Urban One

Radio One was founded in 1980 by Cathy Hughes, a then-recently divorced single mother, with the purchase of the Washington, D.C. radio station WOL-AM for $995,000.Steven Overly, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/with-purchase-of-radio-station-wol-in-1980-cathy-hughes-launched-a-media-empire/2014/08/11/cd0a80fa-20b5-11e4-86ca-6f03cbd15c1a_story.html "With purchase of radio station WOL in 1980, Cathy Hughes launched a media empire"], The Washington Post, August 11, 2014.Clea Simon, [https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/25/business/mining-an-untapped-market-radio-one-becomes-a-force.html "Mining an Untapped Market, Radio One Becomes a Force"], The New York Times, December 25, 2000.Chandrani Ghosh, [https://www.forbes.com/forbes/1999/0920/6407086a.html "The Comeback Queen"], Forbes, September 20, 1999. She changed the station's programming format from all-music to one that examined politics and culture from an African American perspective. Hughes purchased her second station, WMMJ in Washington, seven years later, which began to turn a profit once she converted it into a rhythm and blues station. This established Radio One's early strategy of purchasing small, underperforming radio stations in urban markets and refocusing them to serve the demographics of their communities.

After joining the company in 1985 and managing its day-to-day operations since 1993, Hughes's son, Alfred C. Liggins III, took over as CEO in 1997, with Hughes becoming the board's chairperson.Jessie Carney Smith, ed., Black Firsts: 4,000 Ground-Breaking and Pioneering Historical Events, Canton, MI: Visible Ink Press, 2003, pp. 63-64.Robyn D. Clarke, [http://www.blackenterprise.com/mag/high-frequency-profits/ "High-Frequency Profits"], Black Enterprise, June 2000. In 1995, Radio One purchased WKYS-FM in Washington, D.C., for $34 million, and also entered the Atlanta market by purchasing WHAT-FM for $4.5 million. In 1997, the company entered the Philadelphia market with its purchase of WPHI-FM for $20 million. The company added numerous stations in the late 1990s, including stations in Atlanta, St. Louis, Boston, Cleveland, Richmond, San Francisco, Detroit and Boston.[https://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/04/business/company-news-radio-one-to-acquire-another-philadelphia-station.html "Radio One to Acquire Another Philadelphia Station"], The New York Times, December 4, 1999.

In 1996, Radio One moved its corporate offices from Washington, D.C., to Lanham, Maryland.[http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/radio-one-inc-history/ "Radio One, Inc. History"], Funding Universe. Accessed October 26, 2014. The company is now based in Silver Spring, Maryland.{{cite web| url = https://www.rbr.com/radio-one-moving-hq-to-silver-spring-md| title = Radio One moving HQ to Silver Spring, MD {{!}} Radio & Television Business Report}} Under the guidance of recently appointed CEO Liggins, Radio One went public on May 6, 1999, while continuing to be controlled by the family.Clea Simon, [https://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2005/10/29/wild_to_air_new_african_american_talk_radio_network/ "WILD to air new African-American talk-radio network"], Boston Globe, October 29, 2005.[http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/125anniversaryissue/liggins.html "Radio One's Number One"], Wharton Alumni Magazine, Spring 2007. The company's initial public offering was for 6.5 million shares at $24 per share. This made Hughes the first African American woman to chair a public company. As of 2010, Hughes and Liggins control 90% of Radio One's voting stock.Joe Flint, [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/04/latest-protester-of-comcast-nbc-deal-plays-race-card-and-has-ex-fcc-chairman-on-board.html "Latest protester of Comcast – NBC deal plays race card and has ex-FCC chairman on board"], Los Angeles Times, April 27, 2010.

In 2000, Radio One purchased 12 stations for approximately $1.3 billion from Clear Channel, bringing Radio One into Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston and Miami, along with stations in Cleveland and Greenville, South Carolina. Soon after, Radio One added two more Dallas stations.[https://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/14/business/company-news-radio-one-to-buy-12-clear-channel-stations.html "Radio One to Buy 12 Clear Channel Stations"], The New York Times, March 14, 2000. In total, the company added 21 radio stations in 2000.

