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 original Madison Square Garden Sports Network (
now USA Network), until it became a separate channel in 1983. In 1991, the network became the first black–controlled TV company to be listed on the
New York Stock Exchange. 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 (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).
2000s & 2010s In 2000,
Viacom announced plans to purchase BET Holdings Inc. for more than $2.3 billion. 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. 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). 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). 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. 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 2015, oversight of
VH1 Soul &
MTV Jams was moved to BET Networks, with both networks relaunched under the BET brand. 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
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+.
Skydance-Paramount merger and abandoned sale 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. By then, the subsidiary overseeing BET-branded assets became known as the
BET Media Group. On November 9, 2022, it was announced that oversight of
VH1 would move to BET under
Scott Mills. The move reunited the network with the formally-named
VH1 Soul, while also splitting it from
MTV and its other formerly-branded sibling channels (
VH1 Classic and
VH1 Country). In March 2023, it was reported that Paramount Global was exploring the sale of a majority stake in BET Media in order to provide additional funding to its flagship streaming service
Paramount+. Shaquille O'Neal, Tyler Perry, as well as
Sean "Puffy" Combs (who founded
Revolt TV) and
Byron Allen (who owns
Allen Media Group; including
TheGrio,
This TV, and
The Weather Channel), were identified as potential suitors. Paramount Global initially dropped its plans to sell BET Media in August 2023, before renewing interest in December of that year. Since April 2, 2024, Paramount and its parent company,
National Amusements, were in discussions with
Skydance Media for a three-way merger between the entities. By July 2, 2024, Skydance reached a
preliminary agreement to acquire National Amusements and merge with Paramount. Meanwhile, Paramount reportedly entered talks for a sale of BET Media to buyers led by CEO
Scott Mills for $1.6-$1.7 billion. On July 7, 2024, Paramount's board approved the deal to merge with Skydance. Skydance's executive team also supported the potential sale of several Paramount assets which were deemed "not strategic" to their plans, including BET Media. On August 13, 2025, it was confirmed that BET Media Group is no longer up for sale. == Assets and other ventures ==