Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studios Acquires TheGrio

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Actor/comedian/entrepreneur Byron Allen added to his portfolio of content properties by acquiring digital news company TheGrio.

Allen’s Entertainment Studios Inc. will oversee the African-American focused digital news service, which generates 3 million unique visitors per month, according to the company. TheGrio specializes on breaking news, opinion, business, entertainment, health, sports, and events that have a unique interest and/or pronounced impact within the African-American community.

TheGrio joins Entertainment Studios' lineup of high definition channels including Pets.TV, Comedy.TV, Recipe.TV, Cars.TV, ES.TV, MyDestination.TV and Justice Central.TV. 

“David Wilson and his founding partner Dan Woolsey have done an incredible job these past 7 years building TheGrio, and we are one thousand percent committed to continue expanding this digital news community’s reach across all global media platforms, including our broadcast television syndication programs, cable television networks, and motion picture division,” said Byron Allen, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Entertainment Studios. “We plan on investing heavily in digital publishing, and TheGrio has an excellent management team, making it the perfect asset to start our portfolio of online publishing.”

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.