UMC to Launch Original Drama Series in March

Video streaming service UMC (Urban Movie Channel) will debut its latest original drama series, 5th Ward, on March 2, the company said.

The series depicts the life and struggles of residents from Houston’s 5th Ward community, according to company officials. Grammy-winning artist Mya (Chicago) leads an ensable cast that includes Carl Anthony Payne (The Game), Thomas “Nephew Tommy” Miles (Think Like a Man), Gary Sturgis (Daddy’s Little Girls), Corr Kendricks (Showtime’s The Chi, Fox's Empire), Chris O’ Neal (Greenhouse Academy) and Christopher Jefferson (Boy Bye).

UMC will stream the six-epispode series on a weekly basis beginning March 2, said officials of the African-American targeted streaming service.

The service also announced it will premiere on Friday (Feb. 23) the music documentary I Am The Blues, which takes a nostalgic musical tour of the juke joints, backroads and church halls of the Mississippi Delta.

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.