GroupM Motion Entertainment & Warner Bros. Discovery Partner To Support GroupM’s Diverse Voices Accelerator

The Initiative Seeks to Amplify Diverse Creators, Producers and Production Companies

First Joint Content Project Titled “Rebuilding Black Wall Street: Greenwood” Will Premiere This Fall on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network 

Los Angeles, CA (March 6, 2023) – GroupM, WPP’s media investment group, today announced a strategic partnership between GroupM Motion Entertainment and Warner Bros. Discovery to support GroupM’s Diverse Voices Accelerator (DVA), a positive impact initiative that supports creators, writers, producers, directors and studios from traditionally underrepresented groups in entertainment. This partnership brings the strength of both organizations, GroupM’s media and entertainment expertise, and Warner Bros. Discovery’s best-in-class storytelling, to develop inclusive content that represents diverse audiences and provides connective and organic sponsorship opportunities for advertisers. Series developed through the DVA will be available across Warner Bros. Discovery networks and platforms.

“We have a responsibility to create a more inclusive and equitable industry,” said Kirk McDonald, CEO, GroupM North America. “This benefits everyone. It empowers content creators who face barriers, provides brands with access to diverse and engaged audiences, and offers viewers authentic programming that captures the richness of the human experience.”

“Entertainment has a powerful influence on culture. We are committed to supporting the stories and talent that make a positive impact both in front of and behind the camera,” said Chet Fenster, GroupM Motion Entertainment. “We are proud that Warner Bros Discovery has joined as a network partner, sharing our goal to tell stories that enlighten and entertain all audiences.”

“Warner Bros. Discovery stands for authentic, aspirational and safe programming environments that underrepresented communities can see themselves in, and we pride ourselves in our unique ability to unlock opportunities for brands that share our values,” said Sheereen Russell, SVP, Ad Sales and Inclusive Solutions at Warner Bros. Discovery. “We are thrilled to enhance our commitment to equity and support for creators and producers of color on our platforms through this partnership with GroupM.”

The first content development project supported by the strategic partnership is a six-part documentary series titled “Rebuilding Black Wall Street: Greenwood” premiering this fall on OWN. Created by executive producer Ri-Karlo Handy and his company Sunwise Media, Inc., the renovation series will chronicle the reconstruction of the Greenwood District of Tulsa, which was destroyed in the 1921 massacre. Over the course of six episodes, the host and build teams will guide viewers through Greenwood’s rich history and the personal journeys of the cast, many of whom are the descendants of Black Wall Street residents.

In addition to content development, the DVA provides opportunities for brand support with unique activations that create organic and thoughtful messaging to consumers. Projects created under the DVA will be supported by GroupM agencies including Mindshare, Wavemaker and EssenceMediacom, with participating clients like Domino’s (a Mindshare client) and other brand partners, who are all committed to diversity and inclusion.

“At Domino’s, it’s important that both our media and advertising reflect the diversity of our customers, our team members and the communities we serve,” said Kate Trumbull, Domino’s Senior Vice President, Brand and Product Innovation. “Through our partnership with GroupM’s DVA program, we are proud to support the creation of original programming developed by a variety of diverse voices in media and entertainment.”

The DVA is a part of GroupM’s Media Inclusion Initiative (MII) —an integrated strategy for directing investment in and creating opportunities for diverse media companies and content creators – and a key pillar of GroupM’s Responsible Investment Framework.

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About GroupM

GroupM is the world’s leading media investment company with a mission to shape a new era where advertising works better for people. Responsible for more than $60 billion in annual media investment, the company innovates, differentiates, and generates sustained value for our clients wherever they do business. GroupM’s portfolio includes agencies Mindshare, Wavemaker, EssenceMediacom and mSix&Partners, as well as Choreograph (Data & Technology), GroupM Nexus (Cross-Channel Performance & Activation), and GroupM Investment.

About GroupM Motion Entertainment

GroupM Motion Entertainment funds, develops, produces, and distributes premium television and digital content around the globe. In partnership with the world’s leading producers, talent, networks, and platforms, the company has co-produced over 1,800 series, equating to over 26,000 hours of television. Motion works across all programming genres and creates innovative business models to serve the creative and strategic needs of its partners. The company operates in 44 countries, with global headquarters in London and Los Angeles. Motion is part of GroupM, the world’s leading full-service media investment management operation, a WPP company.

About Warner Bros. Discovery 

Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the world’s most differentiated and complete portfolio of content and brands across television, film and streaming. Available in more than 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences worldwide through its iconic brands and products including: Discovery Channel, discovery+, CNN, DC, Eurosport, HBO, HBO Max, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Magnolia Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Film Group, Warner Bros. Television Group, Warner Bros. Games, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, Discovery en Español, Hogar de HGTV and others. For more information, please visit www.wbd.com.

About OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network is the first and only network named for, and inspired by, a single iconic leader. Oprah Winfrey’s heart and creative instincts inform the brand and the magnetism  of  the  channel.  OWN  is  a  leading  destination  for  premium scripted  and unscripted programming from today’s most innovative storytellers. OWN connects with its audience wherever they are, inspiring conversation among a global community of like-minded viewers on social media and beyond. Launched on January 1, 2011, OWN is a joint venture between Harpo, Inc. and Warner Bros. Discovery. The venture also includes award-winning digital platform Oprah.com. Access OWN anytime on http://WatchOWN.tv or across mobile devices and connected TVs.

About Domino’s Pizza^®

Founded in 1960, Domino’s Pizza is the largest pizza company in the world, with a significant business in both delivery and carryout pizza. It ranks among the world’s top public restaurant brands with a global enterprise of more than 19,800 stores in over 90 markets. Domino’s had global retail sales of over $17.5 billion in 2022, with over $8.7 billion in the U.S. and nearly $8.8 billion internationally. In the fourth quarter of 2022, Domino’s had global retail sales of nearly $5.5 billion, with over $2.7 billion in the U.S. and over $2.7 billion internationally. Its system is comprised of independent franchise owners who accounted for 99% of Domino’s global stores as of the end of the fourth quarter of 2022. Emphasis on technology innovation helped Domino’s achieve approximately two-thirds of all global retail sales in 2022 from digital channels. In the U.S., Domino’s generated more than 80% of U.S. retail sales in 2022 via digital channels and has developed several innovative ordering platforms, including those for Google Home, Facebook Messenger, Apple Watch, Amazon Echo, Twitter and more.