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'R&B Divas Atlanta' Helps TV One Post Highest Primetime Ratings of the Year in June

By goodblacknews on July 8, 2013

TV One today announced that the network saw its highest monthly primetime ratings of the year in June among Adults 25-54 and households.  The ratings success was supported by the new original docu-series Fatal Attraction, as well as the second season of popular reality series R&B Divas Atlanta, which concluded on June 19. Furthermore, a strong showing of R&B Divas Atlanta Reunion: Part 1 special which premiered on June 26 helped end the month on a high note.
“TV One’s greatly-anticipated original programming line-up in the month of June proved strong among our key audience,” remarked Alfred Liggins, President and CEO, TV One. “We’re confident that the positive ratings will carry over into the month of July when we premiere R&B Divas Atlanta Reunion: Part 2 and R&B Divas LA on July 10, as well as the second season of The Rickey Smiley Show on July 26.“
Among TV One’s core audience Adults 25-54, the network posted a 34 percent year-over-year increase (106,000 vs. 79,000). The network was also up among overall households by 21 percent (142,000 vs. 117,000). Additionally, TV One posted double-digit year-over-year increases among Adults 25-54 and households in June.
The R&B Divas Atlanta Reunion: Part 1 special that aired on June 26 at 10 pm posted a .67 rating among Adults 25-54, delivering 414,000 Adults 25-54. The episode also posted a .91 household rating, delivering 522,000 homes. TV One was the number one ad-supported cable network among Black Adults 25-54 in the 10 pm time-slot on Wednesday, June 26. Since the May 1 premiere of R&B Divas Atlanta season two, the network has been a top three ad-supported cable network among its core demo of Black Adults 25-54 on Wednesdays at 10 pm (nine consecutive weeks).
Said Keith Bowen, Chief Revenue Officer, TV One, “As TV One’s ratings continue to show positive growth, our cross-platforms brand solutions and integrations become even more valuable to advertisers looking to reach Black adult viewers.“
article by Tambay A. Obenson via ShadowAndAct

Essence Festival: Free Essence Fest Convention Experience Dazzles with Celeb Sightings, Giveaways

By goodblacknews on July 5, 2013
Scenes from the Essence Festival convention experience
A cheer goes up that one would expect to hear for a rock star when Rev. Al Sharpton enters the open MSNBC studio at the Essence Festival. “I love Al Sharpton,” one onlooker says as the activist and pundit takes his place in the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

In the middle of huge exhibits and interactive displays, the MSNBC host of his show Politics Nation talks Trayvon Martin and matters of policy with fellow network show host Alex Wagner for a segment on her program, Now.
It’s a thrill for the thick throng. Gathered in the electric atmosphere of the Essence Festival convention center expo, thousands will take in the many interactive showcases here, where spectators can interact with big brands, huge stars and impressive thought leaders.
Essence Festival: More than just music
The Essence Festival is not just about the music. Yes, the incredible concerts, featuring marquee names such as Brandy and Beyonce this year, are amazing. But, the gigantic, free convention center experience — the complementary arm of the Essence Festival concerts — is nothing short of extraordinary.
“This is very exciting for us,” Fred Jackson, promotions director for Essence and the Essence Festival, told theGrio. “To gather what will probably be more than 400,000 people for this weekend to celebrate urban culture, music, and just celebrate us, is an amazing thing.”
You have to see the convention hall for yourself to get an idea of the extravaganza event organizers have created. Coca-Cola has crafted a dance floor, flanked with a three-story-high wall emblazoned with its iconic colors of red and white. McDonald’s has a store and stage, complete with an exterior facade suitable for a city street. Inside, hundreds line up for free food.
“You can win a car from our partners at Ford. I can’t even name all the things that the partners are going to do, because I’ll leave somebody out, and I’ll be in trouble,” Jackson joked.

EbonyLife TV: Nigerian Woman Mosunmola ‘Mo’ Abudu Launches Entertainment TV Network

