How Hardy L Pelt and Todd F Brown are Rewriting Black-Owned Media Broadcasting with Urban Edge Network
Together, Pelt and Brown have spearheaded the path for inclusion, while redefining what ownership, access, and innovation look like in sports media.
'We're a Black-owned media company, yes, and that's something we take great pride in,' says Pelt, a seasoned sports executive whose exciting career began in 1988 as a ball boy and equipment manager for the Orlando Magic. 'But we're also an ad-tech company. Everything we broadcast is free to watch. We're monetizing through advertisements, not subscriptions.'
From his early experience in locker room access, Pelt rose to become Vice President of Corporate Sales and Services for the Golden State Warriors. His path has been driven by corporate expertise and community passion, especially for HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), which he realized were being left behind at a time when media pivoted to ad-driven tech. Witnessing this became the catalyst for UEN's genesis.
'What I found was that the HBCUs were still operating in a 1960s revenue model. Meanwhile, the ad industry has moved far beyond that,' Pelt exclaims.
What began as a collective effort to empower Black institutions with greater media representation has grown into something much broader, and importantly, more powerful. UEN now holds broadcasting licenses across predominantly white institutions, along with partnerships with HBCUs and the Texas Legends in the NBA G League.
'The beauty of sports,' Pelt says, 'is that it transcends race, color, and creed. It's a great unifier. And as a media company, that belief has enabled us to look beyond those barriers and stand united.'
But even with a strong vision and momentum, the path forward wasn't without friction. Pelt recalls the difficult early days, 'There were many hurdles along the way, and we often faced trouble connecting with people who couldn't see what we had to offer. But that wasn't going to stop me. I just needed a better way to reach out to them.'
And quickly, everything began to shift when Pelt was introduced to Todd Brown.
'I didn't know him. Looked him up online, I spoke to him briefly, telling him about my visions, and almost immediately, he started finishing my sentences,' Pelt says. 'He was the first person I met who completely understood the problem and had the experience to help solve it. It was the perfect fit.'
Much like Pelt, Brown also brings a formidable experience to the table. He was the former VP at a multinational media conglomerate, former Chairman of the American Diabetes Association, and co-creator of TheGrio, a news publication focusing on African American stories. With deep roots in television broadcasting and empowering black communities, Brown brought a layer of media strategy and infrastructure knowledge that matched Pelt's marketing and sales expertise.
'We complement each other,' says Pelt. 'I'm the facilitator, the one out there building relationships and knocking on doors. Todd's the counsel, I call him when I hit a wall, and he gives me the insight I need. That's why it works.'
Together, they've built UEN into a thriving Black-owned streaming network in the country, delivering over 2,000 live and on-demand sporting events each year. And they're not stopping there.
What began as a grassroots push for media equality in Black college athletics is on its way to becoming a global platform for underrepresented sports and stories. The company is now setting its sights on international expansion, starting with soccer in the Middle East.
'When I took the blinders off, I realized this isn't just about Black schools,' Pelt shares. 'It's about any athlete, any team, any community that's not being seen. That's the real market. That's where we're going.'
Aside from offering sensational sports programming, UEN's model offers schools and conferences visibility with real economic return through advertising, branded content, and programmatic monetization. But its larger mission is just as vital, if not more.
'When you see UEN,' Pelt shares, 'I want you to see the best of a people, the best of a country, and hopefully the best that people can achieve. I want everyone, Black, white, whoever, to be proud of what two guys came together and built, and hopefully that motivates somebody to do what their vision is in life.'
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