TheGrio
Introduction '''TheGrio''', styled as '''thegrio''', is an American television network and website with news, opinion, entertainment and video content geared toward African-Americans.
History TheGrio is to "focus on news and events that have a unique interest and pronounced impact within the national African Americans audience," 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.The website originally launched in June 2009 as a division of NBC News, 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. In June 2016, Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios acquired the site.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.
Television network ===Light TV (2015–2020)===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. 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.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. The network launched on January 20, 2016 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.===TheGrio TV (2021–present)===Light TV and This TV were both sold by MGM TV in October 2020 to the Allen Media Group division of Entertainment Studios. 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.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. 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 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. 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 TheGrio:* ''America's Court with Judge Ross'' (November 1, 2021)* ''Animal Rescue''* ''Comics Unleashed'' (November 1, 2021)* ''The First Family'' (January 15, 2021)* ''Jeremiah'' (November 1st)* ''Justice With Judge Mablean'' (November 1, 2021)* ''Mr. Box Office'' (January 15, 2021)* ''Supreme Justice with Judge Karen Mills'' (November 1, 2021)* ''TheGrio News with Eboni K. Williams''* ''TheGrio News with Marc Lamont Hill''* ''The Verdict with Judge Hatchett'' (November 1, 2021)* ''Wild Times at the San Diego Zoo''* HBCU GO sports – coverage of college athletics at historically black colleges and universities, especially college football and the bands of those teams====Former programming====* ''The Adventures of Paddington Bear'' (2016–2019)* ''All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series'' (December 22, 2016 – September 29, 2019)* ''Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?'' (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)* ''Green Acres'' (2016–2018; October 1, 2019 – January 14, 2021)* ''Heartland''* ''Heathcliff'' (October 6, 2018 – September 30, 2019)* ''Highway to Heaven'' (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 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. MGM then offered the network to stations outside the initial markets.CityStationPhysicalchannelVirtualchannelOwner (management company)Date of affiliationNotesAlabama Birmingham  WVTM-TV  7  13.4  Hearst Television  2021  Greensboro  WDVZ-CD  3  3.2  University of Alabama     Huntsville  WZDX  18  54.8  Tegna, Inc.   Tuscaloosa  WVUA  6  23.2  University of Alabama  June 1, 2017 AlaskaAnchorageKAUU75.5Gray TelevisionArizona Phoenix  KSAZ-TV  10  10.4  Fox Television Stations  2017  Tucson  KTTU  19  18.5  Tegna, Inc  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  Los Angeles  KTTV  11  11.3  Fox Television Stations  2020  Sacramento  KCSO-LD  3  33.4  NBCUniversal  2018  Santa Barbara  KZDF-LD  8  8.3  HC2 Holdings  December 2017 Colorado Sterling (Denver)  KCDO-TV  23.6, 34.6  10.1  E. W. Scripps Company  2017  KCDO-TV 3's display channel for Light TV is 10.1District of Columbia Washington  WRZB-LD  61  31.1  J. Christopher Blair(DC Broadcasting, Inc.)  2021 Florida Pensacola  WBQP-CD  12  12.1 Watson Broadcasting Inc. of Pensacola, Florida (Vernon Watson)   Jacksonville  WJXX  10  25.6  Tegna, Inc.  2022  Miami  WSVN  7.2  7.2  Sunbeam Television  July 14, 2017  Orlando  WRBW  28  65.4  Fox Television Stations  2020   Tampa–St. Petersburg  WFTT-TV  25  62.5  Entravision Communications  Georgia Atlanta  WAGA-TV  27  5.4 Fox Television Stations 2017 Hawaii Honolulu  KWHE-TV  31  14.3  Family Broadcasting Corporation  2017 Idaho Boise  KRID-LD  22  22.7  Karlo Maalouf  July 2017  Idaho Falls  KVUI  31  31.3  Ventura Broadcasting     Twin Falls  KTFT-LD  20  7.6  Tegna, Inc. Previously on KXTF-DT3Illinois Chicago  WFLD  24  32.4  Fox Television Stations  2018  Marion  WTCT  30.5  27.3  Tri-State Christian Television     Oakwood Hills  WCHU-LD  7.2  59.2  Venture Technologies Group, LLC  December 2020  Relocated from WPWR-TV 50.3 and WFLD 32.4 Oswego (Chicago)Pekin (Peoria)  WTVK  39.3  59.3  Venture Technologies Group  2017 Indiana Angola  WINM  12  12.3 Tri-State Christian Television September 2017  Fort Wayne  WEIJ-LD  38.5  38.3  Indianapolis  WALV-CD  46  46.4  Tegna, Inc.   