Within the last two years, Teleau Belton has built an impressive TV network from the ground up. Belton is the CEO of the Black-owned independent network, Now That’s TV, and The7even Firm label.
The goal of Now That’s TV is to give Black independent filmmakers and content creators an accommodating space to promote, monetize and expand their brands. Creating shows like The Mint, Pick a Side, The Hollywood Group Chat, and releasing short films has allowed the network to boast over 300 thousand loyal subscribers.
His dream to own a network originally started as a dream to get his TV show, Big Lex Baddies Collection, greenlit. After being rejected by multiple networks, Belton decided to release the show himself, and from there, Now That’s TV was born.
The success of Now That’s TV has propelled Belton to become a multi-millionaire and serial entrepreneur, launching his own tattoo shop and restaurant here in Atlanta. We got to sit down with Belton and ask him about his journey, inspirations, and goals for Now That’s TV.
What was your background before you started NowThatsTV?
Before Joseline’s Cabaret, I had always been into music and had my own label. Big Lex was one of my artists and was a participant on Joseline’s Cabaret. After she finished filming for that show, we wanted to keep the momentum going with music and TV. That’s where we got the idea to do our own show and that was the start of everything.
What inspired you to get into music?
South Carolina has a lot of talented artists; the problem is we just never get any exposure. That gap was something that I wanted to fill, and at that time, I was already in school for film and shooting music videos, so it seemed perfect to start my own label.
What did you want to accomplish with Now That’s TV?
When Big Lex and I started, it was never our intention to do the show. At first, we were frustrated about the fact that our show wasn’t getting picked up, so we decided, “Hey, let’s just do it ourselves.” From there, we created a website, and once that started gaining traction, I said we would get even more traction from an app. But to do an app, we needed another show. Then, boom, it kept spinning and spinning, and now we’re here.
Why do you think that first show, Big Lex Baddies, was a hit?
Big Lex, China [another co-producer], and I had never produced a show or even been on set for one before. It was a brand new learning experience for all of us, so we did a lot of things wrong, like all the mistakes we made while filming and us arguing with each other, but people loved it. That’s when I realized that audiences loved the rawness of the show because it was something that they could relate to, so that’s what we gave them.
What was your marketing strategy for promoting your projects?
We realized early on that our shows were too raw for blogs and for your average commercial, so we used word of mouth. We started by having our cast members go on Instagram Live, voicing their opinions on their point of view of what it was like to be on the shows. This strategy was really the key to bringing people to our shows. We also host events like our own Now That’s TV weekend, where people can come and mingle with us and audition for a show.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when starting your own network?
When people first come onto the show, they think being on TV is easy, so that initial learning curve they have to face is hard not only for them but also for us. At the same time, it also gives us the opportunity to educate people about the business side of television because after this, it isn’t straight to a big-name network, so really use this time to soak up all the information. Another thing would be the networks in the same field as us that try to either keep potential cast members from working with us or have blogs that do not want to promote us. In my opinion, there’s enough money for everyone out here, so why not share it?
What do you say to the critics who say your platform is detrimental to Black people?
Everybody comes from different walks of life, and we aren’t all given the same opportunities. NowThatsTV gives our cast opportunities that they never would’ve had before. A majority of the cast started doing photo shoots, brand deals, and acting all from being on our show. Like I said before, we also educate our cast about TV and the business that they are getting into so that once they leave here, they can go out and handle business on their own.
Is there a role scripted shows will play on your network?
We started to film movies, and we already have two on the way. Now, we’re also working on sitcoms, and the cast that has been with us for so long is working with acting coaches to be on these shows.
What does the future for Now That’s TV look like?
More diverse content. We’re working on sitcoms and movies now, but in the future, I want it to also include news and sports as well. Actually, we want to focus on youth sports since now athletes can get NIL deals. There are a lot of talented kids out there; they just don’t have the exposure they need, and that’s something we can provide. I want NowThatsTV to be a culture capsule for the Black community.
