^ "LIGHT_SCHEDULE_AUGUST_24_UPDATE" (PDF). August 1, 2017.
  20. ^ a b "GrioTV Schedule - Check What's on".
  21. ^ "Fox Stations Sign on For Roma Downey and Mark Burnett Network". TVSpy. Prometheus Global Media. November 16, 2016.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ "Stations for Network - The Grio". RabbitEars.Info. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  24. ^ "Digital TV Market Listing for WDVZ-CD". RabbitEars. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  25. ^ "Digital TV Market Listing for WGCB-LD". RabbitEars. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  26. ^ "Digital TV Market Listing for WEZK-LD". RabbitEars. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  27. ^ "Digital TV Market Listing for WBII-CD". RabbitEars. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  28. ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for KGMM-CD". RabbitEars. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  29. ^ "Digital TV Market Listing for KYMU-LD". RabbitEars. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  30. ^ "Digital TV Market Listing for KYPK-LD". RabbitEars. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  31. ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for KTVS-LD". RabbitEars.info.
  32. ^ "KAZQ/KTVS - Alpha Omega Broadcasting". www.facebook.com. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  33. ^ "KRID-LD 22". FCCData.org. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  34. ^ "Digital TV Market Listing for KBTX-TV". RabbitEars.Info. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  35. ^ a b RabbitEars TV Query for KWHS
  36. ^ RabbitEars TV Query for WHNE
  37. ^ RabbitEars TV Query for WAQP
  38. ^ What's On FOX TitanTV (via fox26houston.com). Retrieved 2 December 2020
  39. ^ "Digital TV Market Listing for KDNU-LD". RabbitEars. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  40. ^ RabbitEars TV Query for KCOP
  41. ^ "About Us". WBNA 21. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  42. ^ "Digital TV Market Listing for KMYL-LD". RabbitEars. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  43. ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for WOCB-CD". RabbitEars. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  44. ^ "Digital TV Market Listing for WSVN". RabbitEars.info. Archived from the original on September 19, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  45. ^ 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…
  46. ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for WCHU". RabbitEars. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  47. ^ "Digital TV Market Listing for WTOG". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  48. ^ "KRFT-LD TV8 Launches Nuestra Vision on Channel 8.6". Craft Broadcasting. March 14, 2018.
  49. ^ RabbitEars TV Query for KCDO
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