Posts made in February 2019

The Four-Part Series Will Debut On SHOWTIME This Spring

NEW YORK – January 25, 2019 – Ahead of its Sundance Film Festival premiere this coming Monday, SHOWTIME has released the official trailer for WU-TANG CLAN: OF MICS AND MEN, the four-part limited docuseries from filmmaker Sacha Jenkins (BURN MOTHERF*CKER, BURN!).The full series will air on SHOWTIME later this spring. WU-TANG CLAN: OF MICS AND MEN is a Mass Appeal production in association with Endeavor Content. Peter J. Scalettar, Peter Bittenbender and Chris Gary serve as executive producers. To watch and share the trailer for WU-TANG CLAN: OF MICS AND MEN, go to:

https://youtu.be/GHFxvsqMZMg.

As the group marks the 25th anniversary of their breakout debut album Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), the series looks back on their career, combining intimate and reflective interviews from each of the nine living members with never-before-seen archival footage and performances. The series follows the founding members – RZA, GZA, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon the Chef, U-God, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Masta Killa and Cappadonna – many of whom were childhood friends in the hardscrabble world of ’70s and ’80s Staten Island and Brooklyn. Their ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit brought them together to overcome the poverty, violence and oppression of their neighborhoods. But it was music and their shared lyrical genius that allowed them to form the most recognized musical movement in the world, all while walking the treacherous tightrope that links business with brotherhood.

Jenkins’ relationship with the group dates back to the early ’90s when, as a co-founding publisher of one of hip-hop’s first zines, Beat Down, he gave the group its first cover. In 2013, Jenkins re-launched Mass Appeal as a premium entertainment company where he serves as its Chief Creative Officer. WU-TANG CLAN: OF MICS AND MEN marks a homecoming to Sundance for Jenkins, where his feature directorial debut Fresh Dressed premiered in 2015. Since then Jenkins has directed BURN MOTHERF*CKER, BURN! and WORD IS BOND for SHOWTIME, as well as Rapture.

SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS, and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Amazon, Apple®, Google, LG Smart TVs, Oculus Go, Roku®, Samsung Smart TVs and Xbox One. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Amazon’s Prime Video Channels, DirecTV Now, FuboTV, Hulu, Sling TV, Sony PlayStation™ Vue, and YouTube TV or directly at www.showtime.com.

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FOLLOWING BEST PICTURE OSCAR® WIN FOR “GREEN BOOK,” SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL PREMIERES DOCUMENTARY EXPLORING

SPECIAL AIRS TONIGHT AT 8 PM ET/PT

Fresh on the heels of the “Green Book” Best Picture win at last night’s Academy Awards, Smithsonian Channel is set to premiere the real story of The Negro Motorist Green Book during the Jim Crow era and beyond. THE GREEN BOOK: GUIDE TO FREEDOM tells the story of Victor H. Green’s eponymously named travel guide that allowed African Americans to safely tour the country during a time of severe institutionalized racism. Clips from the documentary are available to download for editorial use below, and filmmaker Yoruba Richen is available for interviews.

Trailer: https://appbox.sho.com/smqhqis

The Origin of the Green Book: https://appbox.sho.com/sm695zx8nq

An Attack on Nat King Cole: https://appbox.sho.com/smfw3ddmp

Legendary Black Resort Idlewild: https://appbox.sho.com/smyets3v

Civil Rights Hero AG Gaston: https://appbox.sho.com/sm9gy5wm9

New Episodes of Last Call and 2019 Bounce Trumpet Awards Also Streaming

ATLANTA (Feb. 25, 2019) – It’s “Ladies Night” on Brown Sugar as the popular subscription video on demand service from Bounce will be showcasing a number of fearless females in honor of Women’s History Month in March.

Brown Sugar’s Women’s History Month highlights include the music specials Beyoncé: On Top and Rihanna: No Regrets, Tamara Dobson as Cleopatra Jones, Cicely Tyson starring in A Woman Called Moses, Sarafina! featuring Whoopi Goldberg and more.

New episodes of the Bounce original comedy series Last Call will be streaming on the app in March, as well as the 2019 Bounce Trumpet Awards, hosted by NAACP Image ® Award-winning actress Wendy Raquel Robinson and GRAMMY® Award-nominated R&B singer Tank and featuring performances by GRAMMY® winners Ashanti and India.Arie, rappers Da Brat, Lil’ Mama, and Yo Yo and R&B singer Keyshia Cole.

