Allen Media Group, the first African-American owned and multi-platform media company, owns 36 ABC-NBC-CBS-FOX network affiliate TV stations in 21 U.S. markets, as well as 12 HD television networks serving nearly 220 million subscribers 24 hours a day. With brands including The Weather Channel, TheGrio and Pets.TV, the company has prospered by investing aggressively in high-quality production values, and in deeply localized programming. Founder and Chairman – and former stand-up comedian – Byron Allen discusses how he beat the odds to build a broadcasting empire by challenging content models, taking risks and embracing what’s close to home.