From 2016 until 2021, TheGrio TV (as Light TV) featured several series and movies meant to fit the network's family-oriented approach, including content from the MGM film and TV library or acquired through outside sources.
Infomercials were added to the Light TV lineup in 2019, occupying all of the overnight hours and into the early morning.
Light TV (2015–2021) The then-new
over-the-top (OTT) faith-based channel was under development as early as September 2014 when MGM purchased 55% of One Three Media and LightWorkers Media, owned by Hearst Entertainment,
Mark Burnett and
Roma Downey, and consolidated them into United Artists Media Group. With MGM purchasing Hearst and Burnett and Downey's shares in UAMG, the channel was still a planned streaming service. However, Hearst and Burnett and Downey retained their stakes in the channel. MGM announced the formation of Light TV on December 15, 2015, with a launch planned for December on thirteen major market stations owned by
Fox Television Stations. The network launched on January 20, 2016 with two stations, and the rest of the group's stations. The network was intended to carry new and original content from LightWorkers as part of Burnett's chairmanship of MGM's television division, but never ended up carrying any new content, only featuring rerun and library content already seen on MGM's
This TV (a film-oriented network) and
MGM HD, along with low-cost barter programming such as
Heartland, which was already in wide syndication across multiple channels, and other generic inspirational or family-friendly content. By 2019, the network added
paid programming which made up its late night and early morning schedule, reducing its programming commitment further.
Current programming Below is a current list of programming broadcast on TheGrio: • ''
America's Court with Judge Ross'' (November 1, 2021) •
Animal Rescue •
Comics Unleashed (November 1, 2021) •
Equal Justice with Judge Eboni K. Williams •
Funny You Should Ask • HBCU GO sports – coverage of college athletics at
historically black colleges and universities, especially
college football and the
bands of those teams •
Justice for All with Judge Christina Perez •
Justice with Judge Mablean (November 1, 2021) •
Masters of the Game •
Supreme Justice with Judge Karen Mills (November 1, 2021) •
The Verdict with Judge Hatchett (November 1, 2021) •
We the People with Judge Lauren Lake •
Wild Times at the San Diego Zoo Former programming •
The First Family •
Jeremiah •
Mr. Box Office •
TheGrio News with Eboni K. Williams •
TheGrio News with Marc Lamont Hill Light TV •
The Adventures of Paddington Bear (2016–2019) •
All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series (December 22, 2016 – September 29, 2019) •
Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? (2016–2019, 2020–January 14, 2021) •
The Busy World of Richard Scarry (December 22, 2016 – October 2, 2020) •
The Country Mouse and the City Mouse Adventures (December 22, 2016 – October 2, 2020) •
Flipper •
Flipper – The New Adventures • ''
Franny's Feet'' (2017–September 30, 2019) •
Green Acres (2016–2018; October 1, 2019 – January 14, 2021) •
Heartland •
Heathcliff (October 6, 2018 – September 30, 2019) •
Highway to Heaven (December 22, 2016 – January 14, 2021) •
Inspector Gadget (December 22, 2016 – October 5, 2018 & October 1, 2019 – April 2020) • ''
It's About Time'' (October 5, 2019 – January 14, 2021) •
Madeline (December 22, 2016 – September 30, 2019) •
Mister Ed •
My Mother the Car (October 5, 2019 – January 14, 2021) •
Naturally, Sadie (October 1, 2019 – April 2020) •
The Patty Duke Show (September 3, 2018 – January 14, 2021) •
The Pink Panther Show (December 24, 2016 – September 29, 2019) •
Sea Hunt • ''
Wimzie's House'' (December 22, 2016 – September 30, 2019) ==References==