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			{{short description\|American basic cable channel owned by Paramount}}
	{{Infobox Network \|
			{{About\|the television channel\|\|Bet (disambiguation){{!}}Bet}}
	network_name = Black Entertainment Television (BET) \|
			{{pp-move}}
	network_logo = ] \|
			{{Use American English\|date = March 2019}}
	country = ] \|
			{{Use mdy dates\|date = March 2019}}
	network_type = ] ] (])\|
			{{Infobox television channel
	available = National \|
			\| name = Black Entertainment Television
	owner = ] \|
			\| logo_caption = Logo since June 27, 2021
	key_people = ] - ] and ], BET\|
			\| logo = ]
	launch_date = ], ] \|
			\| launch_date = {{start date\|1980\|1\|25}} (] timeshare)<br />{{start date and age\|1983\|7\|1}} (all-time channel)
	past_names = None \|
			\| picture_format = ] ]<br />(downscaled to ]ed ] for the ] feed)
	website = http://www.bet.com \|
			\| founder = ]<br />]
			\| owner = ]
			\| parent = ]<br><small>(])</small>
			\| country = ]
			\| area = United States
			\| headquarters = ], ]<ref name="deadline.com">{{Cite web\|url=https://deadline.com/2017/05/bet-networks-shutting-washington-dc-headquarters-1202088275/\|title=BET Networks Shutting Down DC Headquarters, Moving To NYC\|first=Patrick\|last=Hipes\|work=]\|date=May 10, 2017\|access-date=February 25, 2021}}</ref>
			\| sister_channels = {{collapsible list\|
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
	}}		}}
			\| website = {{official URL}}
			\| online_serv_1 = Service(s)
			\| online_chan_1 = ], ], ], ], ], ]
			}}
			'''Black Entertainment Television''' ('''BET''') is an American ] ] targeting ] audiences. It is currently owned by the ], a subsidiary of ]'s ]. Originally launched as a ] on January 25, 1980, BET would eventually become a full-fledged channel on July 1, 1983.

			{{As of\|2023\|11}}, BET is available to approximately 67,000,000 pay television households in the United States-down from its 2011 peak of 92,000,000 households.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://wrestlenomics.com/u-s-cable-network-households-universe-1990-2023-nielsen-data/\|title=U.S. cable network households (universe), 1990 – 2023\|website=wrestlenomics.com\|date=May 14, 2024\|access-date=July 28, 2019}}</ref>
	'''Black Entertainment Television''' ('''BET''') is a cable ] target towards the ] demographic. The network is essentially the ] equivalent of ], as most of its programming comprises of ] and ] ] and related programs.

	==~~Format~~==		== History ==
			=== Early years ===
	BET was founded by ] in January of ]. Johnson was also the chairman and ] of BET until handing over the title of CEO to Debra Lee. In ], BET was purchased by ] and then merged into its ], ], but then, because of the outcry of the network's workers, Viacom de-integrated BET from MTV Networks.
			{{multiple image
			\| direction = vertical
			\| align = left
			\| width = 150
			\| image1 = BET_Logo.svg
			\| caption1 = The network's logo from 2005 to 2021.
			}}
			After stepping down as a lobbyist for the cable industry, ], ] native ] decided to launch his own ] network. Johnson acquired a loan for $15,000 (equivalent to $55,648 in 2023) and a $500,000 (equivalent to $1,854,921 in 2023) investment from media executive ] to start the network.<ref name="Market Nobody Wanted">{{Cite news\|last1=Johnson\|first1=Robert\|last2=Dumaine\|first2=Brian\|title=The Market Nobody Wanted\|url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fsb/fsb_archive/2002/10/01/330571/index.htm\|work=Fortune Small Business\|date=2002-10-01\|access-date=2008-09-08}}</ref> The network, which was named Black Entertainment Television (BET), launched on January 25, 1980.<ref name="Corporate Fact Sheet">{{cite web \|title=Corporate Fact Sheet \|url=http://bet.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=45 \|publisher=BET Networks \|access-date=2008-09-12 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912162009/http://bet.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=45 \|archive-date=September 12, 2008 \|url-status=dead }}</ref> ] designed the logo that would represent the network, which featured a star to symbolize "Black Star Power".<ref>{{Cite web\|last=Schneider\|first=Michael\|date=2021-06-28\|title=BET Launches New Logo, Branding Effort in Time for BET Awards\|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/bet-awards-logo-branding-1235006359/\|url-status=live\|access-date=2021-07-01\|website=Variety\|language=en-US\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628000216/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/bet-awards-logo-branding-1235006359/ \|archive-date=June 28, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|date=November 16, 2015\|title=Cheryl D. Miller's Design Journey\|url=https://www.aiga.org/diversity-inclusion-design-journeys-essay-cheryl-d-miller\|access-date=2020-06-23\|website=AIGA {{!}} the professional association for design}}</ref>

			Initially, broadcasting for two hours a week as a block of programming on the Madison Square Garden Sports Network (which would change their name to ] three months after BET launched),<ref>{{Cite book\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6uQo0R2cUL0C&q=BET+on+USA+Network&pg=PA44\|title=The Billion Dollar BET: Robert Johnson and the Inside Story of Black Entertainment Television\|last=Pulley\|first=Brett\|date=2005-10-05\|publisher=John Wiley & Sons\|isbn=9780471735977\|language=en}}</ref> the network's lineup was composed of ] and reruns of popular ]s.<ref name="Market Nobody Wanted" />
	On weekdays and Saturdays, BET focuses mainly on music programming with shows like ] and ], while also airing black ] such as '']'', black ] like '']'', a stand-up comedy program called '']'', and various black movies.

			=== Becoming a full-time channel ===
	On Sundays, BET carries ] and other religious programming for the greater part of the day, and is home to many shows, including ''Let's Talk ]'', hosted by ], a well-known and liked Gospel singer within the black community.
			In 1983, BET became a full-fledged entity, independent of any other channel or programming block, though continuing to share channel space with other cable networks on local cable systems due to lack of channel room for their 24-hour schedule until the time of ] allowed for larger channel capacity. In some markets, the network would not arrive at all until as late as the early 2010s and Viacom considered it compulsory in ] negotiations to carry the BET-branded networks with ], due to some providers claiming that there was an overall lack of demand for the channel, or excused their lack of interest in BET due to an alleged low to non-existent Black American population within their service area.

