All Def Digital Will Air Alternative Awards Show Opposite The Oscars

Across its network, All Def Digital (ADD) showcases up-and-coming creators who represent a diverse spectrum of races, classes, and creeds. In that respect, Russell Simmons’ digital venture is diametrically opposed to the Academy Awards, which, as you might have heard, has a bit of a race problem. In order to combat the overwhelming whiteness of the Oscars, ADD will host its own ceremony, the All Def Movie Awards, which will air opposite the Oscars on the Fusion channel.

The ceremony for the All Def Movie Awards will take place on February 24th, with Fusion’s broadcast of the event beginning four days later at 7 PM EST on the 28th. While ADD’s production is primarily branded as an alternative to the Oscars, Simmons has not been shy about bringing race into the conversation. In a statement shared by The Hollywood Reporter, he said the All Def Movie Awards “are not the Black Oscars, but they could be. This will be a fun, entertaining and hopefully thought provoking celebration of the uncelebrated.”

As it so happens, the movies nominated at the All Def Movie Awards–Beasts of No Nation, Chi-raq, Concussion, Creed, Dope and Straight Outta Compton–all feature black actors in their respective lead roles. Other categories, such as “best bad muh f**ka,” “best helpful white person,” and “best black survivor in a movie,” all mesh with the racially-diverse tone ADD has made its own.

Fusion, which also commits itself to a diverse lineup, has agreed to broadcast the All Def Movie Awards for the next five years. The channel is co-owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group, which also airs the Oscars each year on ABC. This year, the two programs will also have a fraternal connection: Tony Rock, who will host the All Def Movie Awards, is the brother of Oscar host Chris Rock.

All Def Digital was launched in 2013. The network’s main YouTube channel currently has more than 1.2 million subscribers.