Stuart Miller When Byron Allenwas just 14, he started doing stand-up comedy. Four years later, in 1979, he became the youngest comedian to appear on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.” It was a launching pad for an entertainment career that included a stint on “Real People,” a lead role in “Case Closed,” a TV movie he co-wrote and a syndicated late-night show bearing his name.
But all along, Allen had his eyes on a much bigger prize. “Growing up in Detroit, I was fascinated by Berry Gordy and Henry Ford,” says Allen. “I read about them and about John D.
Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie. They were my heroes. I studied them and knew I wanted to build something big and iconic. That was always my desire.” That something proved to be Allen Media Group, which encompasses Entertainment Studios (founded 30 years ago as CF Entertainment) and its expanding portfolio — the company owns 10 cable networks, including the Weather Channel, JusticeCentral.TV, Cars.TV and Pets.TV, a theatrical movie distribution company and, most recently, a growing stable of broadcast stations, with a special emphasis on stations affiliated with the Big Four broadcast networks.
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