Don Lemon is back on television on his own terms. The Don Lemon Channel, a 24/7 free streaming network covering news, politics, and culture, debuted on October 26.

The channel streams on Prime Video, Fire TV, and Local Now, the streaming platform run by Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group. It is distributed and operated with Swerve TV.

Lemon, who left CNN in 2023, has built his audience through digital media since then. He says the new channel is aimed at viewers who feel underserved by traditional news. “People are tired of being talked down to and fed talking points,” Lemon said.

What’s on the Lineup

The schedule anchors around two live shows. Hot Topics, a daily call-in program, airs at 10 a.m. ET, and Lemon LIVE airs at 5 p.m. ET.

The channel also carries Lemon Drops, Best of the Week, Don on the Scene, and The Lemon Vault. Partner programming includes The Monique Pressley Show, Josh the Progressive, former Capitol Police officer Michael Fanone, and Dr. Frita, among others.

Lemon described the launch as “a big moment for Lemon Nation” and said he wants “more chairs at the table” for independent voices.

Allen, the founder, chairman, and CEO of Allen Media Group, welcomed the addition. “Don Lemon is one of the most trusted and compelling voices in news,” Allen said. Allen Media Group is also the parent company of theGrio.

The first major test comes Tuesday. Lemon will host live midterm coverage on November 3 from 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. ET, or until major races are called, broadcasting from Blondies in New York with creators, guests, and watch parties joining from around the country.

For now, the channel gives Lemon something he has not had since leaving cable news: a round-the-clock platform he controls, backed by one of the country’s most prominent Black media owners.

If election night draws an audience, the partnership could become a model for how independent Black journalists turn a digital following into real distribution.

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