Aspire TV (American TV network) explained

Aspire
Picture Format:	1080i HDTV (downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)
Owner:	Magic Johnson Enterprises
Country:	United States
Area:	United States
Headquarters:	Atlanta, Georgia
Former Names:	Aspire

Aspire TV is an American pay television channel targeting African Americans. The network was launched by Magic Johnson on June 27, 2012.

History

As part of its arrangement to acquire a minority interest in NBCUniversal, Comcast Corporation committed to carry several minority-owned channels.^[1] The arrangement followed pressure led by Maxine Waters in congressional hearings.^[2] In April 2011, Comcast solicited proposals for minority-owned networks.^[3] In February 2012, Comcast announced distribution arrangements for four networks, including Aspire.^[4] The four announced networks and six forthcoming stations were chosen from among an excess of 100 proposals to begin airing by 2020.

Programming

Aspire TV holds the broadcast rights to a selection of CIAA college football games involving historically black colleges and universities.

Current

• 6 Minutes To Glory: The HBCU Band Experience
• The Bernie Mac Show
• Chaos to Calm
• City Eats: Atlanta
• Downright Delicious with Yo-Yo
• G. Garvin Live
• HBCU 101
• Keasha's Perfect Dress
• Money Moves
• My Wife and Kids
• The Steve Harvey Show
• Twisted Dish
• Unboxed with Nikki Chu
• Urban Indie Film Block
• Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Former

• Black College Quiz
• The Bill Cosby Show
• Butter+Brown
• The Flip Wilson Show
• The Graduates ATL
• The Hughleys
• In Living Color
• In the House
• I Spy
• Julia
• Just Angela
• Lincoln Heights
• The Mod Squad
• Room 222
• Side by Side With Malika & Khadijah
• Soul Food
• Soul Train
• World Wide Nate: African Adventures

See also

• BET – American basic cable and satellite channel currently owned by Paramount, which launched in 1980 as the first television network devoted to programming targeting African-Americans.
  • BET Her – spinoff/sister network targeting African-American women.
• Bounce TV – American digital multicast network owned by E. W. Scripps Company.
• TheGrio – American digital multicast/cable network owned by Allen Media Group
• TV One – Cable and satellite network targeting African-Americans, owned by Urban One.
  • Cleo TV – Spinoff/sister network targeting African-American women.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Hip Hop Mogul to Unveil Plan for Music Cable Channel. February 24, 2012. February 20, 2012. The New York Times. Stelter, Brian.
2. Web site: Laker legend to launch a TV network:Magic Johnson's channel, Aspire, will be carried by Comcast and focus on blacks. February 24, 2012. February 21, 2012. Los Angeles Times. Braxton, Greg and Meg James.
3. Web site: Comcast Begins Effort to Launch 10 Independent Networks. February 24, 2012. April 4, 2011. Comcast. Jensen, David.
4. Web site: Comcast to Launch Networks Backed by Sean Combs, Magic Johnson and Robert Rodriguez. February 24, 2012. February 21, 2012. The Hollywood Reporter. Guthrie, Marisa.