or


[05/15/12 - 07:27 AM]
Paul Butler Named General Manager of ASPiRE
ASPiRE is Earvin "Magic" Johnson's new African-American network set to launch in June.

[via press release from ASPiRE]

PAUL BUTLER NAMED GENERAL MANAGER OF ASPiRE

Long-Time GMC TV Exec to Oversee Operations of ASPiRE

The New African-American Television Network from Earvin "Magic" Johnson

Los Angeles, CA - May 15, 2012 - Earvin "Magic" Johnson announced today that Paul Butler has been named general manager of ASPiRE, the new African-American network set to launch in June. Butler will oversee all operations for the programmer and report to Johnson, who is chairman of ASPiRE and the network's Board of Directors. He will be based at ASPiRE's headquarters in Atlanta.

Butler is a long-time GMC TV executive who most recently served as GMC's senior vice president/general counsel, a role he will continue to fill as he transitions full-time to ASPiRE in time for the network's June launch. GMC has been handling operations for ASPiRE since the network's creation in February.

Johnson said, "We conducted an extensive search for the right person to lead ASPiRE and found that he was right here all along and already on the GMC team. Paul has a long track record of success with GMC with a wide range of responsibility and oversight. With his background and the fact that he was heavily involved in GMC's tremendous growth, Paul is definitely ready to hit the ground running to ensure a successful launch and a great future for the network."

Charley Humbard, president and CEO of GMC, added, "I have worked closely with Paul for six years and in that time he has thoroughly impressed me with his leadership skills, forward-thinking and ability to develop smart solutions to criticalissues. He is very impressive as a business and creative executive. There is no question that Paul is an ideal choice to lead ASPiRE to great heights."

ASPiRE is designed to entertain, inform and inspire through a diverse slate of original and acquired programming in the categories of movies, documentaries, short films, music, comedy, visual and performing arts, faith and inspirational programs.

Butler has over 15 years experience in the entertainment industry at large corporations and independent entertainment companies, handling business affairs, business strategy and development.

Butler joined GMC as vice president, business affairs and development in 2006 and was promoted to senior vice president/general counsel in 2009. In these roles, he has managed the legal and business affairs of the network, music and talent relations, as well as human resources. Butler oversaw all deal structuring and negotiations for GMC's entry into the development andproduction of GMC World Premiere Movies, GMC World Premiere Plays, specials and series. As a member of the Executive Committee, he has worked to help guide and implement strategy for the network.

Before joining GMC, Butler was an executive at Viacom, where he worked for VH1, serving at various times as director, program enterprises and business development and senior counsel, music programming and products. In these positions, he worked on ancillary business and business development for the music channel and handled the negotiation of distribution and marketingdeals for VH1's consumer products business.

He has also served as general counsel for FlavorUnit Entertainment, Queen Latifah's entertainment company, and as vice president, business development at Razor & Tie, LLC in New York.

Butler serves as the chairman for The Brotherhood/Sister Sol, an award-winning non-profit organization in Harlem that develops African-American and Latinoyouth into critical thinkers and community leaders.

In 2008, Butler's work in and out of cable was recognized by Multichannel News ("40 Under 40") and Cable World ("Most Influential Minorities in Cable"). In 2009 and 2011, he was named to the Cable Fax "Most Influential Minorities in Cable" list.

Butler is a graduate of the University of Rochester and Harvard Law School.

About Magic Johnson Enterprises

Magic Johnson Enterprises acts as a catalyst for driving unparalleled business results for its partners and fosters community/economic empowerment by making available high-quality entertainment, products and services that answer thedemands of ethnically diverse urban communities. For more information, visit http://magicjohnson.com/enterprises/index.php

About GMC

GMC (www.watchGMCtv.com) is America's favorite television channel for uplifting music and family entertainment. The Parents Television Council(TM) recently awarded its Entertainment Seal of Approval(TM) to GMC for being "an authentic family-friendly cable network." GMC was the only television network to receive the highly coveted honor in 2010. GMC can be seen in more than 51 million homes on various cable systems around the country, as well as DISH Network on channel 188, DIRECTV on channel 338 and Verizon FiOS on channel 224. Follow GMC TV on Facebook and Twitter at http://facebook.com/gmctv and @gmctv or http://twitter.com/gmctv





  [may 2012]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[05/20/26 - 12:02 PM]
"A Woman of Substance": Brenda Blethyn Limited Series Marks BritBox's Next Prestige Period Drama
Other June premieres include new seasons of "Beyond Paradise" and "Trigger Point."

[05/20/26 - 11:01 AM]
Video: HBO Releases Official Trailer for Original Film "Miss You, Love You," Debuting May 29
A blunt, grieving widow, Diane Patterson (Allison Janney) is forced to plan her husband's funeral with a total stranger: her estranged son's assistant, Jamie Simms (Andrew Rannells).

[05/20/26 - 11:01 AM]
Great American Media Announces New Original, Unscripted Series, "Mark vs. The Mountain," Premiering June 11 on Great American Pure Flix
Meteorologist and former New Mexico gubernatorial candidate Mark Ronchetti, alongside his wife, interior designer, Krysty Ronchetti, star in the new unscripted series.

[05/20/26 - 11:00 AM]
FOX Entertainment Studios Strikes Multi-Year, First-Look Deal with Emmy Award-Winning Comedian, Actor and Producer JB Smoove
Under the partnership, Smoove will serve as executive producer and creative collaborator on an unscripted slate spanning a range of formats and genres.

[05/20/26 - 10:50 AM]
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Emmy-Nominated Docuseries, "Raise The Flags", Makes Its Linear Premiere on NFL Network May 25-29
The series delivers a sweeping portrait of the Buccaneers organization - chronicling its rise from humble beginnings to championship glory in the most comprehensive account of franchise history ever produced.

[05/20/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Michael Jackson: The Verdict" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Told by key players who were inside the courtroom, this three-part comprehensive docuseries dissects the trial of Michael Jackson and his complex legacy.

[05/20/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: MGM+ Debuts Teaser for "The Westies"
The gritty and kinetic crime drama centers on New York City's infamously violent Irish gang of the same name.

[05/20/26 - 10:00 AM]
Lifetime Greenlights Two New Thrillers for This June
Amber Stevens West and Michael Xavier star in "The Jealous Bride" while Remy Ma leads "Don't Trust the Girls Upstairs."

[05/20/26 - 09:31 AM]
Video: Peacock Releases Official Trailer, Key Art and New Imagery for "Strung"
From director Malcolm D. Lee, a talented violinist takes a prestigious job as a music tutor for the gifted daughter of an influential and enigmatic family.

[05/20/26 - 09:31 AM]
Hit Drama Series "The Testaments" from Creator Bruce Miller and Starring Chase Infiniti, Renewed for a Second Season
Season one is now streaming with the season finale on Wednesday, May 27.

[05/20/26 - 09:01 AM]
A24's "Pillion" Begins Streaming Exclusively on HBO Max June 5
A timid man is swept off his feet when an enigmatic, impossibly handsome biker takes him on as his submissive.

[05/20/26 - 09:01 AM]
AMC Global Media's June Highlights Include "The Vampire Lestat," "You're Killing Me," "Devil in Silver," "Doctor Who" and More
Newly announced premieres include ALLBLK's "Funny Thing About Love" and BBC America's "Wild Spring."

[05/20/26 - 09:00 AM]
The History Channel's Hit Survival Series "Alone" Is Going Global! New Season Premieres June 17
On the heels of the World Cup and for the first time in franchise history, 10 skilled survivalists from around the globe will compete in "Alone: World Championship".

[05/20/26 - 09:00 AM]
Laura Benanti and Tituss Burgess to Host "The Tony Awards: Act One"
The two stage-and-screen icons will kick off Broadway's biggest night with the presentation of the first round of Tony Awards during the exciting pre-show telecast.

[05/20/26 - 07:36 AM]
After Record-Setting 2025 Season, "Sunday Night Football" Finishes Fall-Spring TV Season as Primetime's No. 1 Show for Unprecedented 15th Consecutive Year
The series averaged 23.5 million viewers in 2025, marking the show's best-ever viewership - up nearly 1 million viewers from the prior record for the series set a decade ago (22.6 million in 2015 season) and an increase of 9% over the '24 season (21.6 million).