Urban Movie SVOD service names leader

Traci Otey Blunt will oversee the Urban Movie Channel after being named president of the US streaming service.

UMC was launched in 2014 by RLJ Entertainment chairman and BET channel founder Robert Johnson.

It is programmed with African American-skewing films, series and factual content.

Blunt has been upped from executive VP, corporate marketing and corporate affairs, a role that saw her work on the launch of UMC in the US.

She has now been upped to president. Before working in TV she held roles in the political affairs and PR sectors.

“Under Traci’s leadership and management, UMC has built a strong business foundation to grow its subscriber base and distribute compelling content to its target audience,” Robert Johnson said.

“UMC has attracted talented producers and writers from the African American creative community and has acquired films and other content featuring some of the most prominent Black actors and actresses. I am confident that Traci and her team will make UMC a successful and valuable digital channel for RLJ Entertainment.”

Blunt sais her immediate strategic goals were “to grow our subscriber base by creating a destination for the UMC audience to find compelling and original content created by the most talented African American writers and producers”.

“UMC will create a business model where the often-underemployed African American creative community will find a place to showcase their work product and be compensated by subscribers who enjoy watching UMC entertainment.”