Debuting on Brown Sugar in March is Good Hair, the 2009 documentary produced and hosted by Chris Rock who sets out to explore the importance of hair in black culture. The popular comedian interviews celebrities such as Nia Long, Eve, Maya Angelou and Raven Symone and visits hair salons, stylist competitions and even an Indian temple. Also new next month is the indie thriller He Watches Over Me starring Golden Brooks (Girlfriends) and Thomas Mikal Ford (Martin). Returning titles include Blue Hill Avenue (Allen Payne, Richard Lawson), Shaquille O’Neal Presents: All Star Comedy Jam – Live from Orlando(Jay Pharaoh, Lil’ Duval, Gary Owen) and Cry, the Beloved Country (James Earl Jones).

Viewers can watch these films and countless others on Brown Sugar along with complete seasons of top-rated Bounce originals such as Saints & Sinners, Family Time, In The Cut and more.

Brown Sugar is available on Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, Comcast Xfinity X1, Amazon Channels, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Kindle, Android and Apple smartphones and tablets and web browsers via BrownSugar.com. There is a free 7-day initial trial period for subscribers with a retail price of $3.99/month thereafter. Visit www.BrownSugar.com for more information.

Brown Sugar is a part of The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP).

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Hit Shows to be Seen Weeknights Back-to-Back Starting Mon. Feb. 18, Moesha 7-8:00 p.m. (ET), The Game 8-9:00 p.m. (ET)

ATLANTA (Feb. 14, 2019) – Bounce has licensed the broadcast television rights to the popular and NAACP Image Award-winning series Moesha and The Game in a multi-year agreement with CBS Television Distribution.

Bounce lands all six seasons (127 episodes) of Moesha and all nine seasons (147 episodes) of The Game and will air the shows back-to-back weeknights with Moesha from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. and The Game between 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. starting Mon. Feb. 18 (all times Eastern).

Moesha, one of the first sitcoms to center around an African-American teenage girl, stars R&B superstar Brandy Norwood as Moesha Mitchell, who’s juggling school, friendships and romance in the Leimert Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. After previously being the female head of the household, Moesha must learn to love and trust her father’s new wife while doing her best to be the “glue” that helps hold her family together. Moesha stars Sheryl Lee Ralph, Countess Vaughn, Shar Jackson, William Allen Young, Marcus T. Paulk, Ray J, Lamont Bentley and Yvette Wilson. The series aired on UPN from 1996 until 2001.

The Game follows the wives and girlfriends of pro football players and the power plays they use to get their guys the best agents, the best endorsements, the best merchandising deals – even the “in” charity. Tia Mowry stars as Melanie Barnett whose boyfriend, Derwin (Pooch Hall), is the new third-string wide receiver for the San Diego Sabers. As she deals with egos, groupies and image consultants, Melanie is finding out how “the game” is played among the women behind the athletes. Wendy Raquel Robinson, Hosea Chanchez, Coby Bell, and Brittany Daniel round out the cast. The series, created by Mara Brock Akil, was a spin-off of the long-running hit series Girlfriends. It premiered on The CW in 2006 for three seasons and then moved to BET, where it set cable television ratings records.

Bounce (@BounceTV) airs on the broadcast signals of local television stations and corresponding cable carriage and features a programming mix of original and off-network series, theatrical motion pictures, specials, live sports, and more. Bounce has grown to be available in more than 109 million homes across the United States and 97% of all African-American (AA) television homes, including all the top AA television markets. Bounce is part of The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP)

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First Ever Late-Night Talk Show On SHOWTIME® To Premiere February 21 At 11 PM ET/PT

NEW YORK – February 13, 2019 – Desus Nice and The Kid Mero will welcome fellow Bronx native Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) as the first guest in studio on their new SHOWTIME weekly half-hour late-night talk show, DESUS & MERO. The series will premiere on Thursday, February 21 at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT and air on Thursday nights from New York City. In the premiere episode, the duo will also visit the Congresswoman’s new offices in D.C. determined to make her feel at home, as well as give their take on the day’s hot topics in their signature style in front of a small live studio audience. Upcoming guests on DESUS & MERO will include John Legend, Vince Staples, Ben Stiller, Issa Rae, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Pusha T. To watch and share the announcement video, go to: https://youtu.be/CXaxBWSvrc4.

