Byron Allen acquires 11 television stations for $290 million

Byron Allen, founder and CEO of theGrio‘s parent company Entertainment Studios, is steadily adding on to his already impressive portfolio with his latest purchase of 11 television stations from USA Television.  The $290 million deal has the entertainment mogul acquiring the small-market network affiliates, which are spread out all over the country.

“I have known Byron Allen for decades and we are delighted that these stations will now be part of his dynamic company, and that Heartland management will continue to guide them,” said USA Television CEO Robert S. Prather, Jr. “These stations are dedicated to their local communities and this transaction will enable them to become even stronger on both their broadcast and digital platforms.”

“Bob Prather is an excellent broadcaster and he has done a brilliant job of assembling a stellar management team to operate these very strong network affiliate broadcast stations,” said Allen. “This is another milestone for our company, as we have now agreed to purchase our second broadcast network affiliate station group within the past three months, and continue to aggressively look for other opportunities to grow our global media company through strategic acquisitions.”

READ MORE: Killer Mike demands Black people stand with Byron Allen in discrimination fight against Comcast going to the Supreme Court

Bayou City Broadcasting

Earlier this summer, Byron Allen was making major mogul moves once again by successfully purchasing Bayou City Broadcasting Evansville, Inc., and Bayou City Broadcasting Lafayette, Inc. for $165 million.

The purchase, which has now formally received approval from the FCC, includes WEVV (CBS) and WEEV (Fox) both based in Evansville, Indiana and KLAF (NBC) and KADN (Fox) which are based in Lafayette, Louisiana, giving Allen the opportunity to reach a broader audience in these areas.

The Bayou City Broadcasting entities are now a welcomed part of Allen’s Entertainment Studios, Inc., one of the largest independent producers and distributors of film and television with 43 shows currently on the air, and nine 24-hour HD television networks now serving nearly 160 million subscribers. One of those networks is ever popular The Weather Channel and its streaming service Local Now.

READ MORE: Byron Allen reveals why his award from LA Urban League is especially personal during inspiring acceptance speech

 

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Mike Tyson’s weed farm to boost economy on Caribbean islands

Newly minted Cannabis connoisseur, Mike Tyson, is planning to bring his booming weed business to the Caribbean.

—Beyond the Smoke: Three ways to invest in cannabis and grab a piece of the $10 billion industry—

Tyson, who owns a 400-acre marijuana resort in California, plans to help boost tourism in Antigua and Barbuda by opening a cannabis farm and creating an annual cannabis conference, The Daily Mail reports.

“I thought about how much good I could do by helping people with cannabis. It was a no-brainer,” Tyson told Cannabis Tech Today about his latest enterprise.

Tyson sat down with Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda to discuss his business proposals.

“It will be good for the country and will bring in much-needed funds to help your economy,” Tyson told news reporters of his efforts in Antigua and Barbuda. The islands suffered from two hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 and the former boxer believes that the cannabis industry can help with recovery efforts.

“[The conference] will be like the Davos of cannabis; it will take place on an annual basis and will bring stakeholders from throughout the globe for that matter right here on Antigua to discuss various opportunities within the industry,” said Prime Minister Browne.

“So, we are very excited about that. They are also interested in establishing a hotel accommodation property and they will be looking at a number of sites to determine suitability.”

—Black woman business owner to open first luxury cannabis lounge in Southern California—

Tyson broke ground and opened a 400-plus acre Tyson Ranch which aims to produce high quality products including THC and CBD as well as supporting research on the health benefits of marijuana.

The ranch also includes acres that will be used for the cultivation of marijuana by “master growers,” and features facilities to train growers and those interested in the industry. In addition, the ranch offers an “edibles factory,” an amphitheater and areas for “glamping,” according to The Washington Post.

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Seems Like He's Not Ready For Jail: Lawyer Complains R. Kelly Can Only Visit One of His Girlfriends at a Time

Robert “R.” Kelly wants out of jail. Naturally.

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Grammy Award-Winning Artist Louie 'Original Don Dada' Rankin, of Belly and Shottas, Dies in Car Crash

Louie Rankin, the Jamaican dancehall singer (known as the “Original Don Dada”) and film actor has died, following a tragic car crash in Ontario, Canada, TMZ reports. Rankin was a Jamaican native who grew up in Saint Thomas Parish and East Kingston and was living in Toronto at the time of his death.

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Lauren London shares inspiring message about surviving loss

Lauren London appealed to her fans that all is not lost as she continues to grieve the untimely death of her love, Nipsey Hussle.

—LAPD praised Nipsey Hussle as a peacemaker while investigating his Marathon Clothing store at the same time—

As seasons change and people move on, London, who shares a three-year-old son with Hussle, posted an inspiring message about the slain rapper to encourage fans that she is still standing tall in the midst of having her life shattered to pieces.

“If you feel like you’re losing everything, remember that trees lose their leaves every year and they still stand tall and wait for better days to come,” she wrote in an Instagram post.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

🙏🏽🏁

A post shared by Lauren London (@laurenlondon) on Sep 28, 2019 at 4:22pm PDT

London and Hussle were joined at the hip for the past six years as a couple. Hussle, 33, whose real name is Ermias Davidson Asghedom was shot and killed March 31 after an argument with another individual. The alleged gunman, Eric Holder has been charged in his murder. Hussle was working with the LAPD to seek an end to gang violence before he was gunned down allegedly by Eric Holder who was charged with his killing.

Since his death, the tributes to Hussle have poured in and his legacy in fact does continue.

In August, London long-time partner, London has announced that a monument in his honor is being erected outside his Marathon Clothing store.

—Is Dwayne Johnson returning to his wrestling roots?—

London took to Instagram to alert his fans that construction has commenced in the parking lot of the Marathon store on Slauson Ave and barriers were put up where a tower will stand for Hussle, Yahoo reports.

BET also recognized Hussle at its 2019 ceremony with the Humanitarian Award that London accepted.

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