SILVER SPRING, Md.,
Feb. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/
-- Robert L. Johnson,
Chairman of RLJ Entertainment (NASDAQ: RLJE) today announced the
appointment of Traci Otey Blunt as
President of Urban Movie Channel (UMC). UMC is the first
premium subscription-based streaming service created for African
American and urban audiences that features quality urban content
across all genres, including feature films, original series,
stand-up comedy, documentaries, and other exclusive titles.
"I am excited to announce Traci's appointment as UMC President.
Two years ago, Traci joined the RLJ Entertainment management team
as Executive Vice President for Corporate Marketing and Corporate
Affairs and was assigned to launch and develop the company's
proprietary streaming service Urban Movie Channel," said Johnson.
"Under Traci's leadership and management, UMC has built a strong
business foundation to grow its subscriber base and distribute
compelling content to its target audience. UMC has attracted
talented producers and writers from the African American creative
community and has acquired films and other content featuring some
of the most prominent Black actors and actresses. I am confident
that Traci and her team will make UMC a successful and valuable
digital channel for RLJ Entertainment," he concluded.
Miguel Penella, RLJ Entertainment
CEO stated, "Traci has demonstrated an expertise of the digital
entertainment industry in a short period of time. Her experience in
creating successful campaigns to reach African American and urban
audiences, coupled with her decisive results-oriented management
style are an effective combination which will help UMC continue to
expand. In addition to leading UMC, Traci will continue to
serve as the EVP for Corporate Affairs leading RLJE's corporate
communications and public affairs."
"I am pleased and excited to have the confidence of RLJE
management and the opportunity to lead and grow UMC at this time,"
said Blunt. "My immediate strategic goals for UMC are to grow
our subscriber base by creating a destination for the UMC audience
to find compelling and original content created by the most
talented African American writers and producers. UMC will create a
business model where the often underemployed African American
creative community will find a place to showcase their work product
and be compensated by subscribers who enjoy watching UMC
entertainment. We also want to further expand UMC's digital
footprint by making UMC available on more platforms and
devices. Finally, I want to come up with an innovative way
that digital content providers can be recognized and rewarded by
the industry and their peers for the outstanding creative content
they produce now and in the future," she concluded.
The UMC team includes Angela
Northington, SVP Content Acquisitions & General Manager;
as well as Farah Noel, Manager,
UMC Publicity and Corporate Affairs;
and Lauren Spencer, UMC Digital
Marketing Manager.
About Urban Movie Channel (UMC)
Created by Robert L.
Johnson, Chairman of RLJ Entertainment and founder of
Black Entertainment Television (BET), Urban Movie Channel
(UMC) is the first subscription streaming service created for
African American and urban audiences in North America that features quality urban
content and showcases feature films, documentaries, original
series, stand-up comedy, and other exclusive content. UMC offers a
free 7-day trial and thereafter is just $4.99/month or $49.99/year. Subscribers can access UMC from
multiple devices (tablet, phone and laptop), on Roku, Amazon Prime,
Amazon Fire TV, iOS, and Apple TV to watch movies from today's most
recognizable talent available on demand and commercial-free. For
more information, please visit urbanmoviechannel.com.
About RLJ Entertainment:
RLJ Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: RLJE) is an
entertainment content distribution company in primarily
North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia. RLJE's titles are distributed in
multiple formats including broadcast television (including
satellite and cable), theatrical and non-theatrical, DVD, Blu-Ray,
digital download, and digital streaming. With its popular OTT
branded channels, Acorn TV (British TV) and UMC (Urban Movie
Channel), RLJE targets distinct, premium audiences and urban niche
audiences. The company grows its proprietary digital channels
through development, acquisition, and distribution of exclusive
rights of program franchises and feature film content Through Acorn
Media Enterprises, its UK development arm, RLJE owns all rights to
the hit UK mystery series Foyle's War and is developing new
programs. RLJE owns 64% of Agatha Christie Limited, which manages
the intellectual property and publishing rights to some of the
greatest works of mystery fiction, including stories of the iconic
sleuths Miss Marple and
Poirot.
For more information, please visit RLJEntertainment.com,
Acorn.TV, and UrbanMovieChannel.com.
UMC Media Contact: Farah
Noel, 301.830.6247, fnoel@RLJEntertainment.com
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SOURCE RLJ Entertainment