Named president in October 2020, Rice is committed to setting a new vision for the TV One Networks that includes elevating new voices in the Black community while also establishing a dynamic work culture and strong financial growth. She continues to seek out new carriage for CLEO TV, which counts AT&T, Charter, Comcast and Verizon among its MVPD partners. Last year, she helped guide TV One to its first vMVPD distribution deal with Philo TV. Rice says that her boss Urban One CEO Alfred Liggins has been a champion for her since she began working in sales at the network’s inception. “He knew I could lead the network to strengthen partnerships, develop strategic alliances and expand distribution for both TV One and CLEO TV—all of which has uniquely positioned our networks to navigate the changing broadcast environment and catapult them to even greater success,” she says.
How would you rate the industry regarding gender bias in shows/characters?
I would rate it NSI: ‘Needs Significant Improvement’. The conversations about this at other/mainstream networks are more all-encompassing than they have been in the past. It’s not just about putting a Black movie here or having a Black TV show there. It’s about having Black people – black women, in particular – in production and programing roles that have true green-light power to make sure that we’re putting things on the air that are true, authentic and quality representations of all people of color.
Do you have an example of male allyship that made a difference to you?
Yes, absolutely. Alfred Liggins, Urban One CEO and my boss, is the one that allowed me the opportunity to be President of TV One. He saw my accomplishments from the start, when I began working in sales at the network at its inception. He knew I could lead the network to strengthen partnerships, develop strategic alliances and expand distribution for both TV One and CLEO TV – all of which has uniquely positioned our networks to navigate the changing broadcast environment and catapult them to even greater success.
