Black+Entertainment+Television(BET)

Black Entertainment Television (BET) is best known for its cable TV programming, which includes sitcoms, dramas, music, and news -- all aimed at the African-American community. The network, part of BET Holdings, also has other endeavors include digital channels BET Jazz (African-American lifestyle, cultural, and music programming), BET Gospel, and BET Hip Hop; and BET Pictures, which produces made-for-tv films and documentaries. BET reaches some 80 million cable households. Founded in 1980, BET is a part of the Viacom family of companies, which also includes MTV Networks and Paramount Pictures. The chairman and CEO is Debra L. Lee. BET makes an estimate of $479 million a year. Black Entertainment Television top competitors are Black Family Channel, NBC and Urban Television Network.

BET was founded by Robert L. Johnson, a former cable industry lobbyist, on January 25, 1980 after getting a $500,000 investment from then-TCI president John Malone.The programming was mostly older movies and music videos, creating an outlet for an untapped market in the then-young cable industry, African-Americans. In May of that year, BET invested $1 million for the production of Black collegiate sporting events and expanded an hour. In November 1980, BET added two half-hour shows, Black Showcase and The Bobby Jones Gospel Show (the latter is still on the air today). On June 26, 1983, BET premiered Video Soul, a music video series hosted by popular D.C. DJ Donnie Simpson, one of the first marquee series on the network. On October 1, 1983, after finding additional funding courtesy of Home Box Office, BET launched a 24-hour schedule with a viewership of 7.6 million cable subscribers. Throughout the decades, BET has grown in viewership and expanded beyond television. In October 1989, BET entered the publishing business by launching their first magazine Emerge, aimed toward African-American news consumers. A little under a year later, BET launched YSB (Young Sisters and Brothers), a lifestyle magazine aimed toward African-American teenagers followed by the purchase of Arabesque Books, a publisher of African-American-oriented romance novels, and Heart and Soul magazine. BET also launched spinoff networks in the 1990s, including BET