Verizon Launches Afrotainment Channels

Verizon has reached a carriage deal with the Afrotainment Family of Channels to distribute two multicultural channels, the parties said Thursday.

Verizon’s Fios TV will add Afrotainment HD, which features general entertainment programming targeted to African-Americans, and African Box Office, featuring Afro-Caribbean movies, to its linear cable lineup as well as its FiOS Mobile App, said network officials.

"Our ever-expanding multicultural black programming lineup and library gives customers a front seat to all of the best multicultural Black entertainment available, with the convenience of watching what they want, whenever they want and where they want." said Terry Denson, vice president - FiOS TV content and programming in a statement.  “And it’s all delivered over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network, giving our subscribers unparalleled picture quality and programming choices for all their TV viewing."

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.