or


[07/30/15 - 01:06 PM]
HBO and Russell Simmons Enter Into Overall Production and Development Deal
Simmons has five active projects with the world's leading premium television service, three of which are being developed through his media company, All Def Digital (ADD).

[via press release from HBO]

HBO AND RUSSELL SIMMONS ENTER INTO OVERALL PRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT DEAL

Network Developing Several New Series And Specials With Simmons For Premium Television; Pact Builds Upon Successful Producing Partnership Beginning With Hit Series "Def Comedy Jam" And "Def Poetry Jam"

LOS ANGELES, July 30, 2015 - HBO has made an overall first-look deal for premium television with visionary multi-platform producer Russell Simmons' new media company All Def Digital (ADD). Under the terms of the agreement, the Def Jam Records co-founder and his team will create and develop a wide range of television projects for HBO.

Simmons has five active projects with the world's leading premium television service, three of which are being developed through his media company, All Def Digital (ADD).

HBO and Simmons are collaborating on:

* A new series that curates the best acts from All Def Digital's weekly live comedy night. Every week, ADD produces a live event in Hollywood featuring the best new comedians in the country.

* HBO and ADD are also developing "These Are My Friends," a new comedy series created by independent filmmaker Shaka King that takes an original and authentic look at hip-hop culture. The series follows four real-life rap and hip-hop artists as they struggle to keep their dream alive. Real friends, real rappers, real comedy, real life.

* A comedy series through ADD with the Broken Lizard comedy troupe, which brought audiences cult classics like "Super Troopers" and "Beerfest." "The Broken Lizard Show" will take an innovative and comedic look at race when, hundreds of years in the future, a space ship exploring the galaxy discovers the last white man in the universe.

* Simmons is also executive producing the highly-anticipated HBO limited series "Codes of Conduct," directed and developed by Academy Award(R)-winner Steve McQueen ("12 Years a Slave"). The six-episode limited series is written by McQueen and screenwriter Matthew Michael Carnahan ("World War Z"), and executive produced by McQueen, Simmons, Iain Canning ("The King's Speech"), Emile Sherman ("The King's Speech") and Alan Poul (HBO's "The Newsroom"). "Codes of Conduct" stars newcomer Devon Terrell as a young man with a mysterious past who enters New York's high society. Paul Dano, Helena Bonham Carter and Rebecca Hall are also featured

* Simmons, alongside Stan Lathan, is producing a Def Comedy Jam 25th Anniversary Special that will feature an all-star lineup of comedians celebrating the longest-running and most influential comedy showcase on cable television.

"We always speak of having distinct voices at HBO, and few in the industry are as unique and intelligent as Russell," says Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming. "He's been a part of our family for a long time, and we are so pleased to be continuing our relationship."

"HBO has been like a home to me for a generation," says Simmons. "I am enormously proud of the broad range of programming they have nurtured. Together, we have discovered new voices and helped launch emerging artists that deserved a mainstream platform. I am even more excited by the next generation of talent and shows that we are developing through All Def Digital TV."

Simmons' relationship with HBO dates back to 1992, when he co-created "Def Comedy Jam," the landmark series that helped make household names of Jamie Foxx, Chris Tucker, Martin Lawrence, Bernie Mac, Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart and many others. In 2002 Simmons launched the Peabody Award-winning "Def Poetry Jam." A Broadway version of the series earned Simmons a Tony Award.

As co-founder of Def Jam Recordings with producer Rick Rubin in 1984, Simmons oversaw the signing of seminal hip-hop acts, including Run-DMC, Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, LL Cool J, Jay Z and Kanye West. He also founded the iconic retail brands Phat Farm and Baby Phat and the trailblazing Rushcard debit card business. He has written three New York Times bestselling books on happiness and well-being, including 2014's "Success Through Stillness: Meditation Made Simple."

ABOUT HBO

Home Box Office, Inc. is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. and the world's most successful pay TV service, providing the two television services - HBO(R) and Cinemax(R) - to approximately 122 million subscribers worldwide. The services offer the popular subscription video-on-demand products HBO On Demand(R) and Cinemax On Demand(R), as well as HBO GO(R) and MAX GO(R), HD feeds and multiplex channels. HBO NOWSM, the network's internet only premium streaming service, provides audiences with instant access to HBO's acclaimed programming in the U.S. Internationally, HBO branded television networks, along with the subscription video-on-demand products HBO On Demand and HBO GO, bring HBO services to over 60 countries. HBO and Cinemax programming is sold into over 150 countries worldwide.

