Faith-Based Impact Network Moves Into Entertainment With Chief Creative Officer, Detroit Production Facility (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterAfrican American-founded, faith-based channel Impact Network is making a big push into entertainment and lifestyle content with the ramping up of its Saturday programming slate, the hiring of a new chief creative officer and executive producer of original content, and the launch of a 6,000-foot production facility in Detroit with a music division, Variety has learned exclusively.The privately owned Impact Network has a reach of 80 million homes and distribution deals with DirecTV, Comcast Xfinity, Charter Spectrum, Verizon Fios, Frontier, Cable Bahamas, Cox and Altice USA.

Founder and CEO Bishop Wayne T. Jackson is looking to increase that footprint by beefing up the channel’s previously announced “Super Saturdays” block of programming, which will include talker/cooking show “Soul Food With Tara Wallace” and the Fredro Starr-hosted “Behind the Grind,” with the additions of music-video countdown show “Turn Up!” and “Impact-Plus,” an initiative that will give independent and established creators a platform to present their original content on Impact Network.

Leading this effort is Bishop Wayne T. Jackson’s son Royal Jackson, who has been promoted from director of marketing to Impact Network’s newly created role of chief creative officer and executive producer of original content.

He will oversee all crossover efforts for the network and manage programming, as well as produce and direct select content for the expanding lifestyle block.“As newly named chief creative officer, I am excited to expand the network’s reach into crossover mainstream programming as we continue to inspire and engage our loyal audience base while gaining new viewers,” Royal Jackson said.