By Micha Green, AFRO Washington, D.C. Editor, mgreen@afro.com
In January young women of color will have a channel dedicated to them, brought to audiences through TV ONE’s new station, CLEO TV.
Named after Queen Cleopatra, millennials and members of Generation X (Gen X’ers) will have a station to turn to for reliable lifestyle and entertainment content, in order to defy “negative and cultural stereotypes of today’s modern women,” according to a statement released by TV ONE.
“We’re at a pivotal moment in history where women are making a huge impact in our society and culture, especially women of color,” said TV ONE’s general manager, Michelle Rice.
With kids’ channels, women’s channels, sports networks and more, TV ONE noticed the lack of content specifically geared toward young women of color.
“CLEO TV will offer a diverse mix of lifestyle and entertainment content through the unique lens of millennial and young Gen X women of color, an audience segment currently underserved,” Rice said, according to the statement.
The channel will launch on Comcast Xfinity Jan. 19, 2019 with original programming. CLEO TV will have original lifestyle and reality shows, scripted shows, movies and more.
Various lifestyle shows for cooking, living and traveling will be offered on CLEO. “New Soul Kitchen,” with chefs Jernard Wells and Porsche Thomas will highlight “soul food recipes with a healthy twist,” and “Just Eats with Chef JJ,” will showcase the Harlem-based culinary artist with his celebrity friends and influencers. Siblings Jazz and Jake Smollett host, “Living by Design with Jake and Jazz,” which shows the brother and sister changing the lives of millennial families by renovating living, work and play spaces.
Siblings Jazz and Jake Smollett, of the famous performing Smollett family, host a show dedicated to transforming the living, work and play spaces of millennial families, called “Living by Design with Jake and Jazz.”
Scripted series will include, “Everything I did wrong in my 20s,” which chronicles the life trajectory of 35-year-old Stephanie and “The Unwritten Rules,” a comedic show based on the book “40 Hours and an Unwritten Rule,” which follows Racey, who starts a new job and learns she’s the only Black employee.
“The best part about CLEO TV is that program formats will be both a mixture of old and new school, and viewers will find shows that have a modern twist,” TV ONE’s Vice President of Original Programming and Production Robyn Green Arrington said.
TV ONE hopes that CLEO TV will shine a brighter light on certain shows, programming and artists and bring all women together for entertainment.
“CLEO TV will bring to the forefront short-form and acquired programs that have only been in the digital space, which will give them more broad exposure and attract a new generation of viewers to the network. It will provide lifestyle, empowerment and entertainment lineups that mothers and daughters can watch together,” Arrington said.
Acquired series will also be included in CLEO TV, such as “Sister Circle Live” and older shows starring Black women such as “Girlfriends” and “Eve.” In addition, the channel will feature TV ONE original movies, including “Bobbi Kristina”, “Jean of the Joneses” and “Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story.”