NAACP & CBS TV Studios Ink Multiyear Pact to Develop Diverse Content

CBS Television Studios and the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) have entered into a multiyear partnership to develop and produce scripted and unscripted content across broadcast, cable and streaming.

CBS Television Studios’ creative leaders will work with the civil rights organization to establish a dedicated team of executives and infrastructure to acquire, develop and produce programming.

The partnership will focus on producing content that “expands the number of diverse voices contributing to an ever-evolving society, and by telling inclusive stories that increase the visibility and impact of Black artists in a growing media landscape,” the company said.

“An important way to diversify and grow our storytelling is to expand our horizons beyond the traditional studio-producer system,” said George Cheeks, president and CEO of the CBS Entertainment Group. “There is no better partner than the NAACP—the preeminent civil rights organization in our country—to help us find, develop and tell these inclusive stories. At the same time, this is a strategic opportunity for CBS to build upon as well as reimagine our pipeline for existing and emerging creative talent.”

“In this moment of national awakening, the time has never been better to further tell stories of the African American experience,” said Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP. “Programming and content have the power to shape perspectives and drive conversations around critical issues. This partnership with CBS allows us to bring compelling and important content to a broad audience.”