CBS will broadcast the inaugural "Byron Allen Presents theGrio Awards," a two-hour event honoring "icons, leaders and legends" including Patti LaBelle, Jennifer Hudson and Queen Latifah, who also took the stage for a special performance with Fantasia and Yolanda Adams. The star-studded black-tie event — a first for the African American-focused news, lifestyle, sports and entertainment platform theGrio — was co-hosted by Sheryl Underwood and Taye Diggs. Allen Media Group founder, chairman and CEO Byron Allen serves as an executive...
Entertainment Studios
Byron
Allen
Founder / Chairman / CEO
Continuing to expand his Allen Media Group empire in 2022, Allen launched the AVOD service Sports.TV and the Spanish-language version of the Weather Channel, debuted the
syndicated series “We the People With Judge Lauren Lake” in 95% of the country and paid $11 million to acquire Black News Channel out of bankruptcy. He expanded the content and reach of HBCU GO, an ad-supported streaming service acquired in 2021 dedicated to the 107 historically Black colleges and universities in the U.S. — closing a carriage deal with CBS owned-and-operated duopoly stations, making it available in 60% of U.S. television households and establishing partnerships to carry NCAA Division I and II HBCU sporting events. The year came with one major disappointment: Allen lost his bid to buy the Denver Broncos, as the team was purchased by a group led by Walmart heir Rob Walton for $4.65 billion.