Stephen A. Smith announces HBCU deal amid NABJ backlash appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
During his response to the NABJ for their “Thumbs Down Award” given to him during the annual conference in Atlanta on Saturday, Smith dropped a major news bombshell. He suddenly announced that he is currently positioning himself to start producing and distributing HBCU basketball games.
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“I’m about to ink a deal where we’re broadcasting HBCU basketball games,” Smith said. “I’m going to need some Black folks working for me as talent, as producers, and beyond. That’s what I’m doing!”
Smith, a former HBCU basketball player himself under legendary coach Clarence “Big House” Gaines at Winston-Salem State, looks to be the latest media mogul to hop in the HBCU broadcasting game. Currently, Byron Allen-owned streamer HBCU Go distributes HBCU basketball throughout the season, with select games appearing on ESPN Plus and occasionally on ESPN’s television channels. The conferences also broadcast basketball matchups on their specific streaming services.
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The news comes as BET alluded in an interview with the Grio that it will also prioritize HBCU basketball on the network. It’s unclear if Smith will be a part of those plans.
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“For what it’s worth, Carr and BET have already established deals with Ice Cube’s Big 3 basketball league to broadcast games on Mondays. And in the fall, HBCU basketball will be a chief priority in terms of fall content,” The Grio reported in their feature interview with BET CEO Louis Carr.
This adds to Smith’s HBCU media advocacy as he serves as an ambassador for HBCU Week and has used ESPN’s First Take to spotlight HBCUs over the past few years with a designated HBCU tour.
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