			BET launched a news program, ''BET News'', in 1986, with Paul Berry as its first anchor. Berry was also a local anchor at WJLA-TV in Washington, DC at that time. Ed Gordon became anchor in 1988. Gordon later hosted other programs and specials on BET, such as ''For Black Men Only: The Aftermath'', related to the ], and a recurring interview show, ''Conversations with Ed Gordon''.<ref>{{cite web\|last=Johnson\|first=Anne Janette\|title= Gordon, Ed 1960 – \|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2871200026.html\|work=Contemporary Black Biography\|year=1996\|access-date=July 2, 2010}}</ref> In 1996, the talk show ''BET Tonight'' started with ] as host; in 2001, Ed Gordon replaced Smiley as host of the program.
	BET has three other music-oriented networks in its stable, '''BET Hip-Hop''', '''BET Gospel''', and the most widely known '''BET Jazz''' (formerly ''BET on ]'').

			In 1991, the network became the first black-controlled television company to be listed on the ].<ref name="Market Nobody Wanted"/> Starting the late 1990s, the network expanded with the launch of ] networks: what is now the general interest channel ] was initially launched as "BET on Jazz" (later known as "BET Jazz", "BET J", and "Centric"), created initially to showcase jazz music-related programming, especially that of black American jazz musicians. In 1997, BET entered into a ] with ] (then-owned by John Malone's ], but later acquired by Lionsgate years later) to launch a multiplex service of the ] featuring black American-oriented films 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 ], and now known as "Starz InBlack").

			=== Sale to Viacom/Paramount ===
			In 2001, the network was bought by media conglomerate ] (later to become part of ]) for $3 billion. In 2005, Johnson retired from the network, turning over his titles of president and chief executive officer to former BET vice president ].

			In 2002, the network had launched two more music-oriented networks: BET Hip-Hop and ]. BET also launched a series of original programming by this time, including reality shows '']'' and '']'', competition show '']'', and town hall-style discussion show ''Hip Hop vs. America''.<ref name="confidence">{{cite news\|last=Deggans\|first=Eric\|title=BET diversifies with confidence\|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2007/07/24/Tv/BET_diversifies_with_.shtml\|access-date=December 30, 2010\|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times\|date=July 24, 2007}}</ref> BET's president of entertainment ] 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.<ref>{{Cite news\|last1=Wiltz\|first1=Teresa\|last2=Farhi\|first2=Paul\|title=BET President Resigns\|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/11/AR2008091103380.html\|newspaper=The Washington Post\|page=C7\|date=2008-09-12\|access-date=2008-09-12}}</ref> BET announced in March 2010 that Ed Gordon would return to the network to host "a variety of news programs and specials".<ref>{{cite web\|last=Bland\|first=Bridget\|title=Ed Gordon: Returning to BET News\|url=http://www.bvnewswire.com/2010/03/08/ed-gordon-returning-to-bet-news/\|work=Black Voices\|publisher=AOL\|access-date=July 2, 2010\|date=March 8, 2010\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101217170740/http://www.bvnewswire.com/2010/03/08/ed-gordon-returning-to-bet-news\|archive-date=December 17, 2010\|url-status=dead\|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

			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.<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://deadline.com/2017/03/bet-programming-shakeup-stephen-hill-zola-mashariki-leaving-1202055014/\|title=BET Programming Shakeup: President Stephen Hill & EVP Zola Mashariki Exit\|last=Hipes\|first=Patrick\|date=2017-03-29\|work=Deadline\|access-date=2017-07-27\|language=en-US}}</ref>

			In July 2017, Viacom signed new film and television development deals with Academy Award winner ] following the expiration of his existing pact with ] in 2019. As part of this deal, Perry would produce '']'' and '']'' for BET and co-own the network's newly launched streaming service, ].<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://deadline.com/2017/07/tyler-perry-viacom-film-tv-deal-with-viacom-1202128622/\|title=Tyler Perry Inks Mega Film & Television Deal With Viacom\|last=Andreeva\|first=Nellie\|date=2017-07-14\|work=Deadline\|access-date=2018-11-20\|language=en-US}}</ref>

			== Programming==
			{{main\|List of programs broadcast by BET}}

	== Criticism ==		== Criticism ==
			A wide range of people have protested elements of BET's programming and actions, including ] rapper ],<ref>{{cite web \|date=2001-03-30 \|title=BET 2001; THE FISHTANK OF FOOLS \|url=http://www.publicenemy.com/index.php?page=page3&item=31 \|publisher=publicenemy.com \|access-date=2008-02-05 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080217234959/http://www.publicenemy.com/index.php?page=page3&item=31 \|archive-date=2008-02-17 \|url-status=dead }}</ref> journalist ],<ref>{{cite web\|date=2002-12-10 \|publisher=georgecurry.com \|title=Viacom's BET Turns into ET \|url=http://www.georgecurry.com/columns/viacoms-bet-turns-into-et \|access-date=2008-02-05 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711084858/http://www.georgecurry.com/columns/viacoms-bet-turns-into-et \|archive-date=2011-07-11 }}</ref> writer ],<ref>{{cite web\|date=2002-12-18 \|first=Keith \|last=Boykin \|title=All Hail Bob Johnson \|url=http://www.keithboykin.com/arch/000539.html \|access-date=2008-02-05 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060506162430/http://www.keithboykin.com/arch/000539.html \|archive-date=2006-05-06 }}</ref> comic book creator ],<ref>{{cite web\|first=Christopher J. \|last=Priest \|date=February 2001 \|title=the ostracized negro \|url=http://phonogram.us/viewpoint/ostracized.htm \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030320084835/http://phonogram.us/viewpoint/ostracized.htm \|url-status=dead \|archive-date=2003-03-20 \|access-date=2008-02-05 }}</ref> filmmaker ],<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271%7C79963%7C1%7C,00.html \|title=Zap2it – TV news – Spike Lee Dismisses BET \|publisher=Tv.zap2it.com \|date=2003-01-30 \|access-date=2011-08-05 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015153212/http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271%7C79963%7C1%7C,00.html \|archive-date=October 15, 2007 \|url-status=dead \|df=mdy-all }}</ref> ] professor of finance ],<ref>{{cite web\|last=Watkins\|first=Boyce\|title=Why there should be a black backlash against BET\|url=http://www.thegrio.com/entertainment/why-there-should-be-a-black-backlash-against-bet.php\|work=theGrio\|date=2010-06-28}}</ref> former NFL player ],<ref>{{Cite news\|url=http://www.bizpacreview.com/2016/08/29/superbowl-champ-burgess-owens-kaepernick-turn-off-b-e-t-educate-ignorant-self-384739\|title=Superbowl champ Burgess Owens to Kaepernick: Turn off BET and educate your ignorant self\|date=2016-08-29\|work=Conservative News Today\|access-date=2017-10-13\|language=en-US}}</ref> and cartoonist ] (who, in addition to numerous critical references throughout his series '']'', made two particular episodes, "]" and "]", criticizing the channel). As a result, BET heavily censors suggestive content from the videos that it airs, often with entire verses and scenes removed from certain rap videos.<ref name="Protesting"/><ref name="Take On">{{cite news\|last=Eggerton\|first=John\|title=PTC, Enough Is Enough Campaign Take on MTV, BET\|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/ptc-enough-enough-campaign-take-mtv-bet-32096\|work=Broadcasting & Cable\|date=2008-04-09}}</ref>
	Many critics, from ] rapper ] , to journalist George Curry , to students at ] and ] , to writer ] , to cartoonist ] of '']'', have protested BET's programming and actions. One of the most commonly-heard criticisms is the fact that the network is almost solely based upon music entertainment, ] in particular, and does not focus on the public affairs of the black community. This is a problem that has been made worse by Viacom's cutbacks of BET's public affairs department and the firing of ''BET Tonight'' talk show host and social commentator ] in ] . BET then went on to discontinue ''BET Tonight'' altogether, along with the youth panel program ''Teen Summit'' and morning news broadcast ''Lead Story'', in ].

