Michelle L. Rice was named President of TV One and CLEO TV in October 2020. Previously, Rice served as General Manager since 2017. She continues to have oversight of all business, operational and creative aspects for both networks.
Rice shepherded the development and launch of TV One’s new sister network, CLEO TV, an aspirational lifestyle and entertainment TV network serving Millennial and Gen X women of color that launched in January 2019. Since its launch, Rice has successfully leveraged relationships to expand distribution of CLEO TV on AT&T, Charter, Comcast, and Verizon’s platforms. Under her leadership, TV One solidified its first vMVPD distribution deal with Philo TV and has continued to grow its distribution footprint. She continues to play a pivotal role in working with strategic partners to create linear and digital content campaigns in response to a myriad of political and social issues that profoundly impact communities of color.
Rice was previously Executive Vice President of Content Distribution and Marketing for TV One. In that role, she developed distribution strategies and handled national accounts negotiations with major multichannel video programming distributors (MPVDs) to increase and maximize TV One’s content distribution opportunities on mobile, linear and non-linear distribution platforms. She also handled domestic and international program sales and distribution for the network.
Before joining TV One, Rice had stints at iNDemand, NBC Cable Network and Black Entertainment Television (BET), where she started her career through the Walter Kaitz Fellowship program in 1993.
A graduate of Temple University and the University of Southern California, Rice was honored by her alma mater with the Lew Klein Alumni in Media Award. Additionally, Temple University’s Lew Klein College of Media and Communication appointed her to its board in 2021. A recipient of numerous awards, Rice has been named to CableFAX’s Top 100 in Cable, Top Minorities in Cable and Top Women in Cable. She’s also been recognized as a NAMIC Emerging Leader, Broadcasting & Cable’s “Next Wave of Leaders,” “40 under 40” by Multichannel News, and one of Multichannel News’ Wonder Women. Rice was also a finalist in CableFAX’s Sales Executive of the Year Awards in 2012 and led the team, which was awarded CableFAX’s Sales Team of the Year for mid-sized cable networks. Rice has been featured in publications such as “Black Enterprise,” “Variety,” “Deadline,” “TV Week” and “The Root.” She was highlighted as a trailblazer in “CableFAX’s” Black History Month Special Report and in 2020, Rice was recognized by the Washington Business Journal’s with the Minority Business Leadership Award. Most recently, Rice was inducted into the Class of 2022 Cable TV Pioneers, the most prestigious award honoring and uplifting leaders in the cable TV industry.
Rice is actively involved on the Boards of several local civic, community and charitable organizations, including Easterseals, Calvary Women’s Services and United Way of the Nation’s Capital. Additionally, she is a member and staunch supporter of both the Washington Area Women Foundation and International Women’s Forum. She currently resides in Maryland with her family.
ABOUT TV ONE NETWORKS
TV One Networks is the hub of black culture and entertainment with a broad offering of original programming and classic series, serving diverse audiences for both TV One and CLEO TV. Launched in January 2004, TV One currently serves 49 million households and CLEO TV, launched in January 2019, is the sister network available in 44 million households. Each network has a unique audience that serves viewers with fan favorites. For TV One, this includes Unsung, Uncensored, Fatal Attraction, Payback, Life Therapy, Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story and Urban One Honors. CLEO TV, a lifestyle and entertainment network targeting Millennial and Gen X women of color, delivers content that uplifts and inspires today’s modern-day woman. Viewers of CLEO TV can expect award-winning content both original and acquired series including Culture Kitchen, Living by Design, New Soul Kitchen, Just Eats with Chef JJ, Tia Mowry’s Quick Fix and All Things Adrienne House to Home. Both networks are solely owned by Urban One, Inc., formerly known as Radio One, Inc., the largest African-American owned and operated multi-media company.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Nyree Wright, Senior Vice President of Public Relations
