TheGrio

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"Light TV" redirects here. For the Filipino television network, see ZOE Broadcasting Network.

TheGrio
TypeDigital broadcast television network
Country
United States
AvailabilityNationwide (available on OTA digital television and LPTV)
HeadquartersBeverly Hills, California
OwnerAllen Media Group
Launch date
December 22, 2016; 5 years ago (2016-12-22)
Former names
Light TV (2016-2021)
Picture format
480i (SDTV)
AffiliatesList of affiliates
Official website
thegrio.com

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/or 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 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]

Future programming[]

  • Jeremiah (November 1st)
  • America's Court With Judge Ross (November 1, 2021)
  • Justice With Judge Mablean (November 1, 2021)
  • Supreme Justice With Judge Karen Mills (November 1, 2021)
  • The Verdict With Judge Hatchett (November 1, 2021)
  • Comics Unleashed (November 1, 2021)

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/Birmingham WVUA 6 23.2 June 1, 2017

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
Tampa Bay WTOG 44.3[28] 44.3 ViacomCBS

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[29] July 2017
Idaho Falls KVUI 31 31.3 Ventura Broadcasting
Twin Falls KXTF 34 35.3 Tri-State Christian Television

Illinois[]

Oakwood Hills (Chicago) WCHU-LD 7.2[30] 59.2 Venture Technologies Group, LLC December 2020 Relocated from WPWR-TV 50.3 and WFLD 32.4
Marion WTCT 30.5[31] 27.3 Tri-State Christian Television
Peoria WAOE 39.3[32] 59.3 Venture Technologies Group 2017

Indiana[]

Angola WINM 12 12.3 Tri-State Christian Television September 2017
Fort Wayne WEIJ-LD 38.5[33] 38.3
Indianapolis WALV-CD 46.4 46.4 Tegna, Inc.

Iowa[]

Des Moines KDMI 19.3[34] 19.3 Tri-State Christian Television
Iowa City KWKB 25 20.2 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[35]

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[36] 14.1 Tait Broadcasting, LLC[36] Since late August 2017
Traverse City-Cadillac WMNN-LD 14.6[37] 26.6 Freelancer Television Broadcasting, Inc.[37] Since August 2017
Flint/Saginaw/Bay City WAQP 48.5[38] 49.3 Tri-State Christian Television Since September 2017
Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo WTLJ 24 54.3 2018

Missouri[]

Kansas City KSMO-TV 32.4[39] 62.2 Gray Television May 6, 2018
Springfield, Missouri KRFT-LD 21 8.2 Craft Broadcasting November 9, 2017[40]

Nevada[]

Las Vegas KGNG-LD 26 47.5 King Kong Broadcasting, Inc.[41] October 23, 2017 Century Link Cable Channel 22
Reno KTVN 11 2.2 Sarkes Tarzian, Inc. 2018

New Mexico[]

Albuquerque KTVS-LD 36.1[42] 36.1 Alpha Omega Broadcasting[42] October 2017[43] (physical and virtual) channel 36.3 is a simulcast of 36.1[42]

New York[]

Albany WNYA 13.4[44] 51.2 Hubbard Broadcasting November 1, 2017 Replaced Antenna TV
Jamestown WNYB 26.5[45] 26.3 Tri-State Christian Television ?
Buffalo WBNF 15.5[46] 15.3 Tri-State Christian Television
Rochester DWNIB-LD 42.3[47] 42.3 Tri-State Christian Television
New York City WNYW 5.4 5.4 Fox Television Stations December 2016

North Carolina[]

Charlotte WJZY 47.10[48] 46.8 Nexstar Media Group 2017

Ohio[]

Cincinnati WBQC-LD ("WKRP-TV") 47.7[49] 25.5 Elliot Block 2018
Mansfield WMFD-TV 12 68.3 Mid-State Television, Inc. 2017
Marion WOCB-CD 22.5[50] 39.5 Central Ohio Assoc. of Chr. Broadcasters

Oklahoma[]

Oklahoma City KOCO-TV 7 5.5 Hearst Television 2021

Pennsylvania[]

Johnstown WWCP 8.3 Cunningham Broadcasting 2021
Pittsburgh WPCW 19.5 ViacomCBS 2018-2020 as LightTV
2021 as theGrio		 Occupied channel 19.4 as LightTV until that service was discontinued, whereupon Circle TV was moved there from 19.5, thus vacating that channel until theGrio arrived in 2021

