Former Lakers star Magic Johnson to launch Aspire cable network on Comcast

Basketball Hall of Famer and former Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson is set to launch Aspire, a cable network that will target the African-American community, on Comcast. The network will launch in the summer.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Aspire hopes to become the next BET, giving additional opportunities to African-American actors, producers and directors with original productions like new shows, documentaries and movies. Johnson told The Wall Street Journal that, “African-Americans have choices, and now they have another one.” The Wall Street Journal reports that Johnson and Comcast will make the formal announcement Tuesday.

Johnson, who has now successfully become a business mogul since retiring from basketball, told The Los Angeles Times that the 24-hour network will focus on positive and uplifting images of the African-American community." This is so exciting for me, I'm pinching myself,” he told the LA Times. He added that some of the programming will include “...some performing arts and shows about faith.”

Aspire will be part of Comcast’s attempt to help diversify the cable channels available to subscribers, a move the cable giant agreed to with the FCC and Department of Justice.

Sean “Diddy” Combs is also set to launch his own network, called Revolt, a music and news network, The New York Times reported. Combs is also expected to make his announcement on Tuesday.

Johnson did not tell the LA Times how much he has invested in Aspire, but it could take as much as a $100 million investment to launch a cable network. Johnson and combs will join Ryan Seacrest and Oprah Winfrey as celebrities who have launched their own networks. “We'll learn from those who have gone before us. We understand the landscape, and we will run a sound business,” Johnson told the LA Times.