The First Subscription Video on Demand Service Created For African American and Urban Audiences Makes Its Set-Top Box Debut
Urban Movie Channel (UMC), the first subscription video on demand service (SVOD) created for African American and urban audiences, is now available to Comcast’s Xfinity TV customers across the country. A subsidiary of RLJ Entertainment (NASDAQ: RLJE), UMC’s launch on Xfinity TV marks the first time the SVOD service has been made available on an MVPD set-top box.
Featuring top programming in Black film and television, UMC is accessible in the home through Xfinity On Demand and on the go via the Xfinity Stream app and portal. Xfinity TV customers with X1 can use their voice remote and say “Urban Movie Channel” to pull up the offering, or they’ll be able to find it within the Black Film and TV section of Xfinity On Demand. UMC costs $4.99 per month.
“We are thrilled to be able to bring Urban Movie Channel to Xfinity on Demand,” said Traci Otey Blunt, President of UMC. “UMC offers an array of feature films, original series, drama, comedy, documentaries, and more. We’re excited to offer even more customers the ability to watch UMC’s quality urban content at their leisure.”
“Comcast is committed to showcasing a breadth and depth of content that leans into unique stories of black identity and culture,” said Keesha Boyd, Executive Director, Multicultural Products, Comcast Cable. “Launching Urban Movie Channel on Xfinity TV expands our library of culturally curated and relevant offerings for our customers to enjoy.”
New and popular programming available on UMC via Xfinity on Demand includes:
- UMC Originals such as Daytime Emmy-nominated soap opera comedy series, The Rich and the Ruthless created by and starring award-winning actress Victoria Rowell; provocative relationship drama series Craig Ross Jr.’sMonogamy, which boasts Jill Marie Jones, Brian White, and Vanessa Simmons among its star-studded ensemble cast; and the gritty Houston-based series, 5th Ward, starring Grammy Award-winning artist Mya.
- Popular feature films such as romantic comedy No Regrets, starring Brian White, Monica Calhoun, and Loretta Devine; dramatic film The Fix starring Meta Golding; and Switching Lanes, one of the last feature films directed by the late Thomas Mikal Ford.
- A robust collection of stage plays from renowned playwright David E. Talbert, including Love on Layaway, What My Husband Doesn’t Know, Love in the Nick of Tyme, and A Fool and His Money.
About UMC – Urban Movie Channel
Created by Robert L. Johnson, Chairman of RLJ Entertainment (NASDAQ: RLJE) and founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), Urban Movie Channel (UMC) is the first subscription video on demand service created for African American and urban audiences in North America that features quality urban content and showcases feature films, documentaries, original series, stand-up comedy, and other exclusive content. Keep up with UMC on Facebook at Facebook.com/UrbanMovieChannel and on Twitter/Instagram @WatchUMC.
