You stare at your TV guide and ask, what does byron allen own? You spot names like The Weather Channel and Comedy.TV, and still feel lost. It feels like chasing a wild goose. You need a simple map of his media world.
Byron Allen launched Entertainment Studios in Los Angeles in 1993 and now leads Allen Media Group. We will break down his media holdings, from Pets.TV to local broadcast stations and the LOCAL NOW streaming app.
This post gives you clear facts and a step by step guide. Ready.
Key Takeaways
- Allen Media Group, founded by Byron Allen in 1993 as Entertainment Studios, owns eight 24-hour HD channels—The Weather Channel (bought 2018; en Español 2020), Comedy.TV, Pets.TV, Recipe.TV, JusticeCentral.TV and Local Now—and reaches 300 million subscribers on cable and streaming.
- In 2015, Allen bought Freestyle Releasing and formed Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures. The studio released hits like 47 Meters Down (2017), Hostiles and Chappaquiddick (2018) and 47 Meters Down: Uncaged (2019). His company also syndicates 73 first-run TV shows and over 5,000 hours of family-friendly content.
- Allen Media Broadcasting holds 33 local ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX affiliates across 27 U.S. markets. He added Bayou City Broadcasting in July 2019 (4 stations), paid $10.6 billion for 21 Sinclair regional sports networks, bought 11 outlets from USA Television in February 2020, acquired Honolulu’s KITV in August 2020 and took on 23 Gray Television stations.
- Allen struck a Google deal in 2020 to stream his shows on a leading video platform and serve ads via Google Ads. He bought TheGrio in 2016 and acquired the Black News Channel in 2022, rebranding it as TheGrio cable network with 66 million subscribers. He also launched HBCUGO and the HBCU Sports Network in 2022.
Overview of Allen Media Group
Allen Media Group channels Byron Allen’s hustle in ad-based content, using streaming platforms like Local Now and a digital distribution arm to reach millions. It rides the advertising revenue wave, driving content distribution and syndicated hits coast to coast.
Founding and Growth
A young comic launched Allen Media Group in 1993. He used personal savings to start Entertainment Studios, a one-room operation. The crew made low-cost reality series for cable syndication.
Byron Allen sold blocks to local and national outlets. His channels soon included justicecentral.tv, comedy.tv, pets.tv and recipe.tv.
A shift came around 2000. He added court shows and scripted programming. Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures teamed up with Freestyle Releasing for wide-release films, sealing the deal.
Digital hubs like local now and various streaming outlets quickly grew. This push boosted ad revenue and widened network reach.
Core Business Divisions
Media mogul Byron Allen leads Allen Media Group. It runs eight 24-hour HD channels, reaching 300 million subscribers. These outlets span The Weather Channel, Comedy.tv, Pets.tv, Recipe.tv and Local Now.
Each channel streams weather alerts, fresh laughs, life hacks and local news.
Entertainment Studios produces and distributes 73 first-run syndicated programs. It taps a library of over 5,000 hours of family and advertiser-friendly lifestyle content. Allen Media uses Freestyle Digital Media to expand content distribution.
Sales teams sell ad inventory for 43 broadcast and cable TV programs. They partner with Bayou City Broadcasting and Gray Television to boost advertising revenue.
Television Networks Owned by Byron Allen
Byron Allen built a TV lineup that covers comedy, weather and lifestyle. His team uses programmatic ads, CMS software and OTT feeds to win viewers on cable and streaming apps.
The Weather Channel
Spring 2018 saw Allen Media Group, led by Byron Allen, buy The Weather Channel. The team added talent and archives. The network tracks storms and heat waves. It also shows breaking news with Local Now, its app feeds, and radar maps.
Viewers rely on the channel to plan trips and dodge danger.
Allen Media Group rolled out The Weather Channel en Español in 2020. It streams on cable, satellite, and digital platforms. In 2018, it won the Harris Poll EquiTrend TV News Brand award for the eighth year straight.
This win boosted ad revenue and grew its entertainment studios reach.
Comedy.TV
Comedy.TV runs non stop in high definition on cable and streaming platforms. Byron Allen owns it through Allen Media Group; they operate eight 24 hour HD channels. The network ranks among 10 additional outlets that he built under Entertainment Studios, Inc.
It streams stand up specials and classic sketch shows around the clock.
Syndicated series, court shows, and talk shows fill its schedule. Viewers catch this feed on Local Now or a cable bundle. It taps tools like freestyle releasing and social media clips to spark buzz.
The mood stays light with quick sketches and sharp stand up sets.
Pets.TV
Pets.TV gives animal fans a feast of tales. The high-definition network runs around the clock. Byron Allen and Allen Media Group own this 24-hour channel. That channel is one of eight HD outlets and part of ten more networks he operates.
Fans tune in via streaming platforms or cable slots. Allen Media Group uses content distribution to place Pets.TV on apps and cable. The channel films real life moments with shelters, vets and rescue teams.
