Byron Allen is an American businessman, film and television producer and comedian.
He is the founder of the U.S. media company Entertainment Studios, which has interests in television production, broadcasting, film production and digital media.
Allen started his career in comedy at age 14 and made his television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1979.
He later became a host for NBC’s Real People and established Entertainment Studios in 1993.
The company has since grown to include ten, 24-hour HD television networks and Allen now owns one of the largest cable network portfolios in the industry.
In addition to his work in entertainment, Allen is a philanthropist and has been recognized for his contributions to the industry with several awards and accolades.
Net worth | $800 million |
Profession | Businessman, film, television producer, comedian |
Date of birth | April 22, 1961 |
Nationality | American |
Early life
Allen was born in Detroit, Michigan, and attended Fairfax High School in Los Angeles and the University of Southern California.
His interest in show business began during his childhood when he accompanied his mother, Carolyn Folks, to NBC Studios in Burbank, where she worked as a publicist.
Allen started performing stand-up comedy at the age of 14 and was discovered by comedian Jimmie Walker, who invited him to join his comedy writing team.
He made his television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson at the age of 18, becoming the youngest comedian to ever perform on the show.
Allen later became a host for NBC’s Real People, one of the first reality shows.
Net worth
Allen’s net worth is estimated to be around $800 million.
He is a media mogul who has built his fortune through strategic acquisitions and ventures within the media industry.
Starting as a stand-up comedian, Allen transitioned into the business side of the entertainment industry, founding Allen Media Group and acquiring significant media entities such as The Weather Channel, Entertainment Studios and various television networks.
His net worth reflects his success in the media industry and his ability to adapt and grow his business over time.
Comedy career
Allen’s journey in comedy laid the foundation for his successful career in the media industry.
His early experiences as a comedy writer and performer provided him with valuable skills in storytelling, humor and entertainment that he later leveraged in his business ventures.
As a stand-up comedian, Allen honed his craft, developing a keen sense of timing, delivery, and audience engagement.
This experience not only helped him connect with audiences but also sharpened his ability to create compelling content that resonated with viewers.
His work as a comedy writer for various television shows allowed him to understand the inner workings of the entertainment industry, from script development to production.
This firsthand knowledge gave Allen a unique perspective on the business side of entertainment, which he later applied to his media ventures.
By co-hosting NBC’s Real People, he gained visibility and recognition in the industry, showcasing his talent and charisma to a wider audience.
This exposure helped him transition from comedy to media, setting the stage for his future success as a media mogul.
Entrepreneurial career
Allen’s interest in show business began during his childhood when he accompanied his mother, Carolyn Folks, to NBC Studios in Burbank (where she worked as a publicist).
At age 14, he put together his first stand-up routine and began appearing on amateur night at comedy clubs throughout the Los Angeles area2.
In 1993, Allen established a production company known as CF Entertainment, which would be devoted to producing low-cost non-scripted television programming.
In 1998, CF Entertainment was renamed Entertainment Studios, and the company began to focus on producing and distributing first-run syndicated television programming.
In 2006, Entertainment Studios began producing and distributing feature films.
In 2015, Entertainment Studios entered the movie distribution business when Allen bought Freestyle Releasing, an indie distributor known for God’s Not Dead, for an undisclosed amount.
He sealed the deal over a lunch with Freestyle co-founder Mark Borde, he said.
Allen is known for unexpected bets, such as recently buying the Weather Channel’s parent company for $300 million.
He is also known for his unconventional career arc, having started as a comedian and then transitioned into media mogul.
In 2018, Allen proposed a potentially more radical way for theaters to adapt: by investing in movies.
“Maybe we should think about investing in content so we can protect the most important part of what we do as a business,” he said.
He also proposed a potential partnership between theaters and streaming services, such as Netflix, to better compete with them.
Allen is also a founder of The National Association of African American-Owned Media (NAAAOM), an organization that advocates for African American-owned media outlets.
Allen Media Group
Allen is the founder, chairman and CEO of Allen Media Group (originally called Entertainment Studios when it was founded in 1993).
The company has grown to own 36 ABC-NBC-CBS-FOX network affiliate broadcast television stations in 21 U.S. markets and twelve 24-hour HD television networks serving nearly 220 million subscribers.