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
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 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
Chicago, Illinois WFLD-TV 32.4 Fox Television Stations 2018-2020
Colorado Springs, Colorado KWHS-LD 51.2[56] Christian Television Network 2017-2019 Replaced by CTN Lifestyle[56]
Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas KDFI 27.5 Fox Television Stations 2017-2020
Gary, Indiana
(Chicago, Illinois)		 WPWR-TV 50.4 2017-2018
Houston, Texas KRIV 26.2 2017-2020 Decades and theGrio exchanged channel positions, with theGrio activated on KTXH-DT3 on launch day.[57]
Los Angeles, California KCOP 13.8 [58] 2016-2020
Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota KMSP-TV 9.5 2017-2020
New Orleans, Louisiana WHNO 20.2 Christian Television Network 2016-2018 Replaced by CTN Lifestyle
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma KBZC-LD 42.2 HC2 Holdings Replaced by CBN News Channel, and later Revenue Frontier.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania WTXF-TV 29.3[59] Fox Television Stations 2017-2020
Phoenix, Arizona KSAZ-TV 10.4
Tulsa, Oklahoma KWHB 47.2 Christian Television Network 2017-2019 Replaced by Dabl
Washington, D.C. WDCA 20.4 Fox Television Stations 2017-2018 Was dropped due to channel share with sister station WTTG

References[]

  1. ^ Kee, Tameka (June 10, 2009). "Can NBCU's TheGrio.com Succeed Where RushmoreDrive.com Failed?". CBS News. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  2. ^ "The Grio Web Site". C-SPAN Video Library, August 20, 2012.
  3. ^ "TheGrio reveals annual Top 100 list". Today, February 4, 2013.
  4. ^ Jordan Chariton (August 14, 2014). "NBC News Selling TheGrio.com". TVNewser. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  5. ^ Debbie Emery (June 14, 2016). "Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios Acquires TheGrio". TheWrap. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  6. ^ Ham, Jon (August 10, 2009). "NBC’s theGrio.com needs diversity training". Carolina Journal Online.
  7. ^ Mayes, Julia (October 3, 2011). "Positively Black: NBC Launches The Grio". 4 NBC New York.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h "theGrio team". theGrio. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  9. ^ a b c d "How to Tell Stories for a Living, According to 3 Game-Changing Women in Media".
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ Bouma, Luke (March 3, 2017). "Three New Over-the-Air TV Networks Recently Launched - Cord Cutters News". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  14. ^ "Allen Media Group Buys Two Networks From MGM," from Deadline, 10/28/2020
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ Miller, Mark (December 9, 2020). "Fox O&Os Adding TheGrio.TV To Subchannels". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  17. ^ "MGM Launches Light TV on Fox Owned Stations and Affiliates". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. November 16, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  18. ^ "Faith-Based LIGHT TV Coming To FOX 32.2 In December". Chicagoland Radio & Media. November 16, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  19. ^ "LIGHT_SCHEDULE_AUGUST_24_UPDATE" (PDF). August 1, 2017.
  20. ^ a b https://lighttv.com/schedule/
  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.
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  24. ^ a b RabbitEars TV Query for KCDO
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  26. ^ 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…
  27. ^ "Digital TV Market Listing for WOFL". RabbitEars.Info. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
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  34. ^ RabbitEars TV Query for KDMI
  35. ^ "About Us". WBNA 21. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  36. ^ a b RabbitEars TV Query for WHNE
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  46. ^ RabbitEars TV Query for WBNF
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  48. ^ "Digital TV Market Listing for WJZY". RabbitEars.Info. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  49. ^ RabbitEars TV Query for WBQC
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  52. ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for WJFB". Rabbitears.Info. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  53. ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for KGMM-CD". RabbitEars. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  54. ^ RabbitEars TV Query for WLFG
  55. ^ https://lighttv.com/#footer LIGHT TV - Find Light TV in Your Area (via Zip Code search query)
  56. ^ a b RabbitEars TV Query for KWHS
  57. ^ What's On FOX TitanTV (via fox26houston.com). Retrieved 2 December 2020
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External links[]

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