At least 64 local stations across the country will be celebrating Black History Month in February 2015 with an original documentary called The Journey – 450 Years of the African-American Experience, created by Stephen Arnold Music’s new branding division, Sam2.
This is the first time the music production company is dipping its toe in original content, and it looks like it’s already paid off. With local stations more cash-strapped than ever, it’s no wonder they’re looking elsewhere for original content to boost their ratings. Could this be a trend for small stations in the future? Sam2’s syndication success suggests so.
The company originally created the documentary for the city of St. Augustine, Fla, since it focuses on the role that free African-Americans played in the founding of the city. The doc is now being syndicated to stations across the country. Some are airing it as a “special,” while others are using edited versions of it as part of their show. Stations also have the option of buying The Journey and giving it to local schools for free.
“We are extremely proud to present ‘The Journey – 450 Years of the African-American Experience’ as the first Sam2 production,” Chad Cook, vice president and creative director of Stephen Arnold Music, said in a statement. “This enlightening documentary perfectly embodies the promise of Sam2: provide stations with a unique resource to engage their viewers, and can connect with their community in powerful new ways.”