Entertainment Studios, Inc., an independent producer and distributor of film and television, announced Thursday its acquisition of the WEATHER GROUP, parent company of THE WEATHER CHANNEL television network and LOCAL NOW streaming service.

Allen purchased the WEATHER GROUP through his company, Allen Media LLC, from The Blackstone Group, Bain Capital, and Comcast/NBCUniversal.

Allen’s expansion into live and local cable news is the latest step Entertainment Studios has taken in further expanding the global reach of its programming and content.

The Entertainment Studios divisions now include: broadcast television syndication, production, and distribution of more than 41 programs, eight 24/7 cable television networks, theatrical motion picture production, acquisition and distribution, digital movie acquisition and distribution, and global news publishing – making Entertainment Studios one of the largest privately held media companies in the world.

Entertainment Studios is one hundred percent owned by Byron Allen, who started the company from his dining room table 25 years ago.

Chairman and CEO Byron Allen founded Entertainment Studios in 1993. Headquartered in Los Angeles, it has offices in New York, Chicago, Denver, and Raleigh.