UPDATE-Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs individual television networks have gained support from juggernaut Comcast Corporations under an agreement the corporation has with the FCC and the Department of Justice to diversify its offerings.
Magic, who became an efficacious business mogul since retiring from basketball, is preparing to forge ahead with Aspire, a 24-hour channel with a focus on “positive, uplifting images of African-Americans.”
“This is so exciting for me, I’m pinching myself,” Johnson said via The Tennessean. “This is big for myself, for the African-American community and the African-American creative community. I wanted a vehicle to show positive images and to have stories written, produced and directed by African-Americans for our community. Aspire – that’s how I’ve been leading my life.”
Magic Johnson’s Network Aspire will include performing arts, faith-based shows, film, TV, music and comedy, with a combination of acquired projects and original programming that can facilitate blacks who have struggled to find work in mainstream Hollywood.
Diddy’s network, Revolt, will concentrate on music and pop culture, hence his enduring and successful span within the music industry. The rapper turned mogul’s network will launch sometime next year after the hall-of-famer’s channel launch.
Comcast cable suppliers account for 22.3 million households in the nation—one-fifth of all TV’s in the United States, so who they decide to back influences smaller cable providers. However, Magic and Diddy along with two other fledgling channels including Robert Rodriguez will have to the tough task of convincing viewers to tune in.
“In our conversations with the channels, we were very clear that the selection by Comcast wouldn’t guarantee their success, it would just give them a head start,” said David Jensen, a vice president of content acquisition for Comcast.
Johnson’s channel will launch on June 30 and no date for Diddy’s air launch.
In another update Magic Johnson is also working to breathe some new life into Soul Train following the unexpected death of its creator Don Cornelius. Here’s the skinny according to the Associated Press,
“Soul Train Holdings LLC, the entity created by NBA legend and entrepreneur Earvin “Magic” Johnson when he bought the “Soul Train” library and brand last year, has a lot of ideas. Among them are bringing a “Soul Train” variety show back to television, said CEO Kenard Gibbs. There have been discussions with writers about taking “Soul Train” to Broadway, Gibbs said, and also in the works are film opportunities, potential book deals and, in 2013, the first “Soul Train” cruise.”
“The brand itself, we believe, has far, far other entertainment-based tentacles we can stretch,” Gibbs added.
Magic Johnson certainly has his hands full!