By goodblacknews on July 2, 2013
In this photo taken on Sunday June 30, 2013, Mo Abudu, chief executive officer of EbonyLife TV, attends the launch of Africa’s first global black entertainment network in Lagos, Nigeria. Mo Abudu, who could be considered Africa's Oprah Winfrey, is launching an entertainment network that will be beamed into nearly every country on the continent with programs showcasing its burgeoning middle class. Mosunmola "Mo" Abudu wants EbonyLife TV to inspire Africans and the rest of the world, and change how viewers perceive the continent. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
In this photo taken on Sunday June 30, 2013, Mo Abudu, chief executive officer of EbonyLife TV, attends the launch of Africa’s first global black entertainment network in Lagos, Nigeria. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — A woman who could be considered Africa’s Oprah Winfrey is launching an entertainment network that will be beamed into nearly every country on the continent with programs showcasing its burgeoning middle class.
Mosunmola “Mo” Abudu wants EbonyLife TV to inspire Africans and the rest of the world, and change how viewers perceive the continent. The network’s programming tackles women’s daily life subjects — everything from sex tips to skin bleaching.
“Not every African woman has a pile of wood on her head and a baby strapped to her back!” the glamorous Abudu, 48, told The Associated Press from a hotel’s penthouse floor against a backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean and high-rise buildings flanked by palm and almond trees.
“We watch Hollywood as if all of America is Hollywood,” she said. “In that same vein we need to start selling the good bits of Africa.”
Months of work to provide original content includes the flagship program “Sistaz!” about two Greek-Nigerian sisters and a British-born Nigerian friend who check into the Eko Hotel for a holiday reunion and rediscover the passion of sisterhood and the vibrant city of Lagos.

Prada Uses Black Model in Print Campaign for 1st Time in 19 Years

By goodblacknews on July 1, 2013
Malaika Firth
Malaika Firth in Prada ad (Image: Jezebel.com)

Prada, a label known for rarely casting models of color, has selected a black model for a new print campaign. For first time in 19 years, a woman of African decent will be a major face of the luxury fashion brand in a Fall/Winter 2013 advertisement.
Malaika Firth, a bi-racial black woman who is half Kenyan and British, was born in the Kenyan city of Mombasa and raised in the United Kingdom. The 19-year-old, who also boasts Ugandan, Swiss, and Seychellois ancestry, appears in the latest Prada seasonal ad series with 44-year-old supermodel Christy Turlington among other faces. 
Fellow supermodel Naomi Campbell was the last black woman to be featured in a Prada ad campaign in 1994.
Firth told The Telegraph that she is “extremely proud and happy” to be following in the footsteps of the pioneering black supermodel. Naomi Campbell was one of the first black models to receive international recognition.

TECH: Four Tricky Facebook Scams to Avoid

By goodblacknews on June 30, 2013

(Photo Credit: Paul Sakuma, AP)
(Photo Credit: Paul Sakuma, AP)

From snake-oil salesmen and pool-hall hustlers to Nigerian princes and Spanish prisoners, scams were happening long before the Internet. Unfortunately, the Internet has only made things worse.
Modern scammers can reach billions of potential victims with a single message. And their scams are getting better every day. If you aren’t paying attention, you could fall for a scam and not ever realize it.
One of the easiest places to encounter online scams is Facebook. Facebook encourages sharing, which means certain scams can travel far and wide. These aren’t harmless scams either. Some of them can install viruses that take over your account or steal your money. Yikes!
Here are four popular scams that should set off your warning bells as soon as you see them:
1. Free giveaways
The easiest scam to fall for on Facebook is a free giveaway. You’ll see everything from gift cards to free tablets, laptops and smartphones. Who doesn’t like free? Just one catch. You have to give the “company” your information. Or you have to download a program to qualify. 
This is a variation on a classic survey scam. These trick users into giving out their information or downloading malicious files onto their computers. With the information you enter, a scammer has a foothold into stealing your identity. Entering your cellphone number often leads to bogus premium charges appearing on your wireless bill.
It’s true that some companies do give away free stuff through Facebook. When they do, however, it’s promoted on that company’s official Facebook page. If you check the company’s page or website and don’t see the giveaway, steer clear. Even if it’s real, only enter through the company’s official page. And only if it’s a company you trust. Scammers like to set up fake sites and pages that mimic the real thing.
2. Viral videos
Almost as exciting as free gadgets is seeing the latest viral video. However, many supposedly salacious celebrity “videos” posted on Facebook aren’t videos at all. When you click to watch, you’ll be asked to update your video player first. You’ll even be provided with the updated program file. How helpful! Of course, the program is really a virus. Plus, it will automatically share the scam with all of your friends. This one is easy to avoid. Type the video’s title into Google. You should see a link to it on YouTube. If the video isn’t on YouTube or a legitimate news site, it’s a scam.

Oprah's OWN Orders More of Tyler Perry's “Haves and Have Nots”, Picks Up “All My Children”

By goodblacknews on June 29, 2013

the-haves-and-have-nots
It looks the Oprah Winfrey Network has finally found its stride. After the success of “The Haves and Have Nots,” which enjoyed OWN’s highest-rated debut with 1.8 million viewers, the network is making a play to appeal to the soap opera-loving crowd by picking up “All My Children” and “One Life To Live.”
OWN has acquired the first 40 episodes of both soaps and will air them for a 10-week run this summer. Erik Logan, one of OWN’s presidents, told The Hollywood Reporter:

“These shows have proven to be very popular with a significant, loyal fan base, not to mention Oprah herself is a big fan. Many of our viewers across numerous platforms have expressed their passion for the soaps so we are especially excited to air this limited engagement on OWN.”