Longtime acquaintances Desus Nice (Daniel Baker) and The Kid Mero (Joel Martinez) reconnected online in the early days of Twitter, where they unleashed their potent personalities and found themselves kindred spirits. That led to stints on Complex and MTV, the Bodega Boys podcast, and a daily late-night show on Viceland, developing a feverish following. The quick-witted duo brings a distinct voice to late night, delivering smart and comedic commentary on any and all topics, that keeps audiences buzzing. Desus and Mero continue to host their Bodega Boys podcast. Produced for SHOWTIME by JAX Media, DESUS & MERO will be executive produced by Desus Nice, The Kid Mero, Lilly Burns, Tony Hernandez and Victor Lopez.

SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS, and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Amazon, Apple®, Google, LG Smart TVs, Oculus Go, Roku®, Samsung Smart TVs and Xbox One. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Amazon’s Prime Video Channels, DirecTV Now, FuboTV, Hulu, Sling TV, Sony PlayStation™ Vue, and YouTube TV or directly at www.showtime.com.

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Emmy® Winner Lena Waithe Receives Two Writing Nods Jason Mitchell, Alex R. Hibbert Of THE CHI And Sanaa Lathan Of THE AFFAIR Tapped In Acting Categories
SHUT UP AND DRIBBLE Nominated As Outstanding Television Documentary

LOS ANGELES – February 13, 2019 – SHOWTIME has been nominated for seven NAACP Image Awards, led by five for the network’s hit drama, THE CHI – including Outstanding Drama Series. THE CHI received more nominations than any other cable drama and tied for most nominations among dramas overall. Series creator and executive producer Lena Waithe earned a solo NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series and shared in another with Dime Davis. SHOWTIME also received three acting nominations for Jason Mitchell and Alex R. Hibbert of THE CHI and Sanaa Lathan of THE AFFAIR. In addition, SHUT UP AND DRIBBLE, executive produced by LeBron James, was nominated for Outstanding Documentary (Television).

The five nominations for THE CHI represent the latest accolades for a program that premiered in 2018 as the biggest launch for a SHOWTIME drama series in two years and continued to add tremendous growth in the second half of the season, with the finale outperforming the premiere by 64 percent. Produced entirely in its namesake city with Waithe as executive producer, THE CHI is a timely coming-of-age story that explores the humanity behind the headlines sensationalizing the South Side of Chicago. THE CHI returns for its second season on SHOWTIME beginning April 7 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

In addition to Outstanding Drama Series, THE CHI received two writing nominations. Waithe was nominated for writing the pilot and also with Davis for the episode entitled “The Whistle.” THE CHI also boasts two acting nominations: Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for Mitchell, and Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited-Series) for Hibbert.

Lathan was nominated as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series after her first season appearing on the SHOWTIME hit drama THE AFFAIR. Lathan will return to the series when it premieres its fifth and final season on SHOWTIME later this year.

The nominated three-part docu-series SHUT UP AND DRIBBLE premiered on SHOWTIME in November. Narrated by acclaimed sports journalist and commentator Jemele Hill, SHUT UP AND DRIBBLE is a powerful inside look at the changing role of NBA athletes through the lens of our shifting cultural and political environment. Hill is among one of the many luminaries featured in the documentary that includes former NBA players, executives, sports journalists and pop-culture icons. SHUT UP AND DRIBBLE is directed by Gotham Chopra and executive produced by LeBron James, Maverick Carter and Chopra.

The NAACP will host this year’s annual Image Awards on Saturday, March 30 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Viewers can catch up on all nominated series and performances on air, on SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, on the stand-alone streaming service SHOWTIME®, or through the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS, and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Amazon, Apple®, Google, LG Smart TVs, Oculus Go, Roku®, Samsung Smart TVs and Xbox One. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Amazon’s Prime Video Channels, DirecTV Now, FuboTV, Hulu, Sling TV, Sony PlayStation™ Vue, and YouTube TV or directly at www.showtime.com.

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Documentary Exploring The Life Of The Legendary Soul Singer To Premiere This Friday, February 8 At 9 PM ET/PT

LOS ANGELES – February 5, 2019 – In celebration of Black History Month, SHOWTIME will premiere TEDDY PENDERGRASS: IF YOU DON’T KNOW ME, exploring the rise of legendary soul singer Teddy Pendergrass, the first male African American artist to record five consecutive platinum albums. Set against the backdrop of 1960s America, and his comeback after a life-changing accident, Pendergrass’ untold and ultimately inspiring story premieres this Friday, February 8 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Capturing Pendergrass’ rise to fame the film includes rarely before seen archival footage and features revealing interviews with his family, friends and colleagues alongside industry legends, Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. To watch and share a clip from TEDDY PENDERGRASS: IF YOU DON’T KNOW ME, go to: https://youtu.be/BQQHO9w7Giw.

