Jonathan Rodgers

“I am a child of television and for 50 years of my life, I’ve wanted there to be a channel like this. This is an idea that is long overdue…the programming will be worthy and the demand will be voracious. TV One will give the African American community something to be proud of.”
―Johnathan Rodgers | CEO

Johnathan Rodgers has been named president and CEO of a new cable television network targeting adult African American and urban viewers that will be launched later this year by Comcast Corporation, the nation’s largest cable operator, and Radio One, the largest radio broadcaster primarily targeting African-American and urban listeners.

Rodgers was president of Discovery Networks U.S. for six years, where he was responsible for the programming, marketing, research, distribution, operations and ad sales of the highly regarded television group which included the Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Discovery Kids and the Travel Channel.

“Johnathan has an incredible track record in operating top-quality, financially successful television ventures,” said Alfred Liggins, president and CEO of Radio One and chairman of the to-be-named cable network. “While at the Discovery Networks he helped launch Animal Planet and re-launch the Travel Channel. That experience plus his strong programming skills will be invaluable as we move forward with this new enterprise to bring high-quality entertainment programming to the African American and urban television audience.”

“I am delighted and honored to be a part of this historic new enterprise,” Rodgers said. “I am confident that Radio One’s marketing prowess in urban markets combined with Comcast’s tremendous resources and experience in cable operations and programming will help ensure that this network becomes a prime destination for adult television viewers,” Rodgers said.

I'm on the late freight with regard to TV One. I had heard about it but I didn't know that it had progressed this far. I picked up some buzz about it this weekend at a birthday party. A friend of a friend is involved with the channel. I'm looking forward to seeing it in the lineup.