In a succession of banner years, 2019 is another standout for Allen, who’s overseeing integration of The Weather Channel, partnership with Sinclair in the acquisition of 21 Fox RSNs, and the company’s eight HD networks with distribution in 160 million homes—all with an unwavering open-door policy for all employees. “We are 100% transparent because I believe all people who bring their talents to our company should have as much exposure as possible to how things are done,” says the recipient of the NATPE 2019 Brandon Tarikoff Legacy Award. Allen’s had a series of wins lately, including the return of The Weather Channel to Verizon Fios after more than four years off the lineup. Next up on his short list: The Weather Channel en Español launch in 2020, additional mergers and acquisitions, expansion of Entertainment Studios Nets’ cable presence, and a Supreme Court hearing for his racial discrimination case against Comcast and Charter.
What does your company/organization do to ensure all employees feel included?
We at Entertainment Studios have an open-door policy. We are 100 percent transparent because I believe all people who bring their talents to our company should have as much exposure as possible to how things are done. This way, they can continue to learn and grow as their intellectual capital makes them more valuable to Entertainment Studios.
Can you share a successful diversity program at your company or one you’ve observed at another company or organization?
Whenever we have meetings at Entertainment Studios, I believe it is very important to have a diverse group of people involved, because I firmly believe diverse collaboration helps to produce stronger strategies and decisions.
Which current television show/s best embrace diversity?
Our comedy game show “Funny You Should Ask” and our comedy talk show “Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen”
