Magic Johnson Launches New TV Channel
Updated: 06/28/2012 03:43 PM
By: George Whipple
Magic Johnson's new TV channel, called Aspire, launched Wednesday with programming aimed at African-American families. NY1's George Whipple filed the following report.
NBA Hall of Famer and entrepreneur Earvin "Magic" Johnson has launched his own television network. Its goal is to deliver positive programming to African-American families and will include movies, documentaries, short films, music comedy, and classic TV shows like The Cosby Show. The network is called Aspire.
"We need to aspire to be something else, to grow, to be able to dream, to reach our golden dream," Johnson said. "That's what Aspire is all about, to aspire to be whoever you want to be."
Many of the stars at the event aspire to be in the position that Magic has found himself.
"In all aspects of life, you know, business, sports, just everything, he's been a role model," said Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony.
"Using his basketball as a platform to catapult him to where he is now, being a good person, very positive person," said former Knicks player and current Knicks broadcaster Walt "Clyde" Frazier. "But you've got to admire him with the HIV, how he's been able to overcome that and now tremendous success as a businessman."
Magic spoke a little bit about the positive images that will be showing up on Aspire.
"We're looking for family content, smart content that will come on Aspire and give everybody a chance to really have a big platform that hasn't been given an opportunity," he said.
Ever the entrepreneur, Magic just did a deal with Time Warner Cable, the parent company of NY1.
The deal was done so quickly that Johnson didn't know what channel his station was. Well, we want to let you know that Magic is on channel 171 on Time Warner Cable.
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