Exclusive: ESPN Leads With 11 ‘Vision’ Nods

ESPN scored an industry-high 11 2015 NAMIC Vision Award nominations as the diversity organization looks to honor the best multicultural-targeted content on television and the Web.

Kids’ network Nickelodeon drew 10 nominations for the 21st annual awards, which recognizes original content created for television and digital media platforms that depict and best reflect the lives, spirit and contributions of people of color. HBO was third with nine.

As the landscape of the viewing audience becomes more ethnically and culturally diverse through shifting demographics and the expansion of content distribution, the creation and green lighting of diverse original content is an imperative,” National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications CEO Eglon Simons said. “NAMIC National, in partnership with NAMIC-Southern California, is pleased to continue our tradition of recognizing networks, talent and content creators for their achievements in programming diversity, and we extend sincere thanks to all of those within the industry that continue to support this awards initiative.”

Winners of the Vision Awards will be announced in May through a special Vision Awards microsite at NAMIC.com.

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.