			Many scholars within the black American community maintain that BET perpetuates and justifies racism by affecting the stereotypes held about black Americans, and also by affecting the psyche of its young viewers through its bombardment of negative images of black Americans.<ref>{{cite web\|last=Adams \|first=Jonathan \|title=BET vs. Boondocks \|url=http://www.racewire.org/archives/2008/06/bet_vs_boondocks.html \|work=Colorlines \|date=June 11, 2008 \|access-date=December 30, 2010 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100303184327/http://www.racewire.org/archives/2008/06/bet_vs_boondocks.html \|archive-date=March 3, 2010 }}</ref>

			Following the death of civil rights leader ] in 2006, BET broadcast its regularly scheduled music video programming, rather than covering King's funeral live, as was done by ] and ], and by cable news channels such as ], ], and ]. The network's website streamed the funeral live, while it periodically broadcast taped, 60-second reports from the funeral by senior news correspondent Andre Showell. Michael Lewellen, BET's senior vice president for corporate communications, defended the decision: "We weighed a number of different options. In the end, we chose to offer a different kind of experience for BET viewers." Lewellen also explained that BET received around "two dozen" phone calls and "a handful" of emails criticizing BET for not showing the King funeral live.<ref name="CSK">{{cite news\|last=Shister\|first=Gail\|title=BET leaves pack on King funeral – it sticks with scheduled program\|url=http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/buffalo-news/mi_8030/is_20060209/bet-leaves-pack-king-funeral/ai_n42906812/\|access-date=December 30, 2010\|newspaper=The Buffalo News\|date=February 9, 2006}}</ref> On the evening of the funeral, February 7, 2006, BET broadcast the tribute special ''Coretta Scott King: Married to the Mission'', and repeated it the following Sunday, February 12.<ref>{{cite press release\|title=BET, BET.com Present Special Telecast, On-Line Coverage Honoring Life of Coretta Scott King \|url=http://bet.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=364 \|publisher=BET \|date=February 6, 2006 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714064719/http://bet.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=364 \|archive-date=2011-07-14 }}</ref> Showell hosted the program featuring highlights of the funeral, ''Coretta Scott King: Celebrating Her Spirit'', that broadcast that same day.<ref>{{cite press release\|url=http://bet.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=437 \|title=BET Celebration of Coretta Scott King Continues Sunday With Three Hours of Tributes, Special Moments \|date=February 9, 2006 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714064724/http://bet.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=437 \|archive-date=2011-07-14 }}</ref> In its 2007 convention, the ] gave BET its "Thumbs Down Award" for not broadcasting King's funeral live.<ref name="thumbs down">{{cite web\|last=Williams\|first=Juan\|title='BET' Gets Thumbs Down Award From Journalists\|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12668674\|work=Morning Edition\|publisher=National Public Radio\|access-date=December 30, 2010\|date=August 10, 2007}}</ref>

			'']'' reported that the Reverend ] and his organization Enough is Enough led protests every weekend outside the residences of BET executives against what they claim are negative ] perpetuated by BET music videos.<ref name="Protesting">{{Cite news\|last=Lee\|first=Felicia R.\|title=Protesting Demeaning Images in Media\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/05/arts/05enou.html\|work=The New York Times\|date=2007-11-05}}</ref> Enough is Enough backed an April 2008 report titled ''The Rap on Rap'' by the ] that criticized BET's rap programming, suggesting that the gratuitous sexual, violent and profane content was targeting children and teens.<ref>{{cite news\|last1=Moss\|first1=Linda\|last2=Umstead\|first2=R. Thomas\|title=PTC Puts A Bad 'Rap' On BET, MTV\|url=http://www.multichannel.com/news/ptc-puts-bad-rap-bet-mtv-268081\|work=Multichannel News\|date=2008-04-11\|access-date=2008-07-27}}</ref>

			In a 2010 interview, BET co-founder ] explained that she herself is "ashamed" of what the network has become. "I don't watch it. I suggest to my kids that they don't watch it," she said. "When we started BET, it was going to be the '']'' magazine on television. We had public affairs programming. We had news... I had a show called '']'', we had a large variety of programming, but the problem is that then the video revolution started up... And then something started happening, and I didn't like it at all. And I remember during those days we would sit up and watch these videos and decide which ones were going on and which ones were not. We got a lot of backlash from recording artists...and we had to start showing them. I didn't like the way women were being portrayed in these videos."<ref>{{cite web\|last=Rivas\|first=Jorge\|title=BET Co-Founder Says Network Reinforces Negative Stereotypes\|url=https://www.colorlines.com/articles/bet-co-founder-says-network-reinforces-negative-stereotypes\|work=Colorlines\|date=2012-10-15\|access-date=2022-07-02}}</ref>

			== Sister networks ==
			=== Spin-off channels ===
			BET has launched several spin-off cable networks over the years, including ] (formerly known as "BET on Jazz", then "BET J" and later "Centric"), BET Hip-Hop, and BET Gospel. Overtime, spin-offs from sibling channels would be realigned under the BET branding; such as BET Jams (formerly known as "] Jams"), ] (formerly known as "VH1 Soul"), SHO×BET, a premium ] multiplex network, and ] (an older-skewing spin-off of MTV that drifted into reality shows and, later, Black American-centric programming).

