Russell Simmons’ All Def Digital has pacted with Fusion in a multi-year deal that will see the network become home to ADD’s comedy roast franchise. The first broadcast is set as a roast of America on Election Night, November 8 at 9 PM. Like Comedy Central’s roast franchise, the plan is to assemble guests, commentators and comedians from popular culture, comedy, music, sports and politics.
The latest tie-up comes after Fusion aired urban- and millennial-centric ADD’s first annual All Def Movie Awards in February which Simmons launched amid the #OscarsSoWhite fallout; the awards show will return this season too as part of a multi-year deal. The companies also partnered on the documentary Prison Kids about the nation’s juvenile justice system.
The All Def Roast series will be produced by ADD head of programming Chris Conti and VP Programming Jeru Tillman.
ADD also has a first-look deal with HBO for TV and this month shot an All Def Comedy special based on ADD’s weekly live comedy event in Hollywood, to air on HBO on November 12. It also recently partnered with NBC’s Seeso to distribute its first digital series, Blackie Sack, along with several standup specials.
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