It shares the roster with JusticeCentral.TV, Recipe.TV, Local Now and other Allen Media Broadcasting assets. The lineup runs from The Weather Channel to Comedy.TV, now pets take center stage.
Film and Entertainment Assets
He stakes his claim in big-screen action with wide-release motion pictures that hit theaters and streaming platforms. He spins courtroom hits into free-to-air TV syndication, using an indie distributor for global content distribution.
Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures
Byron Allen bought Freestyle Releasing in 2015 and renamed it Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures. He drives its media delivery with freestyle digital media and digital platforms, feeding trailers to applications and social feeds.
This branch lies in Allen Media Group’s media network.
The studio released 47 Meters Down in 2017 and it became the top-earning independent title that year. It backed Hostiles and Chappaquiddick in 2018. It rolled out 47 Meters Down: Uncaged in 2019.
Syndicated Television Shows
Syndicated shows drive Allen’s content distribution. He offers 73 first-run syndicated TV programs. The content library spans over 5,000 hours of family and advertiser-friendly lifestyle material.
Stations and streaming platforms pick up court shows on JusticeCentral.tv, cooking guides on Recipe.tv, and quick updates on Local Now. A bartered model boosts licensing deals.
Comedy fans catch Comics Unleashed on broadcast networks. Sports.TV delivers live games and quick highlights. Broadcasters tap this mix to lift advertising revenue. Freestyle Digital Media extends reach to mobile apps.
Fans across towns tune in daily, grabbing new episodes every weekday.
Broadcasting Stations
He snaps up local affiliates and low-power outlets, each backed by a broadcast tower and FCC license. He beams news and court shows on digital subchannels, lighting up every antenna across his network.
Allen Media Broadcasting Portfolio
Allen Media Broadcasting acts as a broadcast station group, serving local viewers. It holds 33 ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX affiliates in 27 U.S. markets. Allen Media Group bought Bayou City Broadcasting in July 2019, adding four stations.
It paid $10.6 billion for 21 regional sports networks from Sinclair Broadcast Group.
In February 2020, Byron Allen acquired 11 outlets from USA Television. In August 2020, he bought Honolulu’s ABC affiliate KITV. He added 23 more big-four network outlets from Gray Television, boosting his affiliate roster.
Innovative Partnerships and Collaborations
Allen teams up with a major search engine, and taps a giant video site to stream his news and court shows. These alliances speed up content distribution and stretch his media reach like a rubber band.
Google Partnership
Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group, via Entertainment Studios, struck a deal with Google in 2020. This pact moved shows onto a major video platform and shifted data to a cloud service.
The group taps Google Ads to serve custom spots across its outlets. Local Now jumped onto Google TV and appears in search results. Comedy.TV now runs segments through the ad tool.
Teams load clips onto the streaming portal fast. It cut the red tape and upped viewer counts. Advanced metrics now guide local news and comedy feeds. Byron Allen calls this move a game changer.
Contributions to Media Diversity and Inclusion
Allen bought TheGrio in 2016, a digital news platform for African-American stories. It draws over 20 million annual visitors. In Summer 2022, he acquired the defunct Black News Channel.
He rebranded it as TheGrio cable network with 66 million subscribers.
He rolled out HBCUGO in 2022 as a streaming platform for HBCU games. He also launched HBCU Sports Network to highlight college talent. Entertainment Studios fuels these moves, boosting media with true diversity.
Takeaways
Byron Allen steers a media juggernaut. It spans weather updates, comedy sketches, pet shows, and a film arm that pushes hits like Hostiles and Chappaquiddick. He uses a mixed reality system, a streaming service, and a theatrical distributor, and sparks fresh audience interest.
Fans cheer his push for diversity, in each ad break, show, and network he owns.
To learn more about the man behind the media empire, explore our in-depth piece on how tall is Byron Allen.
FAQs
1. What big networks does Byron Allen own?
He owns Entertainment Studios. It makes Emmy award shows. He bought The Weather Channel, like grabbing rain gear, and he also runs The Weather Channel en Español. He holds JusticeCentral.tv, Pets.tv, Recipe.tv and Local Now.
2. Does Byron Allen own TV stations?
Yes, his Allen Media Broadcasting, once Bayou City Broadcasting, owns and operates local TV stations in Texas, Michigan and Alabama. He counts over one hundred channels in his broadcast station group.
3. What film brands does he run?
He leads Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures. He also owns Freestyle Releasing and Freestyle Digital Media. They put wide-release motion pictures into theaters and online.
4. Does he own sports platforms?
Yes, he bought Sports.TV, Cars.TV and ES.TV. He also snapped up a batch of regional sports networks after Diamond Sports Group hit rough waters. Those RSNs play a key role in his empire.
5. What streaming channels does he offer?
He created MyDestination.tv, Black News Channel and Comics Unleashed. These cord cutting platforms reach homes with local news, justice shows and fun clips.
6. What major media deals has he made?
He won a legal battle against Comcast and Sinclair Broadcast Group. He then struck partnerships with Fox Corporation and Paramount Global. He uses those ties to drive ad revenue and grow his media group.