Allen Media Group owns and operates streaming platforms HBCU Go, Sports.TV, TheGrio, The Weather Channel streaming app and Local Now (a free streaming AVOD service powered by The Weather Channel and content partners with news, weather, traffic, sports and lifestyle information).
Allen Media Group also produces, distributes, and sells advertising for 73 television programs and owns a library of more than 5,000 hours of content across multiple genres.
The company’s film distribution division specializes in wide-release commercial content.
Allen Media Group’s television series are distributed using a bartered model that does not require stations to pay a rights fee, with the company selling national advertising inventory and sharing the revenue with stations.
In 2021, Allen Media Group acquired Black News Channel out of bankruptcy from Shahid Khan for $11 million; it was discontinued as a separate service, with its carriage merged into TheGrio.TV.
Allen Media Group has also been expanding its international distribution, with active license agreements and programming in South Africa, The United Arab Emirates, Australia, The Bahamas, Canada and New Zealand.
Allen Media Group’s board of directors was expanded in 2023 to include six senior members of the company’s management team; Janice Arouh (president, network distribution); Mark DeVitre (EVP, general counsel); Eric Gould (EVP of finance and chief investment officer); Sydnie Karras (VP, chief accounting officer); Chris Malone (CFO); and Andy Temple (COO, broadcast sales and syndication).
Allen Media Group acquisitions
The company has been on an acquisition spree in recent years, focusing on broadcast TV stations and media assets.
Since 2018, Allen Media Group has purchased 16 broadcast TV stations in small and medium-size markets for $500 million, following the acquisition of The Weather Channel for $310 million in 2018.
In 2019, the company acquired four network-affiliated broadcast TV stations from Bayou City Broadcasting for $165 million, marking its entry into television station ownership.
In 2020, Allen Media Group acquired 11 stations from USA Television, a subsidiary of Heartland Media, for $290 million, further expanding its broadcast station group.
The company also made an offer for the Tegna TV station group as the third known bidder in 2020.
In April 2021, Allen Media Group agreed to purchase 10 stations in seven markets from Gray Television for $380 million, as a condition of Gray’s purchase of Quincy Media.
The company’s broadcast station group now owns or operates 27 stations, reaching approximately 5% of total U.S. television households.
Allen Media Group produces approximately 5,000 hours of original, live, localized weather programming and over 500 hours of live local news per week and distributes high-profile sports, prime-time and entertainment content across its television markets through its affiliations with ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC networks.
In addition to its broadcast TV station acquisitions, the company has also expanded its cable and digital networks, including the acquisition of The Weather Channel Group.
Allen Media Group’s Entertainment Studios Networks division operates a group of digital cable and satellite channels, which broadcast a mix of original programs and the company’s syndicated content.
The company’s growth strategy is driven by its vision to become the largest provider of first-run syndicated shows for broadcast stations and to build the biggest media empire on the planet, with a special emphasis on stations affiliated with the Big Four broadcast networks.
Its expansion efforts are supported by its strong financial position, with nearly 2,300 employees and a $1 billion valuation in 2017.
TV network revenues
Allen Media Group’s revenue is $338.1 million.
The company owns and operates 36 ABC-NBC-CBS-FOX network affiliate broadcast television stations in 21 U.S. markets, as well as twelve 24-hour HD television networks serving nearly 220 million subscribers.
The company’s networks include THE WEATHER CHANNEL, PETS.TV, COMEDY.TV, RECIPE.TV, CARS.TV, ES.TV, MYDESTINATION.TV, JUSTICECENTRAL.TV, THEGRIO.TV, THIS TV, LOCAL NOW TV and PATTRN.
Allen Media Group also owns THE GRIO, HBCUGO, and LOCAL NOW, a free -streaming AVOD service powered by THE WEATHER CHANNEL and content partners.
The company’s mission is to provide excellent programming to viewers, online users and Fortune 500 advertising partners.
Allen Media Group has a library of over 5,000 hours of owned content across multiple genres and provides video content to broadcast television stations, cable television networks, mobile devices and multimedia digital.
Lawsuits
Allen has been involved in several significant lawsuits against major corporations.
In 2015, he filed a $20 billion racial discrimination lawsuit against Comcast, alleging that the cable giant refused to carry his TV channels due to racial bias.
The lawsuit eventually reached the U.S. Supreme Court, where Allen was required to prove that race was the crucial factor in Comcast’s decision not to carry his channels.