			In May 2019, a BET-branded channel was launched on ] (which was acquired by its parent company two months earlier).<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://digiday.com/media/viacom-will-debut-15-channels-pluto-tv-bolster-upfront-pitch/\|title=Viacom will debut 15 channels on Pluto TV to bolster its upfront pitch\|first=Tim\|last=Peterson\|date=16 April 2019\|access-date=29 April 2019}}</ref> In June 2019, the launch of ] was announced, a premium ] targeting Black Americans. The service launched in the United States in Fall 2019 with '']'' (which was originally planned to launch on ] before being shifted to BET) announced as one of the service's original series.<ref>{{cite magazine\|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/amp/live-feed/tyler-perry-sets-first-four-bet-series-white-house-soap-oval-1220003\|title=Tyler Perry Sets First of Four BET Series: White House Soap 'The Oval' (Exclusive)\|first=Lesley\|last=Goldberg\| magazine=]\|access-date=August 1, 2019}}</ref>

			==== BET Gospel ====
			{{Infobox television channel
			\| name = BET Gospel
			\| logo = ]
			\| logo_alt = United States
			\| launch_date = {{Start date and age\|2002\|7\|1}}
			}}
			'''BET Gospel''' is a ] in the United States that launched on July 1, 2002. The network provides gospel and religious-related programming, and much of its time is ] by religious organizations to carry their programming and services.

			===== Current programming =====
			* ''Lifted'' (2016–present) (music videos)
			* ''Being'' (2016–present)
			* '']'' (2002–present)
			* ''Lift Every Voice'' (2002–present)
			* ''Celebration of Gospel''
			* ''It's a Mann's World'' (2016–present)
			* ''Let the Church Say Amen'' (2016–present)
			* ''The Sheards'' (2016–present)
			* ''T.D. Jakes Presents: Mind, Body, & Soul'' (2016–present)
			* '']'' (2016–present)

			==== BET Jams ====
			{{Infobox television channel
			\| name = BET Jams
			\| logo = ]
			\| launch_date = {{Start date and age\|2002\|05\|01}}
			\| picture_format = 480i SDTV
			\| area = United States and Latin America
			\| former_names = MTV Jams {{small\|(2002–2015)}}
			}}

			'''BET Jams''' is an American pay television network airing ] and ] ]s on a thrice-daily automated wheel schedule of eight hours outside of temporary "roadblock" closures during Paramount Global's awards events, with all of its programming currently denoted in hour blocks as ''BET Jams – Music Videos'' within ] listings.

			The channel launched on May 1, 2002, as MTV Jams, and carried that name until October 5, 2015, and was placed under BET's purview as MTV drifted away from music programming along with ''106 & Park''. The network space itself launched on August 1, 1998, as ], carrying modern rock videos, and was re-focused around hip-hop music on that date, to some controversy from MTVX's former viewers.

			=== International networks ===
			==== BET International ====
			{{Main\|BET International}}
			BET UK first transmitted on Videotron (now known as Virgin Media) and several other subscription providers from 1993 until 1996.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://madnews.wordpress.com/2007/12/30/hello-world \|title=Black Entertainment Television (Bet) Uk Launch – What Happened??? « Www.Madnews.Biz \|publisher=Madnews.wordpress.com \|date=2007-12-30 \|access-date=2011-08-05}}</ref>

			In May 2007 by ], BET International Inc. was given a license to rebroadcast in the United Kingdom. ] is the first international version of the channel and is available in Europe, Africa and the Middle East through satellite providers. BET launched on February 27, 2008, on Sky channel 191 and began to be carried by ] channel 140 on August 8, 2008. BET+1 is also available on Sky channel 198 and Freesat channel 141, and is free-to-air. ] shows with a mix of content from the main BET channel and locally produced shows. An exclusive, but temporary, HD version of the channel was made to show the 2009 BET Awards on Freesat EPG 142.

			BET is additionally an associate member of the Caribbean Cable Cooperative.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.cctvcoop.com/listChannels.aspx \|title=Member channels of the Caribbean Cable Cooperative \|publisher=Cctvcoop.com \|access-date=2011-08-05 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816125823/http://www.cctvcoop.com/listChannels.aspx \|archive-date=2011-08-16 }}</ref>

			BET launched an app called BET Play allowing international access to BET content in over 100 countries in June 2016.<ref>{{cite web\|last1=Perez\|first1=Sarah\|title=BET Play is Viacom's new $4 per month streaming service, arriving today outside the U.S.\|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/22/bet-play-is-viacoms-new-4-per-month-streaming-service-arriving-today-outside-the-u-s/\|website=TechCrunch.com\|date=June 22, 2016 \|access-date=15 October 2017\|language=en}}</ref>

			The channel was shut down on April 8, 2021, with its content moved to ] and ].

			==== Canada ====
			BET became available through most Canadian pay television providers on October 17, 1997, though with select programming substituted and ] due to domestic broadcast groups owning the rights the shows being broadcast and carrying them on another of their networks.

			In 2022, Paramount began to phase out BET in Canada due to rights is expiring, a number of major providers began dropping the channel, beginning with ] on April 1, 2022, followed by Hay Communications on September 30, 2022, and ] and ] on August 31, 2023.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://support.shaw.ca/t5/tv-discussions/removal-of-paramount-network-and-bet/td-p/63643\|title=Removal of Paramount Network and BET\|date=6 July 2022\|work=Shaw customer forums\|access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref> The Canadian feed was discontinued on all other providers nationwide on January 1, 2025.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.telus.com/en/bc/support/article/optik-tv-service-updates\|title=Optik TV service programming and rate updates\|publisher=Telus Communications\|access-date=December 1, 2024\|quote=BET channel turndown\|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241202023303/https://www.telus.com/en/support/article/optik-tv-service-updates\|archive-date=December 2, 2024}}</ref>
	It did, however, also launch a daily newscast, ''BET Nightly News'' with ], which began in ]. It was replaced in ] by a new news operation, still with Jackie Reid as the main anchor, that delivers news updates on BET throughout the day, not just at night.

