Statement: Starz Increases Efforts For Representation, Allen Media Group Expands
LeVar Burton - Instagram
Broadcast: Road To The Bee, a one-hour special about the Scripps National Spelling Bee, is narrated by LeVar Burton. This behind-the-scenes look at the competitors and officials aired on Ion and Bounce on May 26. Burton is also the host of the spelling bee, which began on May 31. The semifinals will air live-to-tape on Ion and Bounce on June 1, and the finals will also air on these two networks on June 2. It will be streamed on Ion Plus and Bounce XL. This year is the first time that the Scripps National Spelling Bee is on Ion and Bounce.
TheGrio, Allen Media Group’s Black-focused digital news platform, launched TheGrio Black Podcast Network. Dear Culture with Panama Jackson is the network’s first podcast, and it debuted on May 26. There are six more podcasts in the works that are set to premiere over the summer and fall of 2022. Dear Culture with Panama Jackson looks at a variety of cultural topics. Some upcoming podcasts include TheGrio Daily with Michael Harriot (debuting June 20), Blackest Questions with Christina Greer (debuting in July), and Acting Up with Cortney Wills (returning in July).
Life below zero: First Alaskans - National Geographic
Cable: National Geographic debuted the second season of Life Below Zero: First Alaskans, a spinoff of the network’s Life Below Zero franchise, on May 30. This show follows the lives of indigenous Alaskans living in the harsh Alaskan landscape. The first two episodes debuted on May 30, and the remaining four episodes air weekly on Tuesdays. The program is produced by National Geographic and BBC Studios.
Starz is currently working with lawmakers in Washington, D.C. to set September as National Leading Entertainment and Arts Through Diversity Month. This effort to increase the representation of women and underrepresented groups was first introduced by Reps Yvette Clark (D-N.Y.), Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), and Nanette Barragán (D-Cal.), Judy Chu (D-N.Y.), and Grace Meng (D-N.Y.). Starz has shown other efforts to increase representation in recent years, such as its #TakeTheLead initiative. They also commissioned an inclusion study with The UCLA Center for Scholars & Storytellers. This confirmed that Starz is far above industry averages in many diversity, equity, and inclusion categories.
Streaming: Crackle Plus recently struck a deal to launch five of its free ad-supported streaming TV channels on Allen Media Group’s Local Now platform. These channels are Crackle, Crackle Classics, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Popcornflix, and Truli. Local Now has over 450 free streaming channels, and the app is available on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Xfinity, Vizio, and Samsung, and on Android and iOS devices. Crackle includes both original and exclusive programming, such as films and TV series like Taboo and The Mercy.