Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studios, one of the largest independent producers and distributors of first-run syndicated television programming for broadcast television stations, has acquired the New York-based African-American-focused digital news and social media platform TheGrio.com.

“TheGrio — which means ‘storyteller’ in Africa — is a digital video-centric news community platform providing compelling stories and perspectives currently underrepresented in existing national media outlets,” Entertainment Studios said in announcing the acquisition. “TheGrio’s editorial mandate is focused on breaking news, opinion, politics, business, entertainment, health, sports, and events that have a unique interest and/or pronounced impact within the African-American community. TheGrio generates 3 million unique visitors per month, in addition to reaching a highly engaged social media audience.”

Allen, the founder, chairman and CEO of Entertainment Studios, commented: “David Wilson and his founding partner Dan Woolsey have done an incredible job these past 7 years building TheGrio, and we are one thousand percent committed to continue expanding this digital news community’s reach across all global media platforms, including our broadcast television syndication programs, cable television networks, and motion picture division. We plan on investing heavily in digital publishing, and TheGrio has an excellent management team, making it the perfect asset to start our portfolio of online publishing.”

Entertainment Studios owns seven 24-hour HD cable television networks: Pets.tv, Comedy.tv, Recipe.tv, Cars.tv, ES.tv, MyDestination.tv, and JusticeCentral.tv.