OTTera Takes Strategic Equity Stake In In The Black Network; James DuBose Named President Of OTTera Media Group
OTTera, a global leader in OTT streaming infrastructure, today announced a strategic equity investment in In The Black Network (ITBN), the fast-growing AVOD/TVOD streaming platform founded by veteran media executive James DuBose. As part of the partnership, DuBose has been named President of OTTera Media Group, a newly formed entertainment division focused on building and scaling culturally-driven media brands worldwide.
This strategic alignment positions ITBN to operate on OTTera’s fully established global infrastructure, unlocking expanded distribution, advanced monetization capabilities, and institutional-grade operational support across FAST, AVOD, and OTT ecosystems.
As part of the transaction, the parties will establish OTTera Media Group, a dedicated entertainment division that will serve as the centralized hub for OTTera’s owned and operated media brands. The division will include:
• In The Black Network (ITBN)
• Afroland TV
• Additional OTTera-owned and operated channels
• Original content development and studio partnerships
• A broader intellectual property and franchise strategy
DuBose will oversee the division’s day-to-day leadership, creative direction, growth strategy, partnership development, and operational execution.
“I’ve always believed the goal isn’t just to be in the business; it’s to build the business,” said DuBose. “With OTTera, we now have the infrastructure to match the vision. We’re bringing content, distribution, and ownership under one roof, and that’s when real scale begins.”
OTTera, recognized as one of the largest OTT technology providers in the industry, delivers end-to-end streaming solutions including distribution, ad-tech integration, financial reporting, and global channel operations. Through this partnership, ITBN will leverage OTTera’s platform to accelerate growth while eliminating the need to build backend infrastructure independently. Central to this ecosystem is Culture Hub, a proprietary discovery feature that expands audience reach across OTTera’s network by making partner services discoverable within each other’s native application. This approach significantly increases visibility and engagement by unlocking shared audience access across the platform.
“We see a clear shift toward vertically integrated media ecosystems,” said Stephen L. Hodge, Chairman and CEO of OTTera. “This partnership puts us at the center of that shift; where content, technology, and culture move as one.”
At the center of the partnership is a shared vision: building a globally inclusive content ecosystem rooted in culture, while designed to connect with audiences across all backgrounds and markets. ITBN will continue to operate as a flagship brand within the OTTera Media Group portfolio, with an emphasis on premium storytelling, nostalgia-driven programming, and original content that resonates across generations.
The partnership reflects a broader industry shift toward vertically integrated streaming models that combine content ownership, platform infrastructure, and direct audience relationships. By aligning ITBN’s brand and programming strategy with OTTera’s technology and monetization engine, the companies are positioned to capitalize on a rapidly evolving digital media landscape.
About OTTera
OTTera is a leading global OTT technology and streaming solutions provider, powering hundreds of FAST channels and OTT platforms worldwide. With a fully integrated ecosystem spanning distribution, monetization, ad-tech, and analytics, OTTera enables media companies to launch, scale, and optimize streaming businesses across connected TV and digital platforms.
About In The Black Network (ITBN)
In The Black Network is a multi-platform streaming service offering a diverse slate of content across AVOD and TVOD models, including original programming, live channels, and premium titles. Focused on culture, nostalgia, and storytelling, ITBN delivers content that resonates across generations and audiences worldwide.