In 2020, he settled with Comcast, gaining carriage for three of his cable channels and extending the distribution deal for the Weather Channel and 14 broadcast stations he owns.
Allen has also filed multiple lawsuits against McDonald’s, alleging racial discrimination and false promises regarding advertising with Black-owned media.
In 2021, McDonald’s pledged to increase ad spending with Black-owned media to 5% by 2024, but Allen accused the company of not honoring this commitment.
Allen’s lawsuits seek significant damages, with one lawsuit amounting to $10 billion, claiming racial stereotyping and violation of civil rights laws.
Despite legal battles and mediation attempts, the lawsuits against McDonald’s have continued, with allegations of false promises and racial discrimination in advertising practices.
In addition to the lawsuits against Comcast and McDonald’s, Allen filed a $10 billion racial discrimination lawsuit against Charter Communications, accusing the company of discriminating against Black people.
The legal battle with Charter involved arguments around the First Amendment and discrimination, with Allen emphasizing the importance of holding companies accountable for systemic racism.
After a series of legal proceedings, including appeals and rulings, Allen’s lawsuit against Charter proceeded, highlighting his commitment to fighting against systemic racism in various sectors.
Awards and accolades
Allen has received several awards and accolades throughout his career.
In 2018, he was selected for the Bloomberg 50 as one of the notable individuals in business, entertainment, finance, politics, technology and science.
He was also honored at the Goldman Sachs Builders & Innovators Summit 2018 and received recognition from The Salvation Army and the Los Angeles Metropolitan advisory board.
In 2019, Allen was a recipient of the National Association of Television Program Executives’s 16th Annual Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Awards.
Additionally, he has been recognized with Daytime Emmy Awards nominations for various programs, including The American Athlete, Justice for All with Judge Cristina Perez, We the People with Gloria Allred, America’s Court with Judge Ross and a win for Cars.TV.
Furthermore, Allen was awarded a star on the Walk of Fame for Television in 2021.
Philanthropic efforts
Allen has been involved in various philanthropic endeavors, including donating millions of dollars to charitable causes.
He has supported organizations such as the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, the American Red Cross and the Allen Philanthropy Foundation, which focuses on education, health, and social justice.
Allen’s philanthropic efforts demonstrate his dedication to making a positive impact on society and improving the lives of others.
In addition to his philanthropic efforts, he has been a vocal advocate for diversity in the entertainment industry, calling attention to the lack of representation for people of color both in front of and behind the camera.
Allen has also made significant investments in real estate, including the former CBS Television City property in Los Angeles, which he acquired for $82.5 million in 2019 and is now developing into a state-of-the-art production facility for his company, Allen Media Group.
Real estate
Allen has made significant real estate purchases in Beverly Hills and Malibu, California.
In Beverly Hills, he has acquired several properties, including a mansion for $19.9 million, which he plans to demolish and replace with a 24,000 square-foot estate worth $150 million.
Allen also purchased two adjacent homes for $32 million, which he bought from Jeff Skoll, a Los Angeles producer and former eBay president.
The larger estate is a 7,500-square-foot contemporary home, while the smaller Tudor-style house is a 3,000-square-foot home surrounded by mature trees.
In Malibu, Allen bought a mansion for $100 million, which is the most expensive home ever purchased by an African American in the United States.
The 11,000-square-foot compound sits on 3.5 square acres and overlooks the Pacific Ocean via a bluff.
It includes a main four-bedroom house, along with two guesthouses and amenities such as a screening room and a winding path allowing the owner to drive a gold car or small vehicle down to the beach.
Allen already has impressive homes in Aspen, New York, Maui and Beverly Hills.
He has filed plans to raze his Beverly Hills mansion and replace it with a 24,000 square-foot mansion, of which half would be below ground.
The two-story home would include a bowling alley, underground theater, gym and six-car garage.
Allen secured $82 million in financing to build the mega mansion, including a $37.8 million mortgage from Bank of America and a $45 million line of credit.
Personal life
Allen is married to Jennifer Lucas, a TV show producer from the United States.
They have been married for over 15 years and have three children together.
Jennifer is known for her notable work in projects like 47 Meters Down, Replicas and Boss Level.
She debuted as a producer in 2001 in the TV series Dismissed and has since been an executive producer in numerous other movies and television series.