Cathy Hughes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cathy Hughes is an African-American entrepreneur, radio and [TV] personality and business executive.

Ms. Hughes was born Catherine Elizabeth Woods in Omaha, Nebraska on April 22, 1947.

After working for KOWH, Hughes was offered a job as a lecturer at the School of Communications at Howard University in Washington, D.C. In 1975, she became general manager of the university's radio station WHUR-FM.

In 1979, Hughes founded Radio One, using her earnings to buy AM radio station WOL in Washington. After the previous employees had destroyed the facility, she had to start from square one. She lost her home and had to move with her young son into the station. She took a gamble and changed the R&B station to a 24-hour talk format.

Hughes and Radio One have gone on to own 70 radio stations in nine major markets nationwide. Hughes's son Alfred Liggins, III, serves as CEO and president of Radio One, and Hughes as chairperson.

In January 2004, Radio One launched TV One, a national cable and satellite television network which bills itself as the "lifestyle and entertainment network for African-American adults." Hughes interviews prominent African-Americans for the network's talk program "TV One on One."