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)





[05/13/26 - 08:31 AM]
MVP and Netflix Announce On-Air Talent for Rousey vs. Carano
On Saturday, May 16, the Rousey vs. Carano preliminary card begins at 6:00pm ET / 3:00pm PT on Netflix's Tudum and MVP's YouTube Channel, with the main card starting at 9:00pm ET / 6:00pm PT, live only on Netflix.

[05/13/26 - 08:30 AM]
The CW Network and ESPN Reach Sublicense Broadcast Agreement for ACC Football and Basketball Games Through 2030-31 Season
As part of this long-term relationship, The CW will air 14 regular season football games, 30 men's basketball games, and 10 women's basketball games each season.

[05/13/26 - 08:12 AM]
Warner Bros. Discovery's Cable Portfolio Primes Programming Slate with Over 3,000 Premiere Hours Including 225 New and Returning Series
"Our brands are unstoppable, delivering the most talked about and must-watch unscripted series on TV today," said Channing Dungey, Chairman and CEO of the Warner Bros.

[05/13/26 - 08:07 AM]
Max Original Comedy Series "Stuart Fails to Save the Universe" Debuts July 23
New episodes will debut subsequent Thursdays.

[05/13/26 - 07:56 AM]
ESPN Networks Delivered Second Most-Watched WNBA Regular-Season Game Ever with Dallas Wings vs Indiana Fever on May 9
ESPN today announced that the Dallas Wings vs. Indiana Fever matchup on May 9 at 1 p.m. ET on ABC averaged 2.5 million viewers, making it the second most-watched WNBA regular-season game across ESPN networks ever.

[05/13/26 - 03:01 AM]
Video: The Trailer for the Second Season of "My Family" Only on Netflix June 10
Despite the love, despite the commitment, keeping the promise made to Fausto proved impossible.

[05/13/26 - 12:01 AM]
Netflix Announces Danish Adaptation of "Love Is Blind"
"Love Is Blind: Denmark" will be produced by Mastiff DK, with production scheduled to begin this year.

[05/12/26 - 05:22 PM]
Fandom Takes Center Stage as Disney's Sports, TV and Film Powerhouses Command the North Javits Center
Energized by on stage appearances from more than 100 notable figures, the presentation underscored Disney's position at the forefront of the global media industry and its ambitious path ahead, driven by the powerful intersection of fandom, storytelling, innovation, and creative culture redefining the future of the industry.

[05/12/26 - 04:01 PM]
Video: "Human Vapor" - Official Teaser - Netflix
A legendary Toho film is rebooted with a brand-new story.

[05/12/26 - 02:29 PM]
CFP Contenders and Non-Conference Clashes Headline ESPN's Industry-Leading, Early-Season College Football Schedule Reveal at Disney Upfront
Nine of ESPN.com's Way-Too-Early Top 25 are featured in the schedule release, including No. 1 Ohio State, No. 5 Texas, No. 7 Miami, No. 8 Texas Tech, No. 9 Ole Miss and No. 11 LSU.

[05/12/26 - 02:29 PM]
The Grammy Awards Set to Take Place Sunday, Feb. 7, 2027, and Will Air Live on ABC and Stream on Disney+ and Hulu
The upcoming ceremony marks a historic shift for the organization as the 2027 Grammy Awards will be the first ceremony to air on ABC since 1972, ushering in a new era for the most celebrated night in music.

[05/12/26 - 02:29 PM]
Disney and the Country Music Association Extend Relationship Through 2032
As part of the new agreement, the CMA Awards will stream live on Disney+ for the first time ever, alongside its traditional broadcast on ABC, kicking off with "The 60th Annual CMA Awards" on Wednesday, November 18, 2026.

[05/12/26 - 02:24 PM]
ESPN's "College GameDay Built by The Home Depot" Kicks Off 40th Season in Baton Rouge with 500th Show on the Road
Following Baton Rouge, College GameDay will travel to Austin, Texas on September 12 for a battle of powerhouse programs in Week 2 as the Texas Longhorns host Ohio State in a rematch of last season's 14-7 Buckeyes' win in Columbus.

[05/12/26 - 02:06 PM]
Paul Anthony Kelly Joins Cast of FX's "American Horror Story" Installment 13 Coming This Fall to FX and Hulu
FX's "American Horror Story," the global phenomenon that has garnered more than 100 Emmy nominations since its launch in 2011, returns for an unrivaled 13th installment that will do justice to everyone's most feared number.

[05/12/26 - 01:55 PM]
Disney+ Becomes the Exclusive Home of the Banana Bowl This October
Known for blending athleticism with entertainment, the game will include one of the biggest performances the league has ever seen, bringing together all six teams, along with its signature on-field showmanship from first pitch to final out.