Cablefax The Magazine - August 2021 - 72

CONTENT LEADERS
29. BLACK-OWNED MEDIA MATTERS
Byron Allen | Founder, Chairman & CEO
Allen Media Group/Entertainment Studios
Years in Media & Broadband: 42
Education: USC Film School
My personal superpower is: Following my instincts
This spring advertisers heard a pointed message at the first-ever
Black-owned media Upfront: Stop merely talking and support economic
inclusion by investing in Black-owned businesses. Organized
by Allen, the event is just the latest headline-making salvo from the
media mogul, whose company owns broadcast stations, syndicator
Entertainment Studios, and networks including The Weather
Channel. Allen recently added VIX, a VOD service that targets Latin
American and Hispanic audiences, to the fold and debuted The
Weather Channel en Espanol as he continues to pursue merger
and acquisition opportunities. He's also expanding subscribership
for existing nets, and in Q3 2021 will launch direct-to-consumer
subscription service Sports.TV.
MY PROUDEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT OVER
THE PAST 12 MONTHS IS... Getting advertisers to provide
economic inclusion for Black-owned media.
WHAT HABIT ARE YOU KEEPING POST-PANDEMIC?
Zoom calls forever.
HOW DOES THE COUNTRY NARROW THE DIGITAL
DIVIDE? Broadband for everyone.
NUMBER OF TIMES FLOWN IN THE PAST YEAR? Twice.
MY PREDICTION FOR THE FUTURE OF REGIONAL
SPORTS NETWORKS: I believe regional sports networks will
generate more revenue than they do today by providing their valuable
content direct to the consumer via streaming.
WHAT SHOW/MOVIE HASN'T BEEN REBOOTED THAT
YOU WISH WOULD BE? The 1968-71 television series " Julia, "
starring Diahann Carroll.
WHAT SORT OF BROADBAND WILL THE AVERAGE
U.S. HOUSEHOLD NEED IN FIVE YEARS? Five times more
than today.
HOW MANY TIKTOK DANCES HAVE YOU LEARNED?
Too many.
WHAT'S THE FUTURE OF DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER
STREAMING LOOK LIKE? An enormous opportunity with more
than 4 billion potential consumers.
YOUR COMFORT TV BINGE? The news. ■
30. THE ENTERTAINER
Chris McCarthy | President & CEO
MTV Entertainment Group
Chief Content Officer
Paramount+ Unscripted Entertainment & Adult Animation
Education: MBA, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
This summer, CEO was added to McCarthy's title as well as global oversight for MTV Entertainment
and unscripted and adult animation at Paramount+. The group is leveraging its IP and
refreshing brands for streamer Paramount+, with series such as " The Real World: Homecoming. "
He is optimizing pockets of success, like the " South Park " -led animation suite on Comedy
Central, and the revival of MTV Books with a focus on identifying titles for development into
films. This year, MTVE Group also elevated its commitment to shining a light on mental wellness
and drew more than 1,000 companies and organizations to participate in the inaugural Mental
Health Action Day. ■
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