South Bend  WNDU-TV  27  16.4  Gray Television  January 31, 2022  Replaced QVC From 46.5 WHME-TV July 1, 2020 and Moved From WNDU-TV 16.4Iowa Des Moines  WOI-DT  5.10  5.8  Tegna, Inc.  2023 Kansas Wichita  KAGW-CD  24  26.7  Great Plains Television    Kentucky Lexington  WLJC-TV  7  65.2  Hour of Harvest     Louisville  WLKY  14  32.5  Hearst Television  Previously on WBNA-DT3Louisiana Baton Rouge  KPBN-LD  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 Maine Portland  WCSH  31  6.8  Tegna, Inc.  Maryland Baltimore  WBAL-TV  12  11.4  Hearst Television  September 24, 2021 MassachusettsWorcester (Boston)WUTF-TV1927.4Entravision CommunicationsMichigan Detroit  WHNE-LD  3  3.1  Bridge Media Networks  Since late August 2017  Traverse City-Cadillac  WMNN-LD  14  26.6  Since August 2017  Flint-Saginaw-Bay City  WJRT  12  12.3  Allen Media Group  January 1, 2024  Previously on WAQP and replaced Circle (TV network)  Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo  WTLJ  24  54.3  Tri-State Christian Television  2018Minnesota Minneapolis–Saint Paul  KMSP-TV  9  9.5  Fox Television Stations  2017  Mississippi Jackson  WAPT  21  16.4  Hearst Television  Missouri Kansas City  KSMO-TV  32.4  62.2  Gray Television  May 6, 2018  Springfield, Missouri  KRFT-LD  21  8.2  Craft Broadcasting  November 9, 2017  Nevada Las Vegas  KDNU-LD  30  7.3  Bridge Media Networks  July 11, 2022  O&O station. Reno  KTVN  11  2.2  Sarkes Tarzian, Inc.  2018  New Mexico Albuquerque  KTVS-LD  36.1  36.1  Alpha Omega Broadcasting  October 2017 (physical and virtual) channel 36.3 is a simulcast of 36.1New York Albany  WNYA  13.4  51.2  Hubbard Broadcasting  Replaced Antenna TV Jamestown  WNYB  26.5  26.3  Tri-State Christian Television  ? Buffalo  WBNF  15.5  15.3  Tri-State Christian Television    Syracuse  WWLF-LD   35.2  35.2  Metro TV, Inc.  September 1, 2021   New York City  WNYW  5.4  5.4  Fox Television Stations  December 2016 North Carolina Charlotte  WJZY  25.7  46.5  Nexstar Media Group  2017 Ohio Cincinnati  WBQC-LD ("Telemundo Cincinnati")  28  25.5  Elliot Block  2018   Mansfield  WMFD-TV  12  68.3  Mid-State Television, Inc.  2017   Marion  WOCB-CD  22.5  39.5  Central Ohio Assoc. of Chr. Broadcasters   Oklahoma Oklahoma City  KOCO-TV  7  5.5  Hearst Television  2021 Oregon Portland  KGW  26  8.6  Tegna, Inc.  2022 Pennsylvania Johnstown  WWCP-TV  8  8.3  Cunningham Broadcasting   2021 Philadelphia  WTXF-TV  31.5  29.3  Fox Television Stations  2017 Pittsburgh  WPKD-TV  11  19.5  CBS News and Stations  2021 South Carolina Columbia  WLTX  15  19.8  Tegna, Inc.   Greenville  WGGS-TV  16.6  16.4  Carolina Christian Broadcasting  2017 Tennessee Chattanooga  WRCB  3  3.2  Sarkes Tarzian, Inc.  2018   Nashville  WLLC-LD  42.3  42.3  JKB Associates  2021   Texas Austin  KGBS-CD  19  19.5  HC2 Holdings  October 9, 2017  Bryan– College Station  KBTX-TV  16  3.4  Gray Television  2022  Dallas–Fort Worth  KDFI  27  27.5 Fox Television Stations  2017  Houston  KTXH  19  20.3  2020  Lubbock  KMYL-LD  22  14.2  Gray Television  February 6, 2022   San Antonio  KGMM-CD  24.4  24.2  CNZ Communications  Utah Ogden  KULX-CD  14  10.5 NBCUniversal     Salt Lake City  KTMW  20  20.5    Virginia Grundy  WLFG  49.4  68.2  Living Faith Ministries, Inc.  February 3, 2018 WashingtonSeattle  KYMU-LD 6  6.2 Seattle 6 Broadcasting LLC  2019  Spokane  KSKN  36  22.5  Tegna, Inc.  Wisconsin Milwaukee WISN-TV  28  12.5  Hearst Television  September 30, 2021  Madison WKOW  26  27.6  Allen Media Group  January, 2024 ===Former affiliates=== Market Station Channel Current owner Years of affiliation Notes Chicago, Illinois  WPWR-TV  50.3  Fox Television Stations  2016-2018  Colorado Springs, Colorado  KWHS-LD  51.2  Christian Television Network  2017-2019   Replaced by CTN Lifestyle  Flint/Saginaw/Bay City  WAQP  48.5  49.3 2017-2023  Houston, Texas  KRIV-TV  26.2  Fox Television Stations  2017-2020  Decades and theGrio exchanged channel positions, with theGrio activated on KTXH-DT3 on launch day. Las Vegas, Nevada  KGNG-LD  26.5  King Kong Broadcasting  2016-2023  Replaced by Central TV Las Vegas Los Angeles, California  KCOP-TV  13.8   Fox Television Stations  2016-2020  Louisville  WBNA  21.3  Word Broadcasting Network  March 2017-? Replaced by This TV New Orleans, Louisiana  WHNO  20.2  Christian Television Network  2016-2018  Replaced by CTN Lifestyle Oklahoma City, Oklahoma  KBZC-LD  42.2  HC2 Holdings  201?-2021  Replaced by CBN News Channel, and later paid programming Orlando  WOFL  35.2  Fox Television Stations  2016-2020   Tampa Bay  WTOG  44.3  CBS News and Stations  2017-2021Tulsa, Oklahoma  KWHB  47.2  Christian Television Network  2017-2019  Replaced by Dabl KGEB  53.2  GEB America  2019-2021  Replaced by Shop LC Twin Falls  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
References
External links * * *