For Curtis Symonds, the mission to bring Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) into the national spotlight isn’t just a business endeavor; it stems from personal experiences. The 1978 graduate of Ohio’s Central State University grew up immersed in the culture of HBCUs. His mother taught physical education at Central State for four decades. For fifty years, his father was employed in maintenance on the same campus. Being part of the HBCU culture helped shape him so that he would never forget his roots.
“It taught me the value of HBCUs, and it’s why I push so hard today to make sure others understand their history, their culture, and their power,” Symonds said.
Those values led him to execute the vision for HBCUGo.TV is a digital streaming platform committed to expanding national visibility of the overall HBCU experience.
History of HBCU Go
The network was originally co-founded in 2010 by Symonds along with former BET executive Clinton Evans and Curt Simmons, with the vision to showcase the culture, achievements, and athletic excellence of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The service initially offered on-demand lifestyle and sports content, quickly gaining traction as a hub for HBCU news and culture. Symonds launched the HBCU Go app in 2019 to serve as a companion to HBCU TV.
In 2021, Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group (AMG) acquired HBCU Go, expanding its reach with national broadcast capabilities and strategic partnerships. The platform has grown into the leading multi-platform media outlet for HBCUs, with distribution across streaming devices, mobile apps, and linear television through The Grio channel.
Symonds remains at the helm as CEO, working closely with AMG as the dynamic media powerhouse leverages its expertise to further its mission, which will set the network up for future success. Partnering with Byron Allen provided the distribution power to elevate HBCU Go into a platform shaping the national conversation around HBCU sports and culture.
Growth and Recognition
Today, the network is leading that push as the nation’s only sports media platform dedicated exclusively to the HBCU sports as well as lifestyle, entertainment, and education. Now entering its fourth year, the network is expanding coverage of Division I to III schools, bringing long-overdue exposure to Black college sports.
“Too often, HBCU sports don’t get the spotlight they deserve,” Symonds said.
Jackson State University football attire; Courtesy of HBCU Go/Instagram
“Our athletes work just as hard, our traditions run just as deep, and our stories deserve to be told on the biggest stages. We’re changing that with the network,” he continued.
That mission was on display in August with HBCU Go’s historic partnership with the NFL Network to broadcast the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic. Held in Canton, Ohio, the game drew national attention as Virginia Union defeated Miles College 45–3. Symonds called it “a major milestone” for a cultural touchstone that connects our history to the highest-level sports brand.
“Three years ago, [HBCU Go Sports] didn’t have an opportunity to step in the door with [the NFL Network]. Now we collaborated to find a way to leverage the progress made over the last three years to create more opportunities and strengthen our existing relationship. Now we’re basically at a bigger level because of the partnership,” Symonds shared.
The platform’s partnerships with the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), as well as its recent partnership with the NFL, are helping to widen its reach. “We opened the door a little wider,” Symonds said.
“Every Saturday, people know they can tune in and see their teams on TV. That exposure is changing perceptions of what HBCUs bring to the table.”
Upcoming Televised HBCU Classic Games
The fall schedule reflects the growing momentum for the network: the HBCU NYC Classic in New York City, the Truth & Service Classic in Washington, D.C., the Southern Heritage Classic in Memphis, the Gulf Coast Challenge in Mobile, the Las Vegas Classic at Allegiant Stadium, and the 2025 CIAA Championship in Durham, NC—all set for national broadcast.
Industry Influence
For Symonds, the work built on a media career shaped by trailblazing roles at ESPN and BET, under founder Bob Johnson, as well as the WNBA’s Washington Mystics. At BET, he helped transform the network from a niche outlet to a cultural powerhouse.
“When we built BET, people thought of it as just black entertainment,’” he recalled. “But we proved it was broader programming with cultural value. With HBCU Go, we’re doing the same thing. We’re educating audiences on why HBCUs matter and why their stories need to be seen.”
That concept is slowly catching on with the network. Symonds remembers when he would wear the HBCU Go attire; the brand was unknown on the street.
“When we first launched, nobody recognized it,” he said. “Now, if you wear an HBCU Go shirt, people stop you. They’ll say, ‘I watch that network.’ That’s growth—and it’s only the beginning.”
HBCU Go Sports highlights HBCU sports every Saturday on the network; Courtesy of HBCU Go, Alcorn State, and Alabama State
As the network grows, Symonds sees its purpose as extending beyond athletics. “This is about more than games—it’s about exposure, education, and appreciation,” he said.
“People of all backgrounds are starting to tune in, and they’re realizing the depth of talent and tradition within HBCUs.”
Looking back on his journey, from stepping onto an HBCU campus to building BET with Bob Johnson and launching HBCU Go with his business partners, Symonds views his career as part of a larger mission.
“I’m very, very proud of our first four years,” he said. “We’re growing in the right way. And we’re just getting started. There’s nothing like the HBCU experience,” he added.
HBCU Go is available for free streaming on iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and online at HBCUGo.TV, as well as on linear television through The Grio channel in select markets.
The Exclusive Press’ (EP) newest content category, The Legacy Hub®, is designed to highlight the rich traditions, culture, and achievements of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and its students & alums.