The unforgettable voice of hits Don’t Leave Me This Way, If You Don’t Know Me By Now, Love T.K.O and Close the Door, Pendergrass’ career was struck by tragedy in 1982 when a car accident left him paralyzed at the age of just 31. He later made a triumphant comeback in front of a global audience of 1.9 billion at Live Aid.

TEDDY PENDERGRASS: IF YOU DON’T KNOW ME is a BBC Films, Wasted Talent, Storyvault Films and Tempo Entertainment production. The film is directed by Olivia Lichtenstein and executive produced by Shep Gordon, Daniel Markus, Allan Strahl, Michael Saunders, Katherine Saunders, Jo Bamford, Joe Oppenheimer and Michael Wood. Lichtenstein, Piers Tempest and Ian Flooks serve as producers.

SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS, and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Amazon, Apple®, Google, LG Smart TVs, Oculus Go, Roku®, Samsung Smart TVs and Xbox One. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Amazon’s Prime Video Channels, DirecTV Now, FuboTV, Hulu, Sling TV, Sony PlayStation™ Vue, and YouTube TV or directly at www.showtime.com.

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In the new six-episode Netflix original series, Grammy award-winning rapper and activist Killer Mike sets out to confront important social issues and misconceptions that impact the black community.

“Trigger Warning” is about examining cultural taboos and giving viewers the space to examine the “what ifs” and “why nots” that limit how some people move and operate in the world,” said Michael Render, aka Killer Mike.

“In six episodes, we explore the human condition using nontraditional approaches. Not everyone will agree with my methods (and some of what we’re putting out is fucking crazy), but this show is about embracing your freedom to challenge societal expectations and conformity. This show is if an anarchist determined the status quo.”

SXSW To Screen Work-In-Progress From Oscar® Winning Director Morgan Neville About Rubin And His Shangri-La Studio

LOS ANGELES – January 16, 2019 – Showtime Documentary Films today announced the latest project from Academy Award® and Grammy® winner Morgan Neville (Won’t You Be My Neighbor, 20 Feet From Stardom): SHANGRI-LA (wt), a docu-series about legendary music producer Rick Rubin that will air on SHOWTIME later this year. A work-in-progress will screen at SXSW in Austin in March. With Rubin’s infamous studio in Malibu as the backdrop, SHANGRI-LA pulls back the veil on Rubin and his work with musicians across every genre. The series is an all-access pass into Rubin’s creative process, giving viewers a taste of what it’s like to be produced by the music world’s most singular voice.

Rick Rubin’s mark on the music scene has been indelible since he co-founded Def Jam Records while enrolled at New York University in the ’80s, helping to launch the careers of Public Enemy, the Beastie Boys and Run-DMC under the label. As a music producer and record label head, Rubin has produced critically acclaimed and multi-platinum albums in almost every musical genre, with credits including Kanye West, Adele, Eminem, Black Sabbath, Jay-Z, Lady Gaga, Ed Sheeran, LL Cool J, Kid Rock, Slayer and The Avett Brothers. Rubin has won the Grammy Award for Producer of the Year multiple times, along with countless other Grammys for Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Country Album of the Year, Rock Album of the Year, Contemporary Folk Album and Best Metal Performance.

Neville is an Academy Award, Grammy Award and Emmy® Award-winning director known for his work as a cultural documentarian. His acclaimed 2018 film Won’t You Be My Neighbor is one of the best reviewed and highest grossing documentaries of all time. His 2013 film 20 Feet From Stardom won the Academy Award for Best Documentary as well as a Grammy Award for Best Music Film.

SHANGRI-LA is a Tremolo production. Morgan Neville, Rick Rubin, Jeff Malmberg, Danny Breen, Michael Goldberg, Eric Lynn, Isaac Heymann, Dianna Schmedeman and Jason Schrift serve as executive producers. Jeff Malmberg will direct two episodes of the series. Badges for SXSW are available at sxsw.com.

SHANGRI-LA joins the esteemed portfolio of Showtime Documentary Films that focuses on the lives and legacies of culture-defining and at times controversial figures in music, including the Grammy Award-nominated film ERIC CLAPTON: LIFE IN 12 BARS, WHITNEY. “CAN I BE ME”, LYNYRD SKYNYRD: IF I LEAVE HERE TOMORROW and GEORGE MICHAEL: FREEDOM.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, and also offers SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THIE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND and FLIX ON DEMAND®, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. Showtime Digital Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of SNI, operates the stand-alone streaming service SHOWTIME®. SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS, and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Amazon, Apple®, Google, LG Smart TVs, Oculus Go, Roku®, Samsung Smart TVs and Xbox One. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Amazon’s Prime Video Channels, DirecTV Now, FuboTV, Hulu, Sling TV, Sony PlayStation™ Vue, and YouTube TV. Viewers can also watch on computers at Showtime.com. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™ and Smithsonian Channel Plus™. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.

