BET Networks

Last updated
Black Entertainment Television LLC
BET Networks
FormerlyBET Holdings Inc. (1983–2001)
Company type Subsidiary
Industry Entertainment
Founded1983;41 years ago (1983)
FounderRobert L. Johnson
Headquarters
Washington, D.C.
,
U.S.
Key people
Products Pay television, television production
Brands
Number of employees
11,949
Parent CBS Entertainment Group
Website www.bet.com

Black Entertainment Television LLC (also known as the BET Media Group, and doing business as BET Networks) is a subsidiary of American media conglomerate Paramount Global under its CBS Entertainment Group unit. BET Networks oversees television channels and premium services aimed at African Americans, including its namesake cable channel.

Contents

History

Background

In 1980, Robert L. Johnson, who left his position as a cable lobbyist; established his own cable network called Black Entertainment Television. It was originally a programming block on the Madison Square Garden Sports Network (later renamed to USA Network), until it became a separate channel in 1983. [1]

In 1991, the network became the first black–controlled TV company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. [2]

Starting in the late 1990s, the network expanded with the launch of digital cable networks: BET on Jazz (later known as BET Jazz. BET J, Centric, and BET Her), created originally to showcase jazz music–related programming, especially that of black jazz musicians; in 1998, it entered into a joint venture with Starz [3] (then–owned by John Malone's Liberty Media) to launch a multiplex service of the premium channel featuring African American–oriented movies called BET Movies: Starz! 3 (later renamed Black Starz after BET dropped out of the venture following its purchase by Viacom, then–owner of Starz rival Showtime, and now known as Starz InBlack).

Creation

In 2000, Viacom (later to be known as Paramount Global following the spin-off, and eventual reunion with several assets) announced plans to purchase BET Holdings Inc. for more than $2.3 billion. [4] The deal closed in 2001, with BET Holdings' networks becoming part of MTV Networks; but was eventually placed under BET Networks.

In 2005, Robert Johnson retired as CEO, and was replaced with Debra L. Lee. Around the same time, Viacom was looking into splitting into two entities following multiple issues surrounding the company.[ citation needed ] On December 31, 2005, a new incarnation of Viacom was created as the new parent of MTV Networks, BET Networks, Paramount Pictures, and Famous Music (later sold to Sony Music in 2007[ citation needed ]). The "new" Viacom would be spun-off from what became CBS Corporation, the legal successor to the original Viacom; which would retain CBS, Paramount Television, UPN, CBS Radio, and Paramount Parks (later sold to Cedar Fair in 2007).[ citation needed ]

By 2007, BET had launched two more music–oriented networks, BET Hip Hop and BET Gospel. The flagship network would also launch new original programming by this time, including reality shows Baldwin Hills and Hell Date , competition show Sunday Best , and town hall–style discussion show Hip Hop vs. America. [5] BET's president of entertainment Reginald Hudlin resigned from the network on September 11, 2008. He was then replaced by Stephen Hill, who is also executive vice president of music programming and talent. [6] BET announced in March 2010 that Ed Gordon would return to the network to host "a variety of news programs and specials". [7]

In 2015, oversight of VH1 Soul & MTV Jams was moved to BET Networks, with both networks relaunched under the BET brand.[ citation needed ]

In March 2017, president of programming Stephen Hill and executive vice president of original programming Zola Mashariki both stepped down. Connie Orlando, senior vice president of Specials, Music Programming, and News, was named the interim president of programming. [8]

Expansion into streaming

In July 2017, Viacom signed new film and television development deals with Tyler Perry following the expiration of his existing pact with Discovery, Inc. in 2019. As part of this deal, Perry would produce The Oval and Sistas for BET and co–own the network's newly launched streaming service, BET+. [9]

After Viacom re-merged with CBS to form what is now Paramount Global, BET was transferred from the Paramount Media Networks division to CBS Entertainment Group under the oversight of the latter's president, George Cheeks. [10] On November 9, 2022, it was announced that VH1 would move to BET Networks under Scott Mills. [11]

In March 2023, it was reported that Paramount Global was exploring the sale of a majority stake in BET in order to provide additional funding to its flagship streaming service Paramount+; Shaquille O'Neal, Tyler Perry, as well as Sean "Puffy" Combs (who owns Revolt TV) and Byron Allen (who owns Allen Media Group; including TheGrio, This TV, and The Weather Channel), were identified as potential suitors. [12] Paramount Global initially dropped its plans to sell BET in August 2023, before renewing interest in December of that year. [13] [14]

Assets and Other services

Television channels

Year in parentheses denotes when channel was created.

Notes

  1. ↑ Channel was originally BET on Jazz, BET Jazz, BET J, & Centric.
  2. 1 2 Channel originally had the MTV branding, and was part of the MTV group of Viacom Media Networks.

