June 19th 2024.
Over the years, there has been a significant rise in Black-focused streaming services, with some major names and companies such as Whoopi Goldberg and BET backing them, while others have a more grassroots approach. This has resulted in a wider range of options for Black subscribers who are looking to directly support Black creatives instead of contributing to the profits of companies like Amazon and Disney.
In February, it was revealed that Whoopi Goldberg was not only an equity investor but also a creative force behind Larry Adams's Blkfam streaming service. Adams shared with The Hollywood Reporter that the idea for a streaming service focused on Black family content came to him while scrolling through another network's Black Voices section, which he found lacking in accurate representation.
During his time working on the go-to-market strategy for HBO Max, Adams and his team identified families as a key demographic for streaming services. He explained that families tend to have multiple streaming subscriptions and with the rise of unbundled services, this number could increase up to eight. This realization led him to create Blkfam, a platform that offers curated content specifically for Black families to watch together or individually.
Unlike other streaming services, Blkfam is ad-supported, meaning subscribers do not have to pay for the service. It is available on various devices, including iOS, Android, Prime Video Channels, Roku, YouTube TV, Vizio, LG, Samsung, and Fire TV. Additionally, Adams is exploring ways to integrate brands as co-producers of content, providing the platform with additional funding.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Adams discussed the synergistic relationship he and Goldberg aim to cultivate. He praised her deep understanding of how great content is produced and her wealth of intellectual property. He also highlighted her ability to curate content, making her an invaluable asset to the platform.
Another popular Black-focused streaming service is BET+, launched in 2019 by Black Entertainment Television in partnership with Tyler Perry. The service boasts approximately 2,000 hours of Black content and is billed as a premium service with a monthly subscription fee of $9.99.
Prior to Perry's move to Netflix, the network faced criticism for being too focused on his programming. However, this has now been replaced with concerns about the platform's limited viewership, which may not be sufficient to support breakout shows like Diarra From Detroit. This show, created and starring Diarra Kilpatrick, received praise from Washington Post critic Helena Andrews-Dyer. In an interview with Kilpatrick, she highlighted the rarity of being given the space to create a Black show without having to fight for its existence. This is especially significant as Kilpatrick is a dark-skinned Black woman over the age of 35, a demographic often overlooked in the entertainment industry.
Recently, Jemele Hill, a prominent sports journalist, had the opportunity to make a cameo on Diarra From Detroit and praised the show for its compelling and comedic mystery. She also got to hang out with Kilpatrick in their city, discussing all things related to the show. This showcases the positive impact that these Black-focused streaming services have on the Black community, not just in terms of representation, but also in creating opportunities for collaboration and support among Black creatives.
Currently, there has been a rise in the number of streaming services that cater specifically to the Black community. These services have the support of well-known names and companies such as Whoopi Goldberg and BET, but there are also some that have a more grassroots approach.
The result of this increase in Black-focused streaming services is that there is now more variety for Black subscribers. Instead of supporting big corporations like Amazon or Disney, these subscribers can choose to directly support Black creatives or apps that cater specifically to Black viewers.
One of these streaming services is Blkfam, which was recently revealed to have Whoopi Goldberg as an equity investor and creative force behind its creation. According to Larry Adams, the founder of Blkfam, he came up with the idea for the service while scrolling through another network's "Black Voices" section and realizing the lack of accurate representation.
Adams, who previously worked on developing the go-to-market strategy for HBO Max, recognized the importance of catering to families in the streaming industry. He explained that families are the ones who subscribe to multiple streaming services, and with the shift towards a more unbundled world, they will need a variety of content sources. Adams saw a gap in the market for a streaming service that specifically catered to Black families, and thus, Blkfam was born.
Blkfam is currently an ad-supported platform, meaning subscribers do not have to pay for the service. It is available on various devices such as iOS, Android, Prime Video Channels, Roku, and more. Adams is also exploring options for integrating brands as co-producers of content, which would provide additional funding for the platform.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Adams discussed the synergistic relationship he and Goldberg hope to cultivate. He praised Goldberg's expertise in entertainment and her valuable IP, which includes a book series and show ideas that will be brought to life on the platform. He also highlighted her role as an arbiter of taste for the content on Blkfam.
Another notable streaming service focused on Black content is BET+, which launched in 2019 in partnership with Tyler Perry. This service contains approximately 2,000 hours of Black content and is marketed as a premium service, with a monthly subscription cost of $9.99.
Before Perry's move to Netflix, BET was often criticized for being too focused on his programming. However, this criticism has now shifted to concerns about the platform's viewership base being too small to support breakout shows like "Diarra From Detroit."
In a review for The Washington Post, critic Helena Andrews-Dyer spoke to the creator and star of "Diarra From Detroit," Diarra Kilpatrick. Kilpatrick praised BET+ for giving her the space and support to create her show without having to fight for its existence. She also highlighted how rare it is to have a show centered on a Black woman who is over 35 and darker than a paper bag.
Recently, Jemele Hill had the opportunity to make a cameo on "Diarra From Detroit" and had a chance to chat with Kilpatrick in their city. Hill described the show as a compelling, comedic mystery that will keep viewers guessing. She also expressed her pride in the show and its rarity in the entertainment industry.
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