Black-oriented television network Bounce TV has been acquired by Scripps Networks Interactive. The announcement was made in a press release earlier this week. Scripps also acquired Grit, Escape and Laff.

Just recently, Discovery Communications announced its acquisition of Scripps in a $14.6 billion deal. Discovery Communications also owns the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). So with Scripps now buying Bounce, and Discovery Communications buying Scripps, it means Discovery will now own 2 black TV networks – Bounce and OWN. However, note that both networks launched in 2011, so both are still very young in terms of TV networks.

This announcement leaves TV One as the only ‘black TV network’ which is fully black-owned.

Consolidation in the media space continues in 2017, with hot deals this year alone including Sinclair Broadcasting purchasing Tribune Media (parent company of WGN America), as well as AT&T’s blockbuster $85.4 billion bid for Time Warner which received FCC approval, but still faces Department of Justice anti-trust review. Additionally, Lionsgate Studios purchased the Starz network family of channels. And even more major deals are expected, with the likes of giants like Disney and Apple eyed to make moves of their own.

How all this M&A activity will affect you, the viewer, and more specifically what this purchase by Scripps/Discovery might mean for the fledgling Bounce TV’s future programming offerings, remains to be seen.

A network that only recently entered the original scripted series arena, and with some success, Bounce’s programming features original dramas and off-network series, movies, specials, live sports and more. The network just recently renewed its shows Saints & Sinners, Family Time and In The Cut, and also will debut a new comedy, Grown Folks.

Scripps

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