In 2001, Radio One expanded into 22 markets, with 18 million listeners, making it the nation's largest urban-market radio broadcasting company. In February, Radio One purchased rival company Blue Chip Broadcasting for approximately $135 million ($45 million cash with the remainder in stock). The purchase included 15 radio stations owned and operated by Cincinnati-based Blue Chip in Ohio, Minnesota and Kentucky. Earlier that month, Radio One had also purchased another Dallas radio station for $52.5 million.[https://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/09/business/company-news-radio-one-buying-rival-blue-chip-broadcasting.html "Radio One Buying Rival Blue Chip Broadcasting"], The New York Times, February 9, 2001. In June 2001, Radio One purchased Georgia radio station WPEZ-FM from US Broadcasting for $55 million.[https://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/27/business/company-news-radio-broadcaster-for-black-listeners-to-buy-station.html "Radio Broadcaster for Black Listeners to Buy Station"], The New York Times, June 27, 2001.

In January 2004, Radio One launched the TV One cable network in a joint venture with Comcast.

In February, Radio One purchased country station WSNJ in Bridgeton, New Jersey, for $35 million; it had been on the air since 1937 and family-owned by the Ed and Katherine Bold family for over 50 years.G. Patrick Pawling, [https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/01/nyregion/vintage-radio-down-to-farm-reports-and-school-menus-is-signing-off.html "Vintage Radio, Down to Farm Reports and School Menus, Is Signing Off"], The New York Times, February 1, 2004. The company would also purchase KRTS-FM in Houston for approximately $72.5 million in cash, giving it three stations in the Houston market.[https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/25/business/company-news-radio-one-acquires-third-station-in-houston-market.html "Radio One Acquires Third Station in Houston Market"], The New York Times, May 25, 2004.

In November 2004, Radio One acquired a 53% stake in Reach Media, a Texas-based media company owned by radio host Tom Joyner, for $56.1 million in cash and stock.

File:Radio one logo.png

From 2006 through the beginning of 2008, Radio One sold nearly $150 million in assets, primarily underperforming radio stations.

Radio One would reach a peak of owning over 70 stations in 22 markets by 2007,Gail Mitchell, [https://books.google.com/books?id=lRMEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22radio+one%22+reach+media&pg=PA25 "Q&A: Cathy Hughes"], Billboard, December 3, 2005, p. 25. becoming the largest African-American-owned-and-operated broadcast company in the US.Janean Chun, [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/17/catherine-hughes-radio-one_n_1798129.html "Cathy Hughes, Radio One: From Teen Mom to Media Mogul"], Huffington Post, September 26, 2012. In January of that year, Radio One purchased GIANT magazine for $275,000.[https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2007/01/04/radio-one-picks-up-giant-magazine/ "Radio One Picks Up Giant Magazine"], The New York Times, January 4, 2007.Anita Huslin, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/21/AR2008022102924.html "Radio One's Losses Grow, Stock Declines"], The Washington Post, February 22, 2008.

However, that same year, Radio One would sell ten stations to Main Line Broadcasting for approximately $76 million in cash. The stations sold were in Radio One's markets with the smallest African American populations. The sale decreased the number of Radio One's stations from 71 to 61.Jeff Clabaugh, [http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2007/05/14/daily55.html "Arlington Capital Partners buys 10 Radio One stations"], Washington Business Journal, May 18, 2007.

In 2008, Radio One launched its Interactive One subsidiary. The company also acquired social networking firm Community Connect, the parent company of BlackPlanet, AsianAvenue and MiGente, for $38 million. BlackPlanet at the time had 20 million members and was the nation's fourth-most visited social networking site.Dan Frommer, [http://www.businessinsider.com/2008/4/blackplanet-parent-community-connect-sells-to-radio-one-for-38-million "BlackPlanet Parent Community Connect Sells To Radio One For $38 Million"], Business Insider, April 11, 2008.

In December 2009, the company suspended publication of the print version of the bi-monthly magazine, relaunching it online as GIANTLife.com. The website is a part of the Interactive One network.Amanda Ernst, [http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/giant-magazine-suspends-publication-moves-to-web_b13120 "Giant Magazine Suspends Publication, Moves To Web"], Mediabistro, November 30, 2009.

In 2011, Radio One changed stations in Houston, Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, from African American to general interest formats, due to low ratings.Ben Sisario, [https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/30/business/media/a-radio-merger-in-new-york-reflects-a-shifting-industry.html "A Radio Merger in New York Reflects a Shifting Industry"], The New York Times, April 29, 2012. In May 2018, they purchased Washington, D.C. sports station "The Team 980" WTEM from Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder's Red Zebra Broadcasting.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/176856/urban-one-buys-wtem-the-team-980-washington|title=Urban One Buys WTEM (The Team 980)/Washington|website=All Access}}

On May 8, 2017, Radio One was renamed Urban One.{{Cite news|url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/165501/radio-one-changes-name-to-urban-one|title=Radio One Changes Name To Urban One|work=All Access|access-date=2018-06-09|language=en}} Radio One would be retained as the company's secondary name, and as a name for its radio division.