ABOUT ALL DEF DIGITAL

All Def Digital (ADD) is the leading multi-platform media company for millennials focusing on urban youth culture through video programming across comedy, music, lifestyle and topical and timely social commentary. The company nurtures new and established artists and produces and incubates a broad spectrum of original content through an efficient and transformative media model leveraged across social video platforms, traditional and premium television and motion picture development, live events, and its own record label in partnership with Universal Music Group. ADD also includes a highly curated and growing network of talent - from traditional writers and stand up comics to social video stars, from poets to hip hop recording artists. ADD partners with global brands to create immersive and authentic social content experiences with unique talent voices. In its first year of operations, ADD is among the most subscribed-to and watched YouTube channels for urban comedy and music. The company is based in Los Angeles, California, with offices in New York. Its investors include Nu Horizons, Greycroft Partners, e.ventures and Advancit Capital.





  [july 2015]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· BROKEN LIZARD SHOW (HBO)
· CODES OF CONDUCT (HBO)
· RUSSELL SIMMONS PRESENTS: DEF COMEDY JAM (HBO)
· RUSSELL SIMMONS PRESENTS: DEF POETRY (HBO)
· THESE ARE MY FRIENDS (HBO)
· UNTITLED ALL DEF DIGITAL PROJECT (HBO)





[12/03/25 - 12:30 PM]
CBS Announces Second Season Orders for the Top Two New Broadcast Series - #1 "Boston Blue" and #2 "Sheriff Country"
The series average 8 million viewers and 7.6 million viewers, respectively, in Nielsen live plus 7-day multiplatform ratings.

[12/03/25 - 11:59 AM]
"9-1-1: Nashville" Season Premiere Catapults to Over 19 Million Total Viewers
Over 35 days, ABC's Thursday night drama premieres amassed impressive audiences based on competitive cross-platform broadcast series rankings, with all three dramas landing in the Top 10 among Adults 18-49.

[12/03/25 - 11:27 AM]
Star-Studded Cast of Cooking Disasters Take on Culinary Boot Camp in "Worst Cooks in America: Reality Check"
This season, Chefs Jeff Mauro and Tiffany Derry are on a mission to transform an all-star cast from cooking disasters to kitchen masters with an intense culinary boot camp like no other.

[12/03/25 - 11:25 AM]
Fresh Off Successful Theatrical Run, Great American Media Announces "Another Sweet Christmas," Starring Candace Cameron Bure and Cameron Mathison, Streams Exclusively on Great American Pure Flix, Beginning December 18
The sequel to "Home Sweet Christmas" also premieres on Great American Family and GFAM+, Saturday, December 20 (8 p.m. ET).

[12/03/25 - 11:00 AM]
Hulu Renews "Chad Powers" for a Second Season
Glen Powell will return as the titular character.

[12/03/25 - 11:00 AM]
Broadcast Talent Announced for Inaugural Optum Golf Channel Games December 17 in Primetime on Golf Channel and USA Network
Current PGA Tour player Keith Mitchell will serve as an analyst for coverage of the Optum Golf Channel Games alongside longtime Golf Channel commentator Steve Sands, who will provide play-by-play commentary.

[12/03/25 - 10:31 AM]
Louis Carr Appointed President of BET
Carr assumes leadership of BET from Scott Mills, who earlier today announced his departure after 23 years at the company.

[12/03/25 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "A Thousand Blows" - Season 2 Trailer - Hulu
It's the dawn of a new era.

[12/03/25 - 10:01 AM]
HBO Original Documentary "Music Box: Counting Crows: Have You Seen Me Lately?" Debuts December 18
The film is an intimate documentary chronicling the rise of the band Counting Crows and the unrelenting pressure that followed their breakout success.

[12/03/25 - 09:32 AM]
Get Ready to Hit the Casino with a New Untitled Vegas Television Series
The new series from the creators of "Billions" is executive produced by the legendary Martin Scorsese.

[12/03/25 - 09:00 AM]
The Unbelievable True Story of "Roofman" Premieres on Paramount+ December 9
Channing Tatum stars as the film's titular character, as well as a stellar cast including Kirsten Dunst, Ben Mendelsohn, LaKeith Stanfield, Juno Temple, Uzo Aduba, Lily Collias, Jimmy O. Yang and Peter Dinklage.

[12/03/25 - 08:57 AM]
Record NFL Viewership Caps Thanksgiving Night on NBC, Peacock, and Telemundo
Bengals-Ravens is the most-watched Thanksgiving night NFL game ever with an average of 28.4 million viewers.

[12/03/25 - 08:55 AM]
"NFL on CBS" Shatters Record for Most-Watched Regular-Season Game in NFL History with More Than 57 Million Viewers
Viewership peaked with 61.357 million viewers for the game's thrilling conclusion (7:45-8:00 PM ET).

[12/03/25 - 08:49 AM]
FOX Sports Feasts on Thanksgiving Day with 47.7 Million Viewers for Packers-Lions
Viewership peaked with 57,957,000 viewers from 4:00-4:15 PM ET.

[12/03/25 - 08:47 AM]
Most-Watched NBA on ESPN Thanksgiving Eve in Six Years
The inaugural tripleheader averaged 2,099,000 viewers, up 54 percent from last year's Thanksgiving Eve doubleheader, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel.