From West African oral history to a modern media powerhouse
In short: The name TheGrio is rooted in the ancient tradition of the West African griot—a storyteller and oral historian. Today, it serves as a major media brand dedicated to underrepresented news and events for the African American community, navigating a complex history of corporate acquisitions and rebranding.
TheGrio's identity is anchored in the concept of the griot, a traditional West African role responsible for preserving history through storytelling. This cultural foundation informs the brand's mission to highlight news and events that have a pronounced impact on the national African American audience, specifically addressing content that the founders believe is underrepresented in mainstream national news outlets.
The brand's corporate journey is marked by significant shifts in ownership and purpose. Established in June 2009 by the 'Meeting David Wilson' documentary creators, this NBC News branch moved to MSNBC in 2013 before returning to its original owners during 2014. In 2016, Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios acquired the site, eventually leading to the 2021 relaunch of a television network as TheGrio.TV.
The television network's evolution is particularly complex. It began as 'Light TV' in 2016, an inspirational network launched by Mark Burnett and Roma Downey. While intended to feature original content from LightWorkers, it primarily aired library content and low-cost programming. In late 2020, it was sold to the Allen Media Group and rebranded as TheGrio.TV on January 15, 2021. This transition included the merger of the bankrupt Black News Channel's assets in 2022, though subsequent news programming faced contractual limitations by the 2024 presidential election.
Today, the brand maintains a presence across digital, cable, and FAST channels. Although its digital subchannel ceased on 1 January 2025, cable viewers can still watch a sequence of Black comedies produced between the 1970s and 1990s. The network's programming now includes a mix of court shows, sports coverage of HBCUs, and various syndicated series.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: TheGrio
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