Revolt (TV network)

History

Background

As part of its arrangement to acquire a minority interest in NBCUniversal, Comcast committed to carry several minority-owned networks. The arrangement followed pressure led by Maxine Waters in congressional hearings. In April 2011, Comcast solicited proposals for minority-owned networks.

In February 2012, Comcast announced distribution arrangements for four networks, including Revolt. The four announced networks and six forthcoming stations were being chosen from among in excess of 100 proposals to begin airing by 2020. On October 1, 2013, Revolt announced that it would debut in New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago on October 21.

Expansion

AT&T U-verse added the SD feed on July 27, 2015, and the HD feed on November 24, 2015; DirecTV would add the feed on December 24, 2015.

On October 18, 2019, Ziggo announced that it would launch a Netherlands version of Revolt on November 1, 2019, in-collaboration with Dutch record label TopNotch, and AreaMedia. Its programming would consist of interviews, news, hip-hop documentaries, live events, and music videos. During its first months of broadcast, the US version of the channel would be shown on a 6-hour delay; from January 2020, Dutch programmes would be broadcast. The Dutch version was eventually closed on February 1, 2021.

In Canada, Revolt would be part of the launch lineup of Live TV service RiverTV on June 4, 2020.

Departure of Combs; employee ownership

On November 28, 2023, Combs said he would take a leave of absence amidst sexual assault lawsuits; At the time, Combs was not involved with Revolt's day-to-day operations.

On June 4, 2024, Revolt revealed that “Shares held by the company’s former chair have been fully redeemed and retired”, and that they have transferred majority ownership to its employees in order to keep the outlet Black-owned. CEO Detavio Samuels, who joined in 2020, spoke to Billboard in an interview expressing hope that “more CEOs embrace and embody this idea of linked prosperity: if the company wins, every single person wins. We’re trying to set an industry standard where this type of thing becomes the norm.”

Revolt Films

Revolt Films is a separate entity from the network, founded before its launch, but using the same name for brand association. It specializes in developing, producing, and financing films and original television content.

• Lawless (2012; one year before the network launched; its first full-length feature film).
• Dope (2015)

Notes

References

1. "On TV - REVOLT".
2. "Revolt HDTV - TV Listings Guide". [[On TV Tonight]].
3. (July 23, 2021). "Detavio Samuels on REVOLT, Digital and Cable Strategy, The Crew League, Black-owned Media, and Working with Diddy". Trapital.
4. Stelter, Brian. (February 20, 2012). "Hip Hop Mogul to Unveil Plan for Music Cable Channel". [[The New York Times]].
5. Braxton, Greg and Meg James. (February 21, 2012). "Laker legend to launch a TV network:Magic Johnson's channel, Aspire, will be carried by Comcast and focus on blacks". [[Los Angeles Times]].
6. Jensen, David. (April 4, 2011). "Comcast Begins Effort to Launch 10 Independent Networks". [[Comcast]].
7. Guthrie, Marisa. (February 21, 2012). "Comcast to Launch Networks Backed by Sean Combs, Magic Johnson and Robert Rodriguez". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
8. (February 21, 2012). "Comcast to start new minority-owned cable channels".
9. Hahn, Bryan. (October 1, 2013). "Prepare Yourself. Revolt TV Hits All Platforms In LA, NY, Chicago October 21st". [[The Source (magazine).
10. [http://www.streetinsider.com/Corporate+News/REVOLT+TV+Enters+Distribution+Deal+With+DIRECTV+%28T%29/11176844.html REVOLT TV Enters Distribution Deal With DIRECTV] ''Street Insider'', December 24, 2015
11. de Jong, David. (18 October 2019). "Hiphopzender Revolt start met Nederlandse versie". NederlandsMediaNieuws.nl.
12. rick70. (18 October 2019). "Nieuw: REVOLT TV en andere wijzigingen per 1 november bij Ziggo".
13. (18 October 2019). "Ziggo voegt Revolt toe aan digitale televisiepakket". MediaMagazine.nl.
14. Kriek, Jarco. (30 December 2020). "Ziggo en KPN zenderaanbod verschraalt verder: Einde Revolt TV HD". TotaalTV.nl.
15. "Vmedia Launches RiverTV – Canada's First Live And On Demand Streaming TV Bundle!".
16. Segarra, Edward. (November 28, 2023). "Sean 'Diddy' Combs temporarily steps down as chairman of Revolt following sexual assault lawsuits". USA Today.
17. (June 4, 2024). "Following Diddy's Exit, Revolt Employees Now Become The Company's Largest Shareholder Group - AfroTech". AfroTech.
18. "REVOLT announces new ownership: Its employees".
19. (June 4, 2024). "REVOLT CEO Detavio Samuels on Its Employee-Led, Post-Diddy Future". [[Billboard (magazine).
20. Brown, Taiwan. (August 26, 2012). "Revolt Films Presents Lawless".
21. Block, Alex Ben. (October 21, 2013). "Sean 'Diddy' Combs Betting Big on Revolt TV".
22. Harvey, Dennis. (January 24, 2015). "Sundance Film Review: 'Dope'". [[Variety (magazine).