Recognizing A Magnanimous Media Mogul: Mr. Byron Allen

Floor Speech

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Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an accomplished media mogul, Mr. Byron Allen, who has embodied the ideals of persistence, innovation, and integrity throughout his life and career.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Byron Allen's interest in the entertainment industry began at a young age when he was first taken to the NBC Studios in Burbank by his mother, publicist Carolyn Folks, who was--and still is--Byron's biggest supporter. At the tender age of just fourteen years old, he was already pitching jokes to show biz titans Jay Leno and David Letterman.

By 1979, at just eighteen years old, Allen had become the youngest comedian ever to appear on The Tonight Show. Following this historic and meteoric ascent in the comedy scene, Byron Allen became a host- correspondent on NBC's reality TV show Real People and secured a leading role in the 1988 film Case Closed. After both projects wrapped, Allen hosted The Byron Allen Show, a talk show that ran from 1989 to 1992.

Allen toured as a stand-up comic up until 1993, when he launched his production firm, CF Entertainment, which originally focused on low-cost TV programming. The company underwent a name change in 2003, re- emerging as Entertainment Studios, as Allen's extraordinary business acumen and strategic moves were beginning to differentiate his business as a premier player in the entertainment industry.

Entertainment Studios, once a small-scale television programming company in Los Angeles, is now a division of the larger Allen Media Group, and it has evolved into one of the largest cable network portfolios in the broadcasting industry, featuring ten, 24-hour HD television networks. The company has produced and distributed Emmy Award-winning shows while handling advertising for dozens of television programs. Its growth has continued through major acquisitions: In 2016, Allen Media Group acquired The Grio, a digital media leader creating compelling content for African American audiences. In 2018, Allen Media Group acquired the universally recognized Weather Channel, one of the crown jewels of cable television.

Still, Byron Allen's influence extends far beyond his business triumphs, and he has always worked to give back to his community. The Allen Media Group is the first African American owned media studio producing and distributing wide-release motion pictures and content for all platforms. In pursuit of racial equity in advertising dollars and channel carriage, he has successfully led lawsuits that secured settlements with the major corporations McDonalds and Comcast. Allen is also a noted philanthropist, helping to raise tens of millions of dollars for charitable causes.

Over the years, Allen has established himself as a prominent Black entertainment mogul who holds the principle of equity in extremely high regard. He recognizes the disadvantages that underrepresented communities face, and he has vigorously advocated for diversity and inclusion at all levels of his career.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize Byron Allen in the hope of encapsulating a man who has left a lasting mark on entertainment without ever straying from his moral undertaking of corporate social responsibility. Byron Allen is a role model for us all and has led a trailblazing life dedicated to excellence and the molding of a better, more equitable future.

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