BET Walk of Fame Awards

The BET Walk of Fame Awards were established in 1995 by BET. In 2004, proceeds were shared between United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and the BET Foundation, which executes the Healthy BET obesity awareness campaign and other pro-social causes like the annual charitable black-tie BET Walk of Fame ceremony. [15]

BET Interactive

In 2006, BET Interactive, LLC became a subsidiary of BET. [16] BET also has a digital group including BET.com, BET on Blast, BET on Demand and BET Mobile. [17]

BET Films

Released films

TitleRelease dateCo-productionDistributorNotes
Nobody's Fool November 2, 2018
Paramount PicturesFirst film from Paramount Players
What Men Want February 8, 2019
Body Cam May 19, 2020
  • Paramount Players
  • Ace Entertainment
Karen September 3, 2021
  • Flixville USA
 Quiver Distribution
King of the SouthTBA
Genius Minds Pictures

BET Home Entertainment

BET's programming is distributed on DVD and through video-on-demand services under the name BET Home Entertainment. In 2007, a distribution deal was arranged with Paramount Home Entertainment, a sister company of BET since 2001. [18] [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viacom (2005–2019)</span> American mass media company (2005–2019)

The second incarnation of Viacom Inc., or Viacom International Inc., as Nickelodeon copyrights it, was an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate with interests primarily in film and television. It was established on December 31, 2005, as one of two companies which succeeded the original Viacom, alongside the second CBS Corporation. The controlling shareholder of both companies was National Amusements, a theater company headed by businessman Sumner Redstone. The split was structured so that the original Viacom changed its name to CBS Corporation and spun out its cable and film interests as a new Viacom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BET</span> American basic cable channel owned by Paramount

Black Entertainment Television is an American basic cable channel which is the first network to target black American audiences. It is owned by Paramount Global through CBS Entertainment Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paramount Network</span> American television channel

Paramount Network is an American basic cable television channel owned by the MTV Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Media Networks, a division of Paramount Global. The network's headquarters are located at the Paramount Pictures studio lot in Los Angeles.

Paramount Media Networks is an American mass media division of Paramount Global that oversees the operations of many of its television channels and online brands. Its related international division is Paramount International Networks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flix (TV network)</span> American movie-oriented pay television network

Flix is an American premium cable and satellite television network owned by Showtime Networks, a subsidiary of Paramount Global operated through its Paramount Media Networks division. Its programming consists solely of theatrically released motion pictures released from the 1970s to the present day, interspersed with some films from the 1950s and 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Logo TV</span> American pay television channel owned by Paramount Global

Logo TV is an American basic cable channel owned by Paramount Media Networks, a division of Paramount Global. Launched in 2005, Logo was originally dedicated to lifestyle and entertainment programming targeting LGBT audiences. As of January 2016, approximately 50 million households receive Logo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TV Land</span> Pay TV channel in the United States

TV Land is an American pay television channel owned by Paramount Global through its networks division. Originally a spinoff of Nick at Nite consisting exclusively of classic television shows, the channel now airs a combination of recent and classic television series, original scripted series and limited theatrically released movies. The network is headquartered at One Astor Plaza in New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BET Her</span> American pay television channel

BET Her is an American basic cable television network owned by Paramount Media Networks. The network is a spin-off of BET with a focus on general entertainment targeting African-American women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CMT (American TV channel)</span> US television channel

CMT is an American pay TV network. Launched on March 5, 1983, as Country Music Television, CMT was the first nationally available channel devoted to country music and country music videos, with its programming also including concerts, specials, and biographies of country music stars. Over time, the network's programming expanded to incorporate original lifestyle/reality programming, and sitcoms aimed at audiences of all walks of life.

Paramount Networks Europe, Middle East, Africa & Asia (EMEAA) is a division of Paramount International Networks which is fully owned by Paramount Global. The unit's headquarters are in Berlin, with additional offices in Madrid, Lisbon, Paris, Amsterdam, Milan, Dubai, Johannesburg, Lagos, Budapest, Warsaw, Singapore, Stockholm, Tokyo, Beijing, Manila, Copenhagen, Prague, Helsinki, and Hong Kong. The company was originally founded under the name MTV Networks Europe in 1987.

Paramount International Networks (PIN) is the international sibling division of Paramount Global’s Paramount Media Networks subsidiary. The division oversees the production, broadcasting and promotion of key Paramount brands outside of the United States. These brands include Paramount Network, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, BET and Colors TV, as well as CBS-branded channels, which are co-owned with AMC Networks International. PIN also owned a 30% stake in the Rainbow S.p.A. animation studio in Italy until 2023, as well as a 13.01% stake in an Indian joint venture with domestic partner TV18, Viacom18.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MGM+</span> American pay television network

MGM+, formerly known as Epix, is an American premium cable and satellite television network owned by the MGMPlus Entertainment subsidiary of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), which is itself a subsidiary of Amazon MGM Studios. The channel's programming consists of recent and older theatrically released motion pictures, original television series, documentaries, and music and comedy specials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viacom (1952–2005)</span> American media conglomerate (1952–2005)

The original incarnation of Viacom Inc. was an American mass media and entertainment conglomerate based in New York City. It began as CBS Television Film Sales, the broadcast syndication division of the CBS television network in 1952; it was renamed CBS Films in 1958, renamed CBS Enterprises in 1968, renamed Viacom in 1970, and spun off into its own company in 1971. Viacom was a distributor of CBS television series throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and also distributed syndicated television programs. The company went under Sumner Redstone's control in 1987 through his cinema chain company National Amusements.