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Tip “T.I.” Harris, Robert Townsend, MC Lyte, JD McCrary, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, Dapper Dan & Tim King are This Year’s Honorees

27th Annual Event Takes Place Sat. Jan. 19 in Atlanta, World Premieres on Bounce Sun. Feb. 17 at 9:00 p.m. ET

ATLANTA (Jan. 16, 2019) – NAACP Image ® Award-winning Actress Wendy Raquel Robinson and GRAMMY® Award-nominated R&B singer Tank will host the 2019 Bounce Trumpet Awards, an exciting night of inspiration, history and crowd-rousing performances celebrating African-American achievements and contributions.

The gala black-tie ceremony will be held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, Georgia on Sat. Jan. 19, 2019 and will world premiere nationwide on Bounce on Sun. Feb. 17 at 9:00 p.m. ET. Bounce, the fastest-growing African-American network on television, exclusively owns, produces and telecasts the star-studded event. Visit www.trumpetawards.com for more information.

GRAMMY® Award Platinum recording artist Ashanti, GRAMMY® Award-winner India.Arie, rappers Da Brat, Lil’ Mama and YoYo, Keyshia Cole and more are scheduled to perform.

Honorees for the 2019 Bounce Trumpet Awards:
The inaugural Xernona Clayton Award will be presented to GRAMMY® Award-winning rapper, actor, entrepreneur and activist Tip “T.I.” Harris by Trumpet Awards founder and civil rights leader Ms. Clayton herself. Harris will be recognized for his extensive charitable work and numerous contributions to economic development and job creation within his hometown of Atlanta.
The Living Legend/Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to actor, comedian, film director and writer Robert Townsend. With a multi-faceted career spanning over 40 years, Townsend is best known for Hollywood Shuffle, The Five Heartbeats, The Parent ‘Hood, Meteor Man and more. In addition to his professional work, Townsend is also an active humanitarian, working with the UNCF, NAACP and numerous organizations on a variety of projects.
The Rising Star Award Sponsored by McDonald’swill be presented to singer, dancer and actor JD McCrary. Presently appearing in The Paynes on the Oprah Winfrey Network, he will be starring as the voice of Young Simba in the live-action remake of The Lion King. 2018 Rising Star honoree Rhyon Brown will present this award.
The Trailblazer Award will be presented to GRAMMY ® Award-nominated rapper MC Lyte. Long considered as one of hip-hops pioneer feminists, she paved the way for future female artists and has collaborated with Missy Elliott, Jermaine Dupri, Sean Combs and Janet Jackson, among many others.
The Music Excellence Award will be presented to four-time GRAMMY® Award-winning record producer, rapper and songwriter Rodney Jerkins aka Darkchild. In a career spanning nearly 25 years, he has produced and written hits for Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton and Cher among many others.
The Vanguard Award will be presented to fashion designer and haberdasher Dapper Dan (Daniel Day). Owner of the influential store, Dapper Dan’s Boutique, Day is most associated with introducing high fashion to the hip hop world, with clients including Jay-Z, LL Cool J and Salt-N-Pepa.
The Education Excellence Award will be presented to educator Tim King, President and CEO of Urban Prep Academies, a nonprofit organization which provides high-quality and comprehensive college-preparatory educational experience for young men resulting in graduates succeeding in college.
The Trumpet Awards were conceived to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of African Americans and those who have succeeded against great odds and inspired success in others. Founded in 1992 by American Civil Rights leader Xernona Clayton, The Trumpet Awards were acquired by Bounce in 2016. The list of prestigious honorees over its 26-year history includes Muhammad Ali, Beyoncé, Jamie Foxx, Halle Berry, Stevie Wonder, The African-American Women of the United States Congress, Steve Harvey, Martin Luther King, III, Janelle Monáe and Spike Lee.

Bounce (@BounceTV) airs on the broadcast signals of local television stations and corresponding cable carriage and features a programming mix of original and off-network series, theatrical motion pictures, specials, live sports, and more. Bounce has grown to be available in more than 109 million homes across the United States and 97% of all African-American (AA) television homes, including all the top AA television markets.Bounce is part of The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP)

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