September 11, 2023
By Sophia Scorziello for Variety.com
As the Harlem Globetrotters nears its centennial anniversary, the trick-shot exhibition team is revving up for all-new bilingual TV programming.
In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Telemundo is set to premiere the all-new series “Harlem Globetrotters: Ganando Con La Comunidad,” a sister program to the Emmy-nominated NBC series “Harlem Globetrotters: Play It Forward” now in its sophomore season. Hosted by comedian and actor Craig Robinson of “The Office” fame, the 30-minute series will run weekly as part of NBC’s “The More You Know” and Telemundo’s “Mi Telemundo” slots.
“There are few sports-and-entertainment brands more iconic than the Harlem Globetrotters. We look forward to expanding the franchise to Telemundo this season, providing an even more diverse audience the opportunity to experience this inspiring show,” said Bryan Curb, executive VP at Hearst Media Production Group, which produces both Globetrotter programs.
And the team isn’t stopping there. Living up to its name, the Globetrotters will be heading out on a 2024 world tour which will stop at nearly 400 cities.
“Our global touring platform allows us to touch millions of fans and also acts as a fertile playground for all of our business partners,” said Keith Dawkins, president of Globetrotters and Herschend Entertainment Studio, which acquired the Globetrotters from Shamrock Holdings back in 2013. “As we build toward our centennial anniversary, the flourishing and vitality of our global tour remain indispensable pillars of our brand.”
Dawkins, a former senior executive at Nickelodeon, joined the Globetrotters in early 2022 and has been laser-focused on reinvigorating the brand. “We’re doing all kinds of things to get this brand out in front of audiences. We’re trying to meet them where they are,” Dawkins told Variety. “The B to B community continues to legitimize what we’re trying to do. We’re a brand that’s ripe for storytelling.”
The Globetrotters have been basketball icons for nearly 100 years. The 2024 tour, which kicks off its domestic leg on Dec. 26, also coincides with the Globetrotters’ new association with Spalding which will be the team’s exclusive ball partner as solidified in their multi-year partnership deal.
“We are the global brand that celebrates, amplifies, and encourages the importance of inclusivity across all that we do as Goodwill Ambassadors,” added Dawkins. “Our partnerships with Hearst, NBCU, and now Telemundo speaks to the mission of the Harlem Globetrotters to continue reaching our viewers across digital, live-events, broadcast and so much more.”
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