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Black Ownership and Storytelling: 17 Black-Owned Streamers to Support

Updated*

When it comes to entertainment, authentic Black ownership and storytelling remain crucial in preserving cultural narratives and amplifying diverse voices. Many platforms often perceived as Black-owned have been acquired by larger corporations. However, there are many streaming services that remain truly Black-owned, dedicated to showcasing authentic Black stories and creators.

Here’s a breakdown of 16 Black-owned streaming platforms to explore and support.


Mansa TV

  • Founder(s): David Oyelowo, Nate Parker, Chiké Okonkwo, and Zak Tanjeloff
  • Description: Free platform featuring curated Black films, series, and stories from the African diaspora.
  • Cost: Free (ad-supported).
  • Website: mansatv.com

KweliTV

  • Founder: DeShuna Spencer
  • Description: Global Black stories through films, documentaries, and series from creators across Africa, the Caribbean, and the U.S.
  • Cost: $5.99/month or $49.99/year.
  • Website: kwelitv.com

KevOnStage Studios

*Update: When speaking on KevOnStage Studios, we’re referencing his Patreon platform. 

  • Founder: Kevin Fredericks
  • Description: Comedy specials, sketches, and shows for Black audiences.
  • Cost: beginning at $5 a month.
  • Website: kevonstage.com

TV One

  • Founder: Cathy Hughes (via Urban One, Inc.)
  • Description: Programming that centers Black culture, featuring documentaries, series, and films.
  • Cost: Free with cable subscription or streaming app access.
  • Website: tvone.tv

Cleo TV

  • Founder: Cathy Hughes (via Urban One, Inc.)
  • Description: A lifestyle network focusing on food, travel, and culture for Black women.
  • Cost: Free with cable subscription or streaming app access.
  • Website: mycleo.tv

Black Oak TV

  • Founder(s): Uzo Ometu
  • Description: A premium service featuring Black-focused scripted series and films.
  • Cost: $4.99/month
  • Website: blackoak.tv

In The Black Network

  • Founder: James DuBose
  • Description: Original content, documentaries, and films celebrating Black experiences.
  • Cost: Starting at $5.99/month.
  • Website: intheblacknetwork.com

For Us By Us Network

  • Founder(s): J. Alexander Martin and Roberto “Rush” Evans
  • Description: A network celebrating Black culture through original series, films, and documentaries.
  • Cost: Free with ads; subscription plans vary.
  • Website: For Us By Us Network

Afrotainment

  • Founder: Yves Bollanga
  • Description: African-inspired content, including movies, series, and music videos.
  • Cost: Free with ads; subscription plans vary.
  • Website: afrotainment.us

Black and Sexy TV

  • Founder(s): Numa Perrier, Dennis Dortch, Brian Ali Harding, and Jeanine Daniels
  • Description: Innovative content for Black Millennials, blending romance, comedy, and drama.
  • Cost: $6.99/month.
  • Website: blackandsexy.tv

BLKFAM

  • Founder: Larry Adams
  • Description: A platform celebrating Black family stories through films and series.
  • Cost: Free with ads; premium plans available.
  • Website: blkfam.com

Slay TV

  • Founder: Sean Torrington
  • Description: Celebrating queer Black culture with original series, documentaries, and films.
  • Cost: $5.99/month or $59.99/year.
  • Website: slaytv.com

Afroland TV

  • Founder: Michael Maponga
  • Description: A platform for Pan-African content, featuring Nollywood films, series, and documentaries.
  • Cost: Free (ad-supported).
  • Website: afrolandtv.com

KeyTV

  • Founder: Keke Palmer
  • Description: A platform by entertainer Keke Palmer that highlights underrepresented voices through scripted series, talk shows, and documentaries.
  • Cost: Free (ad-supported).
  • Website: keytvnetwork.com

Zeus Network

I was on the fence on including Zeus but it is Black-owned and they are also instrumental in helping Jonathan Major’s shelved film, Magazine Dreams and they have other programming than what they are highly known for.

  • Founder: Lemuel Plummer
  • Description: Known for unscripted content starring viral Black creators.
  • Cost: $5.99/month or $59.99/year.
  • Website: thezeusnetwork.com

Not Truly Black-Owned: Streaming Platforms That Promote Black and Diverse Content

While not Black-owned, several streaming platforms are committed to amplifying Black and diverse stories. These services play a vital role in promoting representation, showcasing Black creators, and providing a space for narratives that might not otherwise reach mainstream audiences. Their dedication to inclusive content has brought stories of the Black experience and global diversity to viewers worldwide.

Below is a list of streaming platforms that, while not Black-owned, have made significant contributions to the representation of Black and diverse voices in media.

 

1. BET/BET Plus

  • Founder: Robert L. Johnson (BET)
  • Description: A powerhouse for Black entertainment featuring movies, TV shows, and specials. BET Plus, a subscription-based platform, offers an expanded library of exclusive content.
  • Ownership: Acquired by Viacom in 2001.
  • Website: bet.com

2. AllBLK

  • Founder: Robert L. Johnson (as UMC, Urban Movie Channel)
  • Description: A platform for Black TV shows, films, and original series, rebranded as AllBLK to focus on modern, inclusive storytelling.
  • Ownership: Acquired by AMC Networks in 2020 through its purchase of RLJ Entertainment.
  • Website: allblk.tv

3. Bounce TV and Brown Sugar TV

  • Founder: Martin Luther King III and Andrew Young (Bounce TV)
  • Description: Bounce TV, a free over-the-air network, and Brown Sugar TV, its streaming arm, focus on classic and contemporary Black films and series.
  • Ownership: Acquired by Scripps Networks in 2017.
  • Website: bouncetv.com

4. 365BLK

  • Founder(s): Not publicly listed.
  • Description: Promotes Black stories, series, and films that celebrate culture and diversity.
  • Ownership: Part of a larger corporation; not Black-owned.
  • Website: 365blk.com

5. OWN TV

  • Founder: Oprah Winfrey
  • Description: Offers scripted and unscripted shows focusing on inspirational and Black-centric storytelling.
  • Ownership: Co-owned by Oprah Winfrey and Discovery, Inc. (now Warner Bros. Discovery).
  • Website: oprah.com/own

6. UrbanFlix TV

  • Founder(s): Not publicly listed.
  • Description: A streaming service featuring diverse stories and Black-centered films and series.
  • Ownership: Not Black-owned.
  • Website: urbanflix.com

7. AspireTV

  • Founder: Magic Johnson
  • Description: Highlights Black lifestyle, culture, and entertainment with series, movies, and documentaries.
  • Ownership: Magic Johnson sold his majority stake in the network; not fully Black-owned.
  • Website: aspire.tv

These platforms continue to provide vital representation in media, but ownership matters. Supporting truly Black-owned platforms ensures that economic power stays within the community while amplifying authentic stories and creators.

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