On January 19, 2019, Urban One launched Cleo TV, a cable channel aimed at millennial and Generation X African American women.{{cite web|url=https://www.theroot.com/television-for-colored-girls-cleo-tv-cozies-up-to-bla-1831009591|title=Television for Colored Girls: CLEO TV Cozies Up to Black Millennial Women|first=Karu F.|last=Daniels|website=The Root|date=December 14, 2018 }}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/comcast-cleo-tv-afro-independent-channel-launch-1203029441/|title=Comcast Sets TV One's Cleo TV, Afro as Latest Independent Channel Launches|first1=Cynthia|last1=Littleton|website=Variety|date=November 15, 2018}}

In April 2023, it was announced that Urban One would acquire the Houston radio cluster of Cox Media Group. {{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/250937/radio-one-acquires-cox-houston/|title=Radio One/Cox Sale Price & Divestitures Filed - RadioInsight|date=April 14, 2023}} This, at the time of the sale, would have resulted in Urban One being over FCC ownership limits, forcing the divestitures of 2 stations in the combined cluster; the stations to be sold were later determined by the two companies to be KROI and Cox's KTHT, which would be placed into the temporary Sugarland Station Trust divestiture trust, overseen by Scott Knoblauch. It was reported that Urban was already in the process of negotiations for KROI with a "minority-owned" broadcaster marking their entry into the market; on April 20, it was announced said broadcaster was Spanish Broadcasting System, who would ultimately buy the station for $7.5 million.{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/251302/sbs-to-acquire-praise-92-1-houston/|title=SBS To Acquire Praise 92.1 Houston - RadioInsight|date=April 21, 2023}}

As of May 2023, Urban One's Radio One division operates 58 radio stations in 13 markets.[http://www.radio-one.com/our-properties/radio-one/ Radio One], radio-one.com. Accessed October 26, 2014.

{{main|TV One (American TV channel)}}

TV One Networks is the unit that oversees Urban One's cable networks.

On January 19, 2004, Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, Urban One launched TV One in a joint venture with Comcast. The network primarily produces and airs African American entertainment, lifestyle, and scripted programming.

A sister network aimed at young millennial and Generation X African American women, Cleo TV, would launch in January 2019.

Interactive One (also known as iOne), launched in 2008, is Urban One's online portfolio of digital brands complementing other media companies. The unit operates numerous digital brands, including NewsOne (a news website which curates stories from other media sources for an African-American audience),{{cite web |title=Brands: NewsOne |website=iOne Digital |url=https://ionedigital.com/newsone/ |access-date=25 January 2019}} The Urban Daily, and Hello Beautiful.Nicholas Carlson, [http://www.businessinsider.com/former-aol-entertainment-boss-mike-rich-goes-to-interactive-one-2010-7 "Former AOL Entertainment Boss Mike Rich Goes To Interactive One"], Business Insider, July 9, 2010.C. Daniel Baker, [http://www.blackenterprise.com/small-business/interactive-one-globalgrind-partner/ "Interactive One Studios Adds Russell Simmons' GlobalGrind.com to its Roster"], Black Enterprise, April 15, 2013. By 2011, Interactive was the largest network of owned and operated sites aimed at an African-American audience,Matthew Flamm, [http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20110612/FREE/306129974/urban-websites-face-off# "Urban websites face off"], Crain's New York Business, June 12, 2011. and by 2014, had reached over 18 million unique monthly users on its platform through over 80 national and local brands.[https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aCcvY._2jyrU "Interactive One Launches Elev8, a New Site Devoted to Uplifting"], PR Newswire, October 27, 2013.

In 2011, Interactive One entered into an editorial and sales partnership with NBC News, aligning NewsOne with NBC's The Grio.Tanzina Vega, [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E04E4DC1F3AF932A25754C0A9679D8B63&module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Ar%2C%7B%221%22%3A%22RI%3A9%22%7D "Black News In New Focus"], The New York Times, July 11, 2011.