OWN will continue to cater to the same passionate niche audience with “The Haves and Have Nots.” The network ordered 16 more episodes of the drama, which brings the episode tally to 32. The first run of 16 will end on September 3rd, and the second half will premiere early next year.
article via clutchmagonline.com

Oprah Winfrey Regains No. 1 Slot On Forbes 2013 List Of The Most Powerful Celebrities

By goodblacknews on June 26, 2013

Oprah Winfrey
Everyone should know this by now: Never count Oprah out. Oprah Winfrey returns to the top of Forbes’ annual Celebrity 100 ranking of the most powerful celebrities after two years in second place. She leads a female-dominated top 10 that includes Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Madonna, Taylor Swift and Ellen DeGeneres.
Even without her eponymous daytime talk show, Winfrey made an estimated $77 million between June 2012 and June 2013, down from last year’s $165 million. While she wasn’t the highest earner on Forbes’ list, her money, mixed with strong fame scores in metrics like press mentions and social networking power, pushed her to the top.

'My Promise,' Earth, Wind & Fire's Comeback Single, Hits The Web (AUDIO)

By goodblacknews on June 25, 2013

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyV4iMKxjl8&w=560&h=315]
R&B super band Earth, Wind & Fire is releasing its first album in eight years on Sept. 10 and dropped the record’s lead single onto the web on Monday.

Earth, Wind and Fire“My Promise,” which leads the promotional effort behind “Now, Then & Forever,” the band’s twentieth studio album, features Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Maurice White and Ralph Johnson, as well as contributions from one of the group’s founding producers, Larry Dunn and Bailey’s son, Philip Bailey Jr. The single was written by the band and Academy Award nominee and Grammy Winner Siedah Garrett.
article by Kia Makarechi via huffingtonpost.com

Whoopi Goldberg to Star in Terry McMillan TV Movie for Lifetime

By goodblacknews on June 24, 2013
Whoopi Goldberg (PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES)
Whoopi Goldberg will star in and executive produce the film adaptation of Terry McMillan’s best-selling book, A Day Late and a Dollar Short. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the film is slated to begin shooting this summer and will air on Lifetime in 2014. Goldberg is no stranger to Lifetime—she was the executive producer for Strong Medicine from 2000 to 2006. 
The project also reunites McMillan with Goldberg, who co-starred with Angela Bassett in McMillan’s How Stella Got Her Groove Back. The Oscar winner and View co-host will play Viola Price, a woman who realizes that her next asthma attack could claim her life, so she sets out to fix her broken family.
“Terry McMillan is one of America’s most beloved writers and A Day Late and a Dollar Short combines her signature emotional storytelling with the complex characters viewers identify with and love,” said Lifetime General Manager, Rob Sharenow. “We are thrilled to be working again with Whoopi Goldberg, who will be emptying her enormous talents both in front of and behind the camera.”
article by Derrick Bryson Taylor via essence.com

Naketha Mattocks to Oversee Disney Channel’s Original Movies Franchise

By goodblacknews on June 21, 2013

Naketha MattocksDisney Channels has tapped Naketha Mattocks as VP, Original Movies. 

Mattocks supervises creative development for the Disney Channel Original Movie franchise, which has produced TV’s top movie among tweens age 9-14 for the past 11 years. She will develop scripts, generate new projects, collaborate with writers and directors and oversee the creative storytelling throughout production.

This summer, Disney Channel will air its latest original movie, “Teen Beach Movie,” on July 19.
“Disney Channel Original Movies are unmatched in delivering fresh and relevant storytelling that deeply connects with our audience of kids, tweens and families,” Adam Bonnett, executive VP, Original Programming, Disney Channels Worldwide, said. “With Naketha’s experience, passion, sharp instincts and strong relationships, we’re well positioned to build on our successful track record as a creative magnet and TV movie powerhouse.”
Before joining Disney Channel, Mattocks was an independent film and television producer who sold projects to an array of broadcast and cable television networks, including ABC Family, CBS Films, Hallmark Hall of Fame/ABC, Lifetime Television and VH1.  In 2012, she was a consultant for Lifetime Television where she served as an executive on projects that included “Betty and Coretta,” “A Killer Among Us,” “Twist of Faith” and “House of Versace.”