Who is Zeus Owned By? A Look at the Black-Owned Streaming Service

Zeus Network burst onto the streaming scene in 2016 as a brand new digital platform showcasing original content from social media influencers and celebrities. But who exactly launched this fast-rising network that‘s been dubbed the "Black Netflix"?

Detroit TV Scion Lemuel Plummer Founded Zeus

Zeus Network was founded by four social media stars – YouTube comedian King Bach, Vine personality Amanda Cerny, singer/dancer DeStorm Power, and Lemuel Plummer. Plummer, who serves as CEO, provided the television experience.

You see, Lemmie Plummer grew up in the world of television. His parents owned and operated three local TV stations (Channel 50, Channel 53, and Channel 56) in Detroit, Michigan back in the 1980s and 90s.

From a young age, Plummer gained first-hand experience with television production, programming, advertising, distribution – you name it. After school, he‘d hang out at the stations, fascinated by how it all worked.

Plummer went on to become a writer and producer himself. He was involved in shows like The Mo‘Nique Show, Stand Up in Stilettos, and more.

But the landscape was changing. Media consumption, especially for younger audiences, was rapidly shifting online and to mobile devices.

That‘s when Plummer had the vision for Zeus – he could leverage social media influencers to create streaming content tailored to this new digital environment. And with his TV expertise, Plummer knew how to actually build and run a network.

So along with Bach, Cerny, and Power, Plummer left traditional television behind to launch his new digital platform – Zeus Network.

Zeus Network Snags Silicon Valley Funding

Building a streaming service from scratch takes serious capital. For funding, Zeus Network turned to Silicon Valley.

In 2017, Zeus closed a $2.5 million seed funding round led by NFL star Richard Sherman. Other participants included early Uber investor Sherpa Capital and New Science Ventures.

That allowed Zeus to start producing its first original series and expand its talent roster. But growth costs big money.

In 2018, Zeus raised a further $4.4 million in Series A financing led by Canaan Partners. They were likely attracted by Zeus‘s rapid viewership growth and plan to scale content production.

With over $6 million raised, Zeus had the resources to move into a 20,000 foot studio facility in Burbank, CA and rapidly expand its staff.

From the start, Plummer focused that investment on Zeus‘s content engine. The vision was to launch a totally new Black-owned streaming network built around fresh voices.

Zeus Takes Off With 100+ Original Series

Powered by those investments, Zeus Network has produced over 100 original series since 2016 spanning sitcoms, dramas, comedies and more. Some breakout hits include:

• Run The World – Scripted series following a group of Black women navigating careers, love lives, and friendship in Harlem.
• Cuffing Season – An unscripted relationship series set in the Black mecca of Atlanta.
• Baddies West – Reality show featuring viral video vixens from the west coast.
• Bad and Boujee – Reality series focused on affluent African Americans.

Unlike traditional television, Zeus tailors all its content specifically for streaming viewers. Episodes are 10-20 minutes, perfect for bingeing. And there are new releases almost daily.

Focusing so heavily on influencer talent also allows Zeus to leverage their existing social media fanbases. Someone like King Bach brings millions of ready subscribers.

That genius combination of short-form, streaming-first content and social media star power has allowed Zeus to aggressively scale its content slate.

The numbers show it‘s working. As of 2022, Zeus was averaging over 300 million views per month across its website, apps, and connected TV platforms.

How Does Zeus Stack Up Against Other Streamers?

As you can see, Zeus is much smaller than giants like Netflix. But for a young independent network, Zeus is experiencing incredible growth.

It‘s already comparable to major services like Hulu in monthly streams. And among Black-owned entertainment networks, Zeus stands alone as the market leader.

Zeus Valuation Likely Tops $100 Million Today

Here‘s where the business side comes in. As a private company, Zeus Network does not disclose its financials or valuation.

However, based on its funding rounds and growth, analysts estimate the company was worth around $20 million in 2018.

Given its subscriber and revenue growth since then, Zeus‘s valuation likely now exceeds $100 million. Some estimates peg it at over $300 million.

For founder Lemuel Plummer, his Zeus ownership stake likely represents the majority of his current $5-10 million personal net worth.

Of course, the company has plenty of room left to grow. Various projections see Zeus hitting 10-20 million subscribers within 5 years.

At that scale, a billion dollar-plus valuation would not be unreasonable. Zeus could follow Snapchat or TikTok to become a high-growth media unicorn.

But challenges remain. Netflix, Amazon and others are competing more heavily for Black viewers. And Zeus will need to keep expanding its content slate and monetization to sustain growth.

Can Zeus Maintain Its Lead in Black Streaming Entertainment?

Since launching in 2016, Zeus Network has proven there is huge demand for streaming entertainment tailored to Black audiences.

But now, the company faces its biggest challenge yet – fending off much larger competitors.

Netflix is investing heavily in African American focused shows and movies. Facebook Watch houses a growing set of Black creator content. Even Oprah is partnering with Apple TV.

Zeus will need to find ways to out-innovate them in serving this audience. Doubling down on social media influencers and retaining talent will be key.

The good news? Zeus already has an innovative business model, passionate audience, and smart leadership in place. If anyone can build the definitive Black streaming network, it‘s Lemuel Plummer and his team.

And for investors, advertisers, and fans rooting for Zeus‘s success, the good money is on this scrappy underdog. The story of Zeus Network is just getting started.