In 2013, Interactive One had a partnership with Global Grind, a website founded by Russell Simmons and focused on pop culture and music content for African American and Hispanic audiences.{{cite web |first=William |last=Launder |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2013/04/15/digital-marketer-links-up-with-russell-simmons |title=Digital Marketer Links Up With Russell Simmons |publisher=The Wall Street Journal |date=April 15, 2013 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418074208/https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2013/04/15/digital-marketer-links-up-with-russell-simmons |archive-date=April 18, 2013 |url-status=live}} Global Grind was subsequently acquired by Interactive One on December 17, 2014.{{cite web |url=https://www.thewrap.com/russell-simmons-global-grind-acquired-by-interactive-one/| title=Russell Simmons' Global Grind Acquired by Interactive One |first=Jordan |last=Chariton |date=December 18, 2014 |website=TheWrap |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227140740/https://www.thewrap.com/russell-simmons-global-grind-acquired-by-interactive-one/ |archive-date=December 27, 2014 |url-status=live}} In 2015, Interactive One launched HB Studios, a video production studio focused on creating scripted and unscripted programming about women and the diversity of their experiences. The programming will be featured on the iOne Women Channel, HelloBeautiful.com, YouTube and Facebook.Todd Spangler, [https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/interactive-one-launches-digital-studio-to-produce-series-for-women-of-color-1201431092/ "Interactive One Launches Digital Studio to Produce Series for Women of Color"], Variety, February 11, 2015.Jessica Klein, [http://www.thevideoink.com/news/interactive-one-will-launch-hb-studios-doc-women-color/#.VXV_plxVhBd "Interactive One Will Launch HB Studios with Doc 'Women of Color'"], Video Ink, February 11, 2015.

Reach Media is a Texas-based media company owned by radio host Tom Joyner.

In November 2004, Radio One acquired a 53% stake in Reach for $56.1 million in cash and stock.[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-nov-23-et-quick23.4-story.html "Radio One to boost Joyner"], Los Angeles Times, November 23, 2004.Andrea K. Walker, [https://www.baltimoresun.com/2004/11/23/radio-one-to-acquire-joyner-company/ "Radio One to acquire Joyner company"], Baltimore Sun, November 23, 2004. The deal also gave Radio One ownership rights to Joyner's syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show, which was at the time airing on 115 stations to 8 million listeners; and news website [https://blackamericaweb.com/ BlackAmericaWeb.com], which had at the time approximately 800,000 members, giving Radio One its first strong Internet presence.

In 2005, Radio One and Reach Media launched a new African-American-centered talk radio network, with programming hosted by the Reverend Al Sharpton, to be broadcast on up to 10 of Radio One's stations, as well as stations owned by other companies.

In December 2012, under a new deal, Radio One increased its ownership stake in Reach Media to 80%.Ann Brown, [http://madamenoire.com/240216/radio-play-radio-one-increases-investment-in-tom-joyner%C2%B4s-reach-media/ "Radio Play: Radio One Increases Investment in Tom Joyner's Reach Media"], Madame Noire, December 5, 2012. That same month, Radio One announced that the following year, it would merge its "Syndication One" urban programming lineup with Reach Media.[http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/113125/syndication-one-to-consolidate-with-reach-media "Syndication One To Consolidate With Reach Media"], All Access, December 3, 2012.[http://theurbandaily.com/2013/03/20/alfred-liggins-and-david-kantor-on-the-radio-one-reach-media-merger "Alfred Liggins and David Kantor On The Radio One Reach Media Merger"], The Urban Daily, March 20, 2013.

{{Portal|United States|Radio}}

• Inner City Broadcasting Corporation
• Cathy Hughes
• Tom Joyner
• List of U.S. states by African-American population
• List of U.S. metropolitan areas with large African-American populations
• List of U.S. communities with African American majority populations
• List of African American neighborhoods
• List of African-American newspapers and media outlets

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• [http://home.radio-one.com Radio One official website]
• [http://www.tvoneonline.com TV One official website]
• [http://www.reachmediainc.com Reach Media official website]
• [http://www.interactiveone.com Interactive One official website]

{{Radio One}}

Category:1999 initial public offerings

Category:American companies established in 1980

Category:1980 establishments in Maryland

Category:Companies based in Silver Spring, Maryland

Category:Companies listed on the Nasdaq

Category:Mass media companies established in 1980

Category:Radio broadcasting companies of the United States

Category:Black-owned companies of the United States