TV One to Expand Morning News, Current Affairs & Lifestyle Line-Up with 2017-18 Programming

By: Apr. 24, 2017
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Showcasing its 4Q17-2018 programming line-up to the advertising community, TV One unveiled a very focused slate of originals during its annual Upfront presentation at Current located in Chelsea Piers last week. Fulfilling the promise to "REPRESENT the many facets of Black Culture past, present and future," President Brad Siegel announced the network will present a more focused and targeted programming schedule that reinforces TV One's commitment to the news and stories that matter in the Black community; authentic, relatable unscripted programming; true crime & justice; as well as original movies that tell bigger and more important stories.

"Our goal is to provide our discerning audience of information-conscious influencers with more of what they are looking for in original films, family reality, true crime and justice content," said Brad Siegel, TV One's President. "This will offer advertisers more opportunities to be seen in the positive environment of our popular, quality appointment television offerings."

Beginning in 3Q17, TV One will enhance its live morning news, current affairs and lifestyle programming by expanding to three hours of live television, beginning with an expanded version of News One Now, hosted by Roland S. Martin, from 7-9 am ET. Later this year, the show will undergo a name and format change to complement the increased time slot to become Black America Today, the only daily news show that covers the issues that matter to the African American community.

"After six consecutive quarters of growth for News One Now, we are excited to announce that Roland Martin will continue to be a voice to the African American community with more time to share the news and stories that matter most to the Black community," said D'Angela Proctor, TV One's SVP, Original Programming and Production. "Viewers can look forward to more coverage of the latest headlines in addition to lifestyle stories in the areas of entertainment, business, personal finance, health and inspiration."

The third hour will become home to a brand new live, multi-platform one-hour daily talk show that is fun, informative, engaging and live. Hosted by a panel of four women who are dynamic, smart, funny and opinionated, they want to empower and inspire African American women to tackle the challenges of their everyday lives. (A show-specific announcement will follow shortly).

TV One will also focus on expanding its popular True Crime & Justice programming, which has become a staple for the network on Monday nights. Beginning in August 2017, a second night of true crime shows will premiere, anchored by the proven series FOR MY MAN (Season 3).

Additionally, the network will premiere two limited series shows that are both receiving Hollywood support behind and in front of the camera. From the production companies of Viola Davis and Julius Tennon of JuVee Productions and Lemuel Plummer of L. Plummer Media comes the landmark limited series, Two Sides of the Truth, which will focus on four high profile cases that have been watershed moments for law enforcement and the Black community. Each episode will dissect and present both points of views of these highly charged cases so the audience can draw their own conclusions after hearing different sides of the story. Davis and Plummer will serve as executive producers. Davis also narrates the limited series.

"Every other week we hear about these horrific incidences and many of them go unsolved and unresolved. We hope that this show can take those headlines and humanize them," said Davis. "We want to give an unbiased approach to digging into what really happened on those fateful days and in doing so, hopefully shed some light and bring some awareness to such an important issue," said Tennon.

Currently in production, Evidence of Innocence is slated to premiere in 2018. The four-part event is hosted by acclaimed civil rights attorney and President of the National Bar Association Benjamin Crump, the lead attorney for the families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and Alesia Thomas. The series was created and executive produced by Emmy and NAACP Image award-winner Rushion McDonald of 3815 Media in partnership with Jupiter Entertainment. The limited series will profile the unbelievable true stories of individuals who were convicted of crimes they didn't commit, THE JOURNEY each endured to have their cases overturned, and the challenge to rebuild their lives.

Another TV One True Crime & Justice entry is the unscripted crime docu-drama, Hotlanta. Following the real life stories of homicide detectives Vincent Velazquez and David Quinn, these two cops have worked side-by-side for 15 years, and know the gritty streets of Atlanta, and the people on them as well as they know each other.

In keeping with the network brand promise to represent real family, culture and authenticity, TV One will continue to deliver critically-acclaimed scripted series and heartfelt family reality shows, including The Manns, which premiered in early April, and Rickey Smiley For Real, which returns for a fourth season in July 2017.

"TV One will continue to make programming that celebrates and builds up family, recognizing that no two families are alike," said Siegel. "The Manns and RICKEY SMILEY FOR REAL are great complements to one another as well as reinforce our goal to produce programming that incorporates family, faith and fun."



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