Diddy and Magic Johnson to launch cable networks

Sean "Diddy" Combs, Magic Johnson and filmmaker Robert Rodriguez are among minorities with new cable networks in an agreement with Comcast, the country's largest cable-TV system operator, as part of a commitment to win approval of its acquisition of NBC Universal last year.

Combs plans Revolt, a music network to compete with MTV and Fuse, due next year. "We're building this platform for artists to reach an extraordinary number of people in a completely different way," he says in a statement, adding,

"Revolt will be live, like all great moments in television history."

Former NBA star Earvin "Magic" Johnson plans Aspire, in tandem with gospel-infused GMC, promising "enlightening, entertaining and positive" programming for African Americans, and will launch this summer.

Rodridguez, who directed the Spy Kids film series, will unveil El Rey (The King), an English-language network offering scripted, reality and animation for American Latinos, due by January 2014, in partnership with former WME exec John Fogelman. As a parent of five English-speaking children, "it hit me at a personal level," Rodriguez told USA TODAY.

"I pushed to feature Latinos on screen in my movies," and now expects to "lead by example" in creating shows for the new network and "bring in filmmakers and artists to find an opportunity to create this" network.

And a Hispanic TV exec plans BabyFirst Americas, due in April, aimed at teaching verbal, math and motor skills to infants and very young children. All four networks will seek additional distribution on other cable systems.

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