In its brief history, BET has accomplished a number of firsts. For example, the company was the first black controlled business to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange and its original founder became the first African American billionaire.
The company’s core television network, Black Entertainment Television (BET), offered diverse black music video programming. Other ventures included the general interest channel BET Her and the pay-per-view Action movie channel.
Robert L. Johnson
The founder of BET, Robert L. Johnson, is a pioneering billionaire and philanthropist. He is the owner of the Charlotte Bobcats in the National Basketball Association and is also a member of the board of directors at The Coca-Cola Company. His company RLJ Companies is involved in several business sectors, including hotel real estate investment, private equity, financial services, asset management, automobile dealerships, and Video lottery terminal gaming.
Johnson founded Black Entertainment Television (BET) in 1979, which became the first cable network to provide content that would appeal to African Americans. It began broadcasting on January 25, 1980, airing two hours of programming per week. The channel soon expanded to include free music videos from black record labels, and later added movies featuring black actors.
After years of losses, BET became profitable in the 1990s. Its viewership increased and major media companies invested in the network. In 1998, Johnson took BET private and sold it to Viacom in 2000 for $3 billion. Johnson remained as CEO until 2005.
In 2008, a number of prominent African American critics, such as syndicated columnist George Curry, cartoonist and television producer Aaron McGruder, and film director Spike Lee, denounced BET’s programming choices, claiming that the network promoted blatant sexism, anti-intellectualism, and anti-Black stereotypes. These criticisms were largely based on the fact that BET featured a large amount of rap and hip hop-oriented programming.
BET Networks
Black Entertainment Television, known to viewers as BET, is a media network that reaches more than 43 million homes. Its founder, Robert L. Johnson, is the chief executive officer of the company and has held that position since its inception in 1980. In 1991, the company became the first black-controlled television network to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. It also launched a variety of spin-off cable channels, including BET Her (formerly known as BET on Jazz and then BET J), BET Hip-Hop, and BET Gospel. Johnson has pledged $100,000 to Howard University’s School of Communication and won the university’s Messenger Award for Excellence in Communications.
BET grew quickly and by 1985 was reaching more than ten million cable households. In 1987, the company made its first profitable year. By the end of that year, it had expanded programming to six hours a day and seven days a week. It also added music videos, sourced free by record companies, to its mix. Popular programs included ComicView with Bob Johnson, Video Soul with Donnie Simpson, Softones, Unreal/Planet Groove/Caribbean Rhythms, and Teen Summit.
In 1996 BET Direct launched, using infomercials to market products to its subscriber base. This venture was unsuccessful, however, and the company sold off its Color Code skin care line in 1997. It continued to invest in the network, and in 1998 it introduced the premium cable channel Starz!, which offered reruns of Showtime and Paramount Pictures movies.
BET Entertainment
BET (Black Entertainment Television) is a cable television network that caters to the African American market. Its parent company, Viacom, owns three other networks, several magazines and books, and a host of restaurants and clothing designers. The network has also invested in a variety of sports teams. Its founder, Robert Johnson, is a multi-billionaire and the first black principal owner of a major NBA sports team, the Charlotte Bobcats.
BET originally started as a two-hour programming service in 1980, but was soon expanded to 24 hours of news and entertainment. Despite losing money for its first several years, the network quickly expanded its audience by securing agreements with cable providers. Major corporations, including Anheuser Busch and Sears, were among its early advertisers.
In 1991, BET became the first black-controlled company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange and created a space for African-American voices that had been marginalized by white America. The network also established its own awards show, which celebrates the achievements of black performers in music, film, and sports.
Despite being sold to a multinational corporation, BET remains the most successful black-owned television channel in the United States and can be seen in more than 85 million homes. The network continues to focus on positive content and has recently launched a number of spin-off channels, including BET Jazz, BET Her, and SHOxBET, a premium channel that features movies with a predominantly black cast.
BET International
BET International is a television channel that airs across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The company offers a number of original programs, as well as reruns of popular films and music videos. It is available on satellite providers such as Sky, DStv and Freesat. The company also produces the BET Awards and community projects such as the Media Entertainment and Technology Alliance. It also markets its own brand of products, including the Color Code skin-care line.
Over the years, BET has established a variety of events and initiatives to celebrate Black culture while highlighting its importance in the United States. These include the annual BET Awards and nationwide campaigns. In addition, the company has used its influence to support a variety of causes and promote healthy lifestyles. BET is a trailblazer in many ways, including being the first cable network to focus on Black entertainment and becoming the first Black controlled company to list on the New York Stock Exchange.
Founded in 1980, BET began as a two-hour weekly broadcast and initially focused on music videos. It later expanded to 24 hours of programming and started producing original programs. The company grew rapidly and became profitable by the mid-1980s. By 1988, it debuted BET News, hosted by journalist Ed Gordon. The show focused on issues that affected African Americans and pop culture.