Paramount Global is an American multinational entertainment conglomerate that was the subject of criticisms and controversies about its products and services. Criticism of Paramount Global has included the former Viacom Inc.'s announced plans of looking into splitting the company into two publicly traded companies. The company was not only dealing with a stagnating stock price, but also the rivalry between Leslie Moonves and Tom Freston, longtime heads of MTV Networks. In addition, the company was facing issues after MTV was banned from producing any more Super Bowl halftime shows after the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pluto TV</span> Internet-based TV platform

Pluto TV is a free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service owned and operated by the Paramount Streaming division of Paramount Global.

Robert Marc Bakish is an American business executive. He has been president and CEO of Paramount Global since December 4, 2019, formerly holding the same position at Viacom before the merger with CBS Corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paramount Global</span> American multinational mass media corporation

Paramount Global is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate controlled by National Amusements and headquartered at One Astor Plaza in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. The company was formed on December 4, 2019, as ViacomCBS Inc. through the merger of the second incarnations of CBS Corporation and Viacom. The company took its current name on February 16, 2022, the day after its Q4 earnings presentation.

2019 merger of CBS and Viacom 2019 merger transaction

The 2019 merger of CBS Corporation and Viacom was announced on August 13, 2019, and was completed on December 4, 2019. The merger of equals reunited CBS Corporation and Viacom into a single company known as ViacomCBS after their separation from the first incarnation of Viacom on December 31, 2005. Both companies were owned by the theater company National Amusements, which remains the owner of the merged entity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fave TV</span> American digital subchannel television network

Fave TV is an American digital multicast television network owned by the CBS Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of Paramount Global. The channel soft-launched in the markets covered by CBS Television Stations on December 15, 2020, usually as a DT4 subchannel.

References

  1. ↑ "Corporate Fact Sheet". BET Networks. Archived from the original on September 12, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  2. ↑ Johnson, Robert; Dumaine, Brian (2002-10-01). "The Market Nobody Wanted". Fortune Small Business. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
  3. ↑ "888Starz | Customer Service | Support". 2022-06-06. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  4. ↑ "Viacom buys BET for $2.3B in stock – Nov. 3, 2000". money.cnn.com. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
  5. ↑ Deggans, Eric (July 24, 2007). "BET diversifies with confidence". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
  6. ↑ Wiltz, Teresa; Farhi, Paul (2008-09-12). "BET President Resigns". The Washington Post. p. C7. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  7. ↑ Bland, Bridget (March 8, 2010). "Ed Gordon: Returning to BET News". Black Voices. AOL. Archived from the original on December 17, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
  8. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (2017-03-29). "BET Programming Shakeup: President Stephen Hill & EVP Zola Mashariki Exit". Deadline. Retrieved 2017-07-27.
  9. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (2017-07-14). "Tyler Perry Inks Mega Film & Television Deal With Viacom". Deadline. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
  10. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (2022-11-09). "VH1 Shifts From Paramount Media Networks To BET Media Group Under Scott Mills". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  11. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (2022-11-09). "VH1 Shifts From Paramount Media Networks To BET Media Group Under Scott Mills". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  12. ↑ Weprin, Alex (2023-03-06). "Tyler Perry, Byron Allen Eye BET Majority Stake as Paramount Explores Sale". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  13. ↑ Weprin, Alex (2023-12-20). "Paramount revives interest in BET Media sale, Byron Allen renews bid – report". StreamTV Insider. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  14. ↑ "Byron Allen Resubmits $3.5 Billion Bid For Paramount Global's BET, VH1". Deadline. 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  15. ↑ BET Walk of Fame salutes Smokey Robinson Archived November 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine .thefreelibrary.com
  16. ↑ "Companies: BET Interactive". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
  17. ↑ "Companies: BET Networks Media Room". BET. Archived from the original on 2011-09-09. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
  18. ↑ "BET Networks Launches Home Entertainment Division Through Partnership With Paramount Home Entertainment" (Press release). 2007-05-24. Retrieved 2013-12-29. [...] today announced the launch of BET Home Entertainment through a partnership with Paramount Home Entertainment, who will distribute BET original television programming, made-for-DVD titles and acquired content on a worldwide basis.
  19. ↑ "Cable Guide 2010", adage.com, archived from the original on December 30, 2013, retrieved December 29, 2013, BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment, including DVDs and video on demand
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.