			==== France ====
	The network has been noted to ban artists for videos that reach a broader propective. ] was one of the first artist to have one of his videos banned on BET after protest from Michael Jackson, Steve Harvey and others after the release of "Just Lose It". The response backfired after critics stated that Eminem video parody is far tamed than the ]'s "Tipdrill" video that makes derogratory references as well as degrading images of women.
			{{main\|BET (France)}}
			Introduced on November 17, 2015. BET France launched across a linear television channel alongside non-linear services including Bouygues Telecom, Canalsat, Numericable/SFR, and Free.<ref>{{cite web \|last1=Keslassy \|first1=Elsa \|title=Viacom Intl. Media Networks, BET Intl. Launch Channel in France \|url=https://variety.com/2015/digital/markets-festivals/viacom-intl-media-networks-bet-intl-launch-channel-in-france-1201618660/ \|website=Variety.com \|date=October 15, 2015 \|publisher=Variety \|access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref>

			== See also ==
	The channel has also undergone criticism by many black people who feel that the channel helps to perpetuate harmful black ] by airing mostly hip-hop videos, aimed at young people, that often have ], ], and/or ] themes. Detractors are also quick to point out the ] they see in the network's choice to also show strong religious programming once a week. The dramatic series and sitcoms that the network have aired have all been ]s, including, in the past, shows such as '']'' and '']'', and currently '']'', '']'', and the '']'' series.
			{{Portal\|United States\|Television}}
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]

			== References ==
	The network's success, and the controversy over its content, has spawned a few smaller competitors aiming toward the African-American market. The most prominent competitor, ], mostly eschews BET's music-based programming for more family-oriented fare.
			{{reflist}}

	== ~~Popular~~ ~~Original BET Shows~~ ==		== Further reading ==
			* {{citation\|last=Muhammad\|first=Tariq K.\|title=The Branding of BET\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bhAOri-bwB8C\|work=]\|date=June 1997\|volume=27\|number=11\|pages=156–171}}
	* '']: BET's Top 10 Live''
	* '']''
	* '']''
	* '']''
	* '']''
	* '']

	== External links ==		== External links ==
	*		*
			** {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/*/http://betnetworks.com/\|title=BET (betnetworks.com)}}<!--Indicated by https://web.archive.org/web/19961230170343/http://www.bet.com which at the time was NOT owned by the BET-->
	*
			* Interview with Robert Johnson, founder and president of BET, from ]'s ] series on the ], April 29, 1986

	{{~~Viacom~~}}		{{BET}}
			{{Paramount Global}}
	]
			{{HBO}}
	]
			{{Authority control}}
	]

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Latest revision as of 21:40, 5 January 2025

American basic cable channel owned by Paramount This article is about the television channel. For other uses, see Bet.

Television channel

Black Entertainment Television
Programming
Logo since June 27, 2021
Country	United States
Broadcast area	United States
Headquarters	New York City, New York
Picture format	1080i HDTV (downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
Owner	Paramount Global
Parent	BET Media Group (CBS Entertainment Group)
Sister channels	List Nickelodeon CBS CBS Sports Network CBS Sports HQ CBS Sports Golazo Network MTV BET Her VH1 Comedy Central TV Land CMT Pop TV Showtime The Movie Channel Flix Paramount Network Smithsonian Channel
History
Launched	January 25, 1980 (1980-01-25) (USA Network timeshare) July 1, 1983; 41 years ago (1983-07-01) (all-time channel)
Founder	Robert L. Johnson Sheila Johnson
Links
Website	www.bet.com
Availability

Streaming media
Service(s)	Hulu + Live TV, fuboTV, Philo, Sling TV, YouTube TV, Vidgo

Black Entertainment Television (BET) is an American basic cable channel targeting Black American audiences. It is currently owned by the BET Media Group, a subsidiary of Paramount Global's CBS Entertainment Group. Originally launched as a program block on January 25, 1980, BET would eventually become a full-fledged channel on July 1, 1983.

As of November 2023, BET is available to approximately 67,000,000 pay television households in the United States-down from its 2011 peak of 92,000,000 households.

History

Early years

The network's logo from 2005 to 2021.

After stepping down as a lobbyist for the cable industry, Freeport, Illinois native Robert L. Johnson decided to launch his own cable television network. Johnson acquired a loan for $15,000 (equivalent to $55,648 in 2023) and a $500,000 (equivalent to $1,854,921 in 2023) investment from media executive John Malone to start the network. The network, which was named Black Entertainment Television (BET), launched on January 25, 1980. Cheryl D. Miller designed the logo that would represent the network, which featured a star to symbolize "Black Star Power".

Initially, broadcasting for two hours a week as a block of programming on the Madison Square Garden Sports Network (which would change their name to USA Network three months after BET launched), the network's lineup was composed of music videos and reruns of popular black sitcoms.

Becoming a full-time channel

In 1983, BET became a full-fledged entity, independent of any other channel or programming block, though continuing to share channel space with other cable networks on local cable systems due to lack of channel room for their 24-hour schedule until the time of digital cable allowed for larger channel capacity. In some markets, the network would not arrive at all until as late as the early 2010s and Viacom considered it compulsory in retransmission consent negotiations to carry the BET-branded networks with Viacom Media Networks, due to some providers claiming that there was an overall lack of demand for the channel, or excused their lack of interest in BET due to an alleged low to non-existent Black American population within their service area.

BET launched a news program, BET News, in 1986, with Paul Berry as its first anchor. Berry was also a local anchor at WJLA-TV in Washington, DC at that time. Ed Gordon became anchor in 1988. Gordon later hosted other programs and specials on BET, such as For Black Men Only: The Aftermath, related to the 1992 Los Angeles riots, and a recurring interview show, Conversations with Ed Gordon. In 1996, the talk show BET Tonight started with Tavis Smiley as host; in 2001, Ed Gordon replaced Smiley as host of the program.

In 1991, the network became the first black-controlled television company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Starting the late 1990s, the network expanded with the launch of digital cable networks: what is now the general interest channel BET Her was initially launched as "BET on Jazz" (later known as "BET Jazz", "BET J", and "Centric"), created initially to showcase jazz music-related programming, especially that of black American jazz musicians. In 1997, BET entered into a joint venture with Starz (then-owned by John Malone's Liberty Media, but later acquired by Lionsgate years later) to launch a multiplex service of the premium channel featuring black American-oriented films 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").

Sale to Viacom/Paramount

In 2001, the network was bought by media conglomerate Viacom (later to become part of Paramount Global) for $3 billion. In 2005, Johnson retired from the network, turning over his titles of president and chief executive officer to former BET vice president Debra L. Lee.

In 2002, the network had launched two more music-oriented networks: BET Hip-Hop and BET Gospel. BET also launched a series of 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. 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. BET announced in March 2010 that Ed Gordon would return to the network to host "a variety of news programs and specials".

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.

In July 2017, Viacom signed new film and television development deals with Academy Award winner 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+.

Programming

Main article: List of programs broadcast by BET

Criticism

A wide range of people have protested elements of BET's programming and actions, including Public Enemy rapper Chuck D, journalist George Curry, writer Keith Boykin, comic book creator Christopher Priest, filmmaker Spike Lee, Syracuse University professor of finance Dr. Boyce Watkins, former NFL player Burgess Owens, and cartoonist Aaron McGruder (who, in addition to numerous critical references throughout his series The Boondocks, made two particular episodes, "The Hunger Strike" and "The Uncle Ruckus Reality Show", criticizing the channel). As a result, BET heavily censors suggestive content from the videos that it airs, often with entire verses and scenes removed from certain rap videos.

Many scholars within the black American community maintain that BET perpetuates and justifies racism by affecting the stereotypes held about black Americans, and also by affecting the psyche of its young viewers through its bombardment of negative images of black Americans.

Following the death of civil rights leader Coretta Scott King in 2006, BET broadcast its regularly scheduled music video programming, rather than covering King's funeral live, as was done by TV One and Black Family Channel, and by cable news channels such as CNN, Fox News Channel, and MSNBC. The network's website streamed the funeral live, while it periodically broadcast taped, 60-second reports from the funeral by senior news correspondent Andre Showell. Michael Lewellen, BET's senior vice president for corporate communications, defended the decision: "We weighed a number of different options. In the end, we chose to offer a different kind of experience for BET viewers." Lewellen also explained that BET received around "two dozen" phone calls and "a handful" of emails criticizing BET for not showing the King funeral live. On the evening of the funeral, February 7, 2006, BET broadcast the tribute special Coretta Scott King: Married to the Mission, and repeated it the following Sunday, February 12. Showell hosted the program featuring highlights of the funeral, Coretta Scott King: Celebrating Her Spirit, that broadcast that same day. In its 2007 convention, the National Association of Black Journalists gave BET its "Thumbs Down Award" for not broadcasting King's funeral live.

The New York Times reported that the Reverend Delman L. Coates and his organization Enough is Enough led protests every weekend outside the residences of BET executives against what they claim are negative stereotypes of black people perpetuated by BET music videos. Enough is Enough backed an April 2008 report titled The Rap on Rap by the Parents Television Council that criticized BET's rap programming, suggesting that the gratuitous sexual, violent and profane content was targeting children and teens.

In a 2010 interview, BET co-founder Sheila Johnson explained that she herself is "ashamed" of what the network has become. "I don't watch it. I suggest to my kids that they don't watch it," she said. "When we started BET, it was going to be the Ebony magazine on television. We had public affairs programming. We had news... I had a show called Teen Summit, we had a large variety of programming, but the problem is that then the video revolution started up... And then something started happening, and I didn't like it at all. And I remember during those days we would sit up and watch these videos and decide which ones were going on and which ones were not. We got a lot of backlash from recording artists...and we had to start showing them. I didn't like the way women were being portrayed in these videos."

Sister networks

Spin-off channels

BET has launched several spin-off cable networks over the years, including BET Her (formerly known as "BET on Jazz", then "BET J" and later "Centric"), BET Hip-Hop, and BET Gospel. Overtime, spin-offs from sibling channels would be realigned under the BET branding; such as BET Jams (formerly known as "MTV Jams"), BET Soul (formerly known as "VH1 Soul"), SHO×BET, a premium Showtime multiplex network, and VH1 (an older-skewing spin-off of MTV that drifted into reality shows and, later, Black American-centric programming).

In May 2019, a BET-branded channel was launched on Pluto TV (which was acquired by its parent company two months earlier). In June 2019, the launch of BET+ was announced, a premium streaming service targeting Black Americans. The service launched in the United States in Fall 2019 with First Wives Club (which was originally planned to launch on Paramount Network before being shifted to BET) announced as one of the service's original series.

BET Gospel

Television channel

BET Gospel
History

Launched	July 1, 2002; 22 years ago (2002-07-01)

BET Gospel is a television network in the United States that launched on July 1, 2002. The network provides gospel and religious-related programming, and much of its time is paid for by religious organizations to carry their programming and services.

Current programming

Lifted (2016–present) (music videos)
Being (2016–present)
Bobby Jones Gospel (2002–present)
Lift Every Voice (2002–present)
Celebration of Gospel
It's a Mann's World (2016–present)
Let the Church Say Amen (2016–present)
The Sheards (2016–present)
T.D. Jakes Presents: Mind, Body, & Soul (2016–present)
Sunday Best (2016–present)

BET Jams

Television channel

BET Jams
Programming

Broadcast area	United States and Latin America
Picture format	480i SDTV
History
Launched	May 1, 2002; 22 years ago (2002-05-01)
Former names	MTV Jams (2002–2015)

BET Jams is an American pay television network airing hip-hop and urban contemporary music videos on a thrice-daily automated wheel schedule of eight hours outside of temporary "roadblock" closures during Paramount Global's awards events, with all of its programming currently denoted in hour blocks as BET Jams – Music Videos within electronic program guide listings.

The channel launched on May 1, 2002, as MTV Jams, and carried that name until October 5, 2015, and was placed under BET's purview as MTV drifted away from music programming along with 106 & Park. The network space itself launched on August 1, 1998, as MTVX, carrying modern rock videos, and was re-focused around hip-hop music on that date, to some controversy from MTVX's former viewers.

International networks

BET International

Main article: BET International

BET UK first transmitted on Videotron (now known as Virgin Media) and several other subscription providers from 1993 until 1996.

In May 2007 by Ofcom, BET International Inc. was given a license to rebroadcast in the United Kingdom. BET International is the first international version of the channel and is available in Europe, Africa and the Middle East through satellite providers. BET launched on February 27, 2008, on Sky channel 191 and began to be carried by Freesat channel 140 on August 8, 2008. BET+1 is also available on Sky channel 198 and Freesat channel 141, and is free-to-air. BET International shows with a mix of content from the main BET channel and locally produced shows. An exclusive, but temporary, HD version of the channel was made to show the 2009 BET Awards on Freesat EPG 142.

BET is additionally an associate member of the Caribbean Cable Cooperative.

BET launched an app called BET Play allowing international access to BET content in over 100 countries in June 2016.

The channel was shut down on April 8, 2021, with its content moved to My5 and Pluto TV.

Canada

BET became available through most Canadian pay television providers on October 17, 1997, though with select programming substituted and blacked out due to domestic broadcast groups owning the rights the shows being broadcast and carrying them on another of their networks.

In 2022, Paramount began to phase out BET in Canada due to rights is expiring, a number of major providers began dropping the channel, beginning with Rogers Communications on April 1, 2022, followed by Hay Communications on September 30, 2022, and Shaw Cable and Shaw Direct on August 31, 2023. The Canadian feed was discontinued on all other providers nationwide on January 1, 2025.

France

Main article: BET (France)

Introduced on November 17, 2015. BET France launched across a linear television channel alongside non-linear services including Bouygues Telecom, Canalsat, Numericable/SFR, and Free.

References

Hipes, Patrick (May 10, 2017). "BET Networks Shutting Down DC Headquarters, Moving To NYC". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
"U.S. cable network households (universe), 1990 – 2023". wrestlenomics.com. May 14, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
^ Johnson, Robert; Dumaine, Brian (October 1, 2002). "The Market Nobody Wanted". Fortune Small Business. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
"Corporate Fact Sheet". BET Networks. Archived from the original on September 12, 2008. Retrieved September 12, 2008.
Schneider, Michael (June 28, 2021). "BET Launches New Logo, Branding Effort in Time for BET Awards". Variety. Archived from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
"Cheryl D. Miller's Design Journey". AIGA | the professional association for design. November 16, 2015. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
Pulley, Brett (October 5, 2005). The Billion Dollar BET: Robert Johnson and the Inside Story of Black Entertainment Television. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9780471735977.
Johnson, Anne Janette (1996). "Gordon, Ed 1960 –". Contemporary Black Biography. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
Deggans, Eric (July 24, 2007). "BET diversifies with confidence". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
Wiltz, Teresa; Farhi, Paul (September 12, 2008). "BET President Resigns". The Washington Post. p. C7. Retrieved September 12, 2008.
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.
Hipes, Patrick (March 29, 2017). "BET Programming Shakeup: President Stephen Hill & EVP Zola Mashariki Exit". Deadline. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
Andreeva, Nellie (July 14, 2017). "Tyler Perry Inks Mega Film & Television Deal With Viacom". Deadline. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
"BET 2001; THE FISHTANK OF FOOLS". publicenemy.com. March 30, 2001. Archived from the original on February 17, 2008. Retrieved February 5, 2008.
"Viacom's BET Turns into ET". georgecurry.com. December 10, 2002. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2008.
Boykin, Keith (December 18, 2002). "All Hail Bob Johnson". Archived from the original on May 6, 2006. Retrieved February 5, 2008.
Priest, Christopher J. (February 2001). "the ostracized negro". Archived from the original on March 20, 2003. Retrieved February 5, 2008.
"Zap2it – TV news – Spike Lee Dismisses BET". Tv.zap2it.com. January 30, 2003. Archived from the original on October 15, 2007. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
Watkins, Boyce (June 28, 2010). "Why there should be a black backlash against BET". theGrio.
"Superbowl champ Burgess Owens to Kaepernick: Turn off BET and educate your ignorant self". Conservative News Today. August 29, 2016. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
^ Lee, Felicia R. (November 5, 2007). "Protesting Demeaning Images in Media". The New York Times.
Eggerton, John (April 9, 2008). "PTC, Enough Is Enough Campaign Take on MTV, BET". Broadcasting & Cable.
Adams, Jonathan (June 11, 2008). "BET vs. Boondocks". Colorlines. Archived from the original on March 3, 2010. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
Shister, Gail (February 9, 2006). "BET leaves pack on King funeral – it sticks with scheduled program". The Buffalo News. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
"BET, BET.com Present Special Telecast, On-Line Coverage Honoring Life of Coretta Scott King" (Press release). BET. February 6, 2006. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011.
"BET Celebration of Coretta Scott King Continues Sunday With Three Hours of Tributes, Special Moments" (Press release). February 9, 2006. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011.
Williams, Juan (August 10, 2007). "'BET' Gets Thumbs Down Award From Journalists". Morning Edition. National Public Radio. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
Moss, Linda; Umstead, R. Thomas (April 11, 2008). "PTC Puts A Bad 'Rap' On BET, MTV". Multichannel News. Retrieved July 27, 2008.
Rivas, Jorge (October 15, 2012). "BET Co-Founder Says Network Reinforces Negative Stereotypes". Colorlines. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
Peterson, Tim (April 16, 2019). "Viacom will debut 15 channels on Pluto TV to bolster its upfront pitch". Retrieved April 29, 2019.
Goldberg, Lesley. "Tyler Perry Sets First of Four BET Series: White House Soap 'The Oval' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
"Black Entertainment Television (Bet) Uk Launch – What Happened??? « Www.Madnews.Biz". Madnews.wordpress.com. December 30, 2007. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
"Member channels of the Caribbean Cable Cooperative". Cctvcoop.com. Archived from the original on August 16, 2011. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
Perez, Sarah (June 22, 2016). "BET Play is Viacom's new $4 per month streaming service, arriving today outside the U.S." TechCrunch.com. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
"Removal of Paramount Network and BET". Shaw customer forums. July 6, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
"Optik TV service programming and rate updates". Telus Communications. Archived from the original on December 2, 2024. Retrieved December 1, 2024. BET channel turndown
Keslassy, Elsa (October 15, 2015). "Viacom Intl. Media Networks, BET Intl. Launch Channel in France". Variety.com. Variety. Retrieved February 22, 2022.

External links

Official website
- BET (betnetworks.com) at the Wayback Machine (archive index)
"Black Entertainment Television" Interview with Robert Johnson, founder and president of BET, from KUT's In Black America series on the American Archive of Public Broadcasting, April 29, 1986

BET original programming

Current

The Oval (since 2019)
Sistas (since 2019)
Tyler Perry's House of Payne (since 2020)
Tyler Perry's Assisted Living (since 2020)
After Happily Ever After (since 2022)
Black + Iconic (since 2023)
America in Black (since 2023)
The Wine Down with Mary J. Blige (since 2023)
Ms. Pat Settles It (since 2023)

Former

1980s and 1990s debuts	Bobby Jones Gospel (1980–2016) Black College Football (1981–2005) Video Soul (1981–1996) Video Vibrations (1984–1997) Midnight Love (1985–2005) Video LP (1985–1993) Rap City (1989–2008) Teen Summit (1989–2002) Screen Scene (1990–1997) Planet Groove (1996–1999) ABL on BET (1996–1998) Cita's World (1999–2003)
2000s debuts	106 & Park (2000–2014) BET.com Countdown (2001–2006) BET: Uncut (2001–2006) Access Granted (2001–2009) BET's Top 25 (2001–2008) The Center (2003–2007) Hey Monie! (2003) College Hill (2004–2009) BET Style (2004–2006) Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is (2006–2008) Hotwyred (2006–2007) The Black Carpet (2006–2008) The 5ive (2007) Take the Cake (2007) Baldwin Hills (2007–2009) Sunday Best (2007–2021) Iron Ring (2008) The Deal (2008–2010) Brothers to Brutha (2008) Harlem Heights (2009) Tiny and Toya (2009–2010) The Mo'Nique Show (2009–2011)
2010s debuts	The Michael Vick Project (2010) The Family Crews (2010–2011) Let's Stay Together (2011–2014) The Game (2011–2015) Black Panther (2011) Reed Between the Lines (2011) Keyshia & Daniel: Family First (2012) Real Husbands of Hollywood (2013–2016) Second Generation Wayans (2013) Being Mary Jane (2013–2019) Just Keke (2014) Nellyville (2014–2015) Roc Nation Sports Live Boxing (2015) The Book of Negroes (2015) Keyshia Cole: All In (2015) Punk'd (2015) Zoe Ever After (2016) Chasing Destiny (2016) Criminals at Work (2016) The New Edition Story (2017) Madiba (2017) The Quad (2017–2018) Time: The Kalief Browder Story (2017) Rebel (2017) 50 Central (2017) The Comedy Get Down (2017) The Rundown with Robin Thede (2017–2018) Hit the Floor (2018) In Contempt (2018) The Grand Hustle (2018) The Family Business (2018–2019) Boomerang (2019–2020) American Soul (2019–2020) Games People Play (2019–2021)
2020s debuts	Twenties (2020–2021) Boiling Point (2021) Disrupt & Dismantle (2021) BET Presents: The Encore (2021) Klutch Academy (2021) Tales (2017—2022) The Murder Inc Story (2022) Haus of Vicious (2022) Welcome to Rap City (2023)

Paramount Global

Corporate directors

Shari Redstone (Non-Executive Chair)

CBS
Entertainment
Group

Flagship assets	CBS CBS Sports CBS Sports HQ CBS Sports Network The CW (12.5%)
BET Media Group	BET BET Her BET Jams BET Soul VH1 BET+
CBS News and Stations	CBS News CBS News Radio CBS O&O KCBS-TV KCNC-TV KDKA-TV KOVR KPIX-TV KTVT KYW-TV WBBM-TV WBZ-TV WCBS-TV WCCO-TV/KCCW-TV WFOR-TV WJZ-TV WWJ-TV Ind. KCAL-TV KMAX-TV KPYX KSTW KTXA WBFS-TV WKBD-TV WLNY-TV WPKD-TV WPSG WSBK-TV WTOG WUPA Start TV WBXI-CD Network Fave TV
Production & distribution	CBS Studios Big Ticket Entertainment CBS Eye Animation Productions Late Night Cartoons, Inc. CBS Media Ventures Dabl CBS Home Entertainment
Digital media	CBS MoneyWatch CBS Sports Digital CBSSports.com 247Sports MaxPreps CBS Watch Last.fm

Streaming

U.S. media
networks

MTV Entertainment Group	Comedy Central CMT CMT Music Logo TV MTV MTV2 MTVU MTV Classic MTV Live Tr3s MTV Entertainment Studios MTV Animation Paramount Network Pop TV Smithsonian Channel Showtime Networks Showtime The Movie Channel Flix TV Land
Nickelodeon Group	Nickelodeon Nick at Nite Nick Jr. (block) Nick Jr. Channel NickMusic Nicktoons TeenNick Production Awesomeness Nickelodeon Animation Studio Nick Digital Avatar Studios Paws, Inc.

Paramount
Pictures

International
networks

v t e Paramount Networks Americas
Pan-American	Comedy Central MTV Club MTV MTV 00s MTV 80s MTV Hits Europe MTV Live Nickelodeon Nick Jr. NickMusic TeenNick Paramount Network Telefe Internacional
Brazil	Comedy Central MTV MTV 00s MTV Live Nickelodeon Nick Jr. NickMusic Paramount Network Telefe Internacional
Argentina	Telefe Córdoba Rosario Santa Fe
Production arms	Porta dos Fundos (51% JV) TIS Productions (majority stake)
Defunct	MTV Brasil MTV Hits Brazil MTV Hits Latin America MTV Jams MTV Puerto Rico (licensed) Nick 2 Nicktoons Smithsonian Channel VH1 Brazil VH1 Classic Europe VH1 Classic United States VH1 Europe VH1 HD VH1 Latin America VH1 MegaHits VH1 Soul
See also	Paramount Global Paramount Media Networks Paramount International Networks

Paramount Networks EMEAA

MTV

MTV Africa
- MTV Base
France and Francophone
- MTV Hits
Germany
Global
- Club MTV
- MTV 00s
- MTV 80s
- MTV 90s
- MTV Hits
- MTV Live
India
Ireland
Israel
Italy
- MTV Music
Japan
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Spain
Taiwan
UK
- MTV 80s
- MTV 90s
- MTV Hits
- MTV Music

Nickelodeon

Nick Jr.	Arab world Africa CIS, Ukraine and Georgia (previously Russia and Belarus) Germany, Austria and Switzerland Greece Israel Italy Netherlands Portugal Scandinavia Southeast Asia Turkey Wallonia
Nicktoons	Arab world Africa Europe Germany Netherlands Scandinavia

Comedy Central

Paramount Network

Czech Republic
Netherlands
Spain
Paramount Channel (France)

BET

Other

Ego
Game One
J-One
JVs with AMC Networks International
- Film Cafe
- CBS Reality
Super!

Defunct

5Spike
CBS Action Poland
Comedy Central
- Extra
- Family Netherlands
- Sweden
Kindernet
MTV
- Adria
- Africa
- Australia and New Zealand
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czech Republic and Slovakia
- China
- Denmark
- Eesti
- Finland
- Greece
- Hungary
- Indonesia
- Lithuania and Latvia
- Middle East
- New Zealand
- Nordic
- Norway
- Pakistan
- Philippines
  - Original
  - MTV Pinoy
  - MTVph
- Romania
- Russia, CIS and Georgia
- Southeast Asia
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Turkey
- Ukraine
MTV Base
MTV Brand New
- Italy
- Netherlands
MTV Classic
- Australia and New Zealand
- Italy
- Poland
Club MTV
- Australia
MTV Hits
- Australia and New Zealand
- Italy
MTV Idol
MTV Music
- Greece
- Poland
MTV Music 24
MTV Plus
MTV Pulse
- France
- Italy
MTV Rocks
MTV2 Pop
Nickelodeon Russia
QOOB
The Box
The Music Factory
- Flanders
- Nederland
TMF Dance
TMF NL
TMF Pure
VH1
- Denmark
- Europe
- Germany
- Poland
- Italy
VH1 Classic
VIVA
- Austria
- Germany
- Hungary

Latest revision as of 21:40, 5 January 2025

History

Early years

Becoming a full-time channel

Sale to Viacom/Paramount

Programming

Criticism

Sister networks

Spin-off channels

BET Gospel

Current programming

BET Jams

International networks

BET International

Canada

France

See also

References

Further reading

External links