Today we’d like to introduce you to J. Carter.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I graduated from Georgia State University with a Bachelor’s in Journalism. While growing and cultivating a successful career in Human Resources, I took the leap and started writing and producing stage plays, which were showcased all across Georgia. After several theatre productions, I began writing scripted content for television and film. Over the last few years, I’ve written TV pilots and indie film screenplays for such talents as DC Young Fly, 2 Chainz, Carl Payne, Brad James, Karon Joseph Riley, Brely Evans, Emanuel Hudson, Ernestine Johnson, Africa Miranda, and Jacky Oh. In 2018, I wrote and executive produced a comedy entitled, The Morning After, which has had a successful run on Amazon Prime. That’s when I realized that OTT platforms would be a lucrative and viable outlet for not only my projects but also projects for other Black creatives.
While coming across this realization, I also took notice that free linear streaming TV platforms like Pluto TV and Xumo were becoming wildly successful. This was due in large part to consumers longing for a free streaming option (subscription fatigue) as well as consumers’ need to be programmed to just like traditional television (multiple channels, programming guide, etc.) instead of being responsible for finding their own programming via the On-Demand model. So in late 2019, I decided that it would be really cool if there was a free linear streaming platform that focused on Black content and a Black audience. Freeli TV is 100% free and already boasts over 50 channels of hyper-targeted content focused on an African-American audience. No matter the interest, genre, or affinity, Freeli TV has a channel for everyone. Channels that focus on Love Stories, Celebrity Interviews, Live Performances, Music Videos, and Comedies are all Black and all free. The time is now for there to be a linear TV streaming option that dedicates its entire platform to telling Black stories as opposed to giving us one or two channels. Freeli Launched in mid-July and is available on iOS, Android, and Fire TV devices.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. It’s been difficult balancing a 9 to 5 career while also needing to give attention to a passionate desire to write and create content. Those two words don’t often collide. So it’s been a “push and pulls” to try and devote enough time, energy and focus on what puts food on my family’s table vs. what truly is the first love.
Freeli TV – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Freeli TV is bold and unapologetic about its primary goal of showcasing and providing a platform for content that features people of color. What separates us from other free, linear, ad-based platforms is that we are intentional about, and dedicated to, super-serving the Black Culture while other free TV-style platforms under-serve it.
I also understand that there will be inevitable comparisons to other streaming platforms that focus on a Black/urban audience. Regarding those comparison, we do not have a crab in the barrel mentality. In other words, there is room enough for all of us as we are driving in different lanes. Those platforms have an On-Demand streaming model like Netflix & Hulu. We have a Live streaming TV model where there is something constantly playing live on all 50+ channels. We do the programming for you. So all you have to do is lean back and not worry about spending time trying to find something to watch. In addition, the differentiator between them and us is simple and obvious – we are 100% free. All-day. All Month. All Year. It’s our singular purpose to give every Black man, woman, and child a zero-cost opportunity to experience an entire multi-channel, tv style platform that’s full of faces that look just like them and are portrayed in ways that are a testament to our complexities, depth, and diversity.
Another separator for us is that we make it a point to produce original content. This gives our internal team and any other outside filmmakers an opportunity to have their content produced by us and placed on Freeli TV. It’s all about opportunity and representation. It’s important for us to provide the opportunity both in front of and behind the camera while giving our core audience the chance to see us how we see us. Not how anyone else sees us.
With our expansive 50+ channel lineup, we are able to show all of our sizes, shapes, colors, and ways. It’s important to control our own narratives and give an honest portrayal of who we are and why we are. If it’s comedy, we’ve got it. If it’s drama, we’ve got that too. Live performances, documentaries, network tv shows, indie and major films, as well as talk shows. It’s all on Freeli TV. I truly feel as if we’re that missing piece of the Black entertainment puzzle. All accessible by downloading on your Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick or on your phone or tablet. There’s no reason to not do it. It truly is free tv for The Culture.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is extremely relative. Everyone should measure success with a different length tape measure. There’s a pitfall when someone looks at someone else’s accomplishments and uses them as a bar to judge their own success. So for me personally, I define success as whatever it takes for me to be proud of my work and have peace of mind knowing that I gave 100% and didn’t leave anything in reserves. I try to be my own rival when it comes to success.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.freeli.tv
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freeli.tv/
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