Byron Allen

Byron Allen is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Allen Media Group, a media conglomerate that owns and operates a variety of television networks, stations, and channels. He started his media career in 1993 with Entertainment Studios Inc., formerly CF Entertainment, which produced and distributed syndicated TV shows for broadcast stations. Allen is the first TV entrepreneur to launch and own a group of 24-hour digital cable and satellite channels at the same time.

In 2018, he expanded his media empire by buying the Weather Channel for about $300 million. He also acquired 27 local TV stations affiliated with ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox, as well as the Black News Channel, which he integrated into TheGrio.TV. His cable network portfolio includes ten 24-hour HD networks, such as JusticeCentral.TV, Pets.TV, Cars.TV, Comedy.TV, ES.TV, Recipe.TV, MyDestination.TV, Automotive.TV, Weather Channel and Weather Channel En Espanol. These networks offer a combination of original and syndicated programming for diverse audiences. 

Allen Media Group is also the largest independent producer and distributor of first-run syndicated TV programming in the world. It provides 32 TV series to independent stations for free, in exchange for half of the ad time per episode. Allen has a cost-efficient approach to producing and distributing TV content. He said in a 2013 interview with BusinessWeek.com: "We have a factory mentality. We focus on cost, cost, cost, and driving it down, because we know the more we spend, the higher the rating has to be. I think of us as the Walmart of television."

With a real estate portfolio worth an estimated $500 million, Mr. Allen is one of the most successful African American property owners in the US. He has properties in various locations, such as Aspen, Maui, Los Angeles, and New York City. In 2022, he bought two neighboring houses in Beverly Hills, California for $22 million, and a Malibu estate for $100 million. The latter was a historic deal, as it was the most expensive home purchase by an African American in the US. 

Mr. Allen is also a founder of The National Association of African American-Owned Media (NAAAOM). He attended the University of Southern California.