Aspire TV (American TV network)
Aspire is an American pay television channel targeting African Americans. The network was launched by Magic Johnson on June 27, 2012.
Country | United States |
---|---|
Broadcast area | United States |
Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia |
Programming | |
Picture format | 1080i HDTV (downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed) |
Ownership | |
Owner | Magic Johnson Enterprises |
History | |
Launched | June 27, 2012 |
Links | |
Website | www |
History
As part of its arrangement to acquire a minority interest in NBCUniversal, Comcast Corporation committed to carry several minority-owned channels.[1] The arrangement followed pressure led by Maxine Waters in congressional hearings.[2] In April 2011, Comcast solicited proposals for minority-owned networks.[3] In February 2012, Comcast announced distribution arrangements for four networks, including Aspire.[4] The four announced networks and six forthcoming stations are being chosen from among an excess of 100 proposals to begin airing by 2020.
Aspire also holds the broadcast rights to a selection of CIAA college football games involving historically black colleges and universities.
See also
- BET – American basic cable and satellite channel currently owned by Paramount, which launched in 1980 as the first television network devoted to programming targeting African-Americans.
- BET Her – spinoff/sister network targeting African-American women.
- Bounce TV – American digital multicast network owned by E. W. Scripps Company.
- TheGrio – American digital multicast/cable network owned by Allen Media Group
- TV One – Cable and satellite network targeting African-Americans, owned by Urban One.
- Cleo TV – Spinoff/sister network targeting African-American women.
Notes
- Stelter, Brian (February 20, 2012). "Hip Hop Mogul to Unveil Plan for Music Cable Channel". The New York Times. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
- Braxton, Greg and Meg James (February 21, 2012). "Laker legend to launch a TV network:Magic Johnson's channel, Aspire, will be carried by Comcast and focus on blacks". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
- Jensen, David (April 4, 2011). "Comcast Begins Effort to Launch 10 Independent Networks". Comcast. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
- Guthrie, Marisa (February 21, 2012). "Comcast to Launch Networks Backed by Sean Combs, Magic Johnson and Robert Rodriguez". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 24, 2012.