When we think of black owned media outlets we assume BET, but it was sold by Bob
Johnson to Viacom in 2004. We naturally think of Oprah and her Harpo production and OWN network.
We often overlook and do not mention Cathy Hughes. In 1979, Hughes founded Radio One, and with then-husband Dewey Hughes bought AM radio station WOL 1450 in Washington, D.C.Her fortunes began to change when she revamped the R&B station to a 24-hour talk radio format.

Radio One went on to own 70 radio stations in nine major markets in the U.S. In 1999, Radio One became a publicly traded company, listed under the NASDAQ stock exchange. As of 2007, Hughes and her son serves as CEO and president of Radio One, and Hughes as chairperson. Hughes is also a minority owner of BET industries.

In January 2004, Radio One launched TV One, a national cable and satellite television network which bills itself as the "lifestyle and entertainment network for African-American adults." Hughes interviews prominent personalities, usually in the entertainment industry, for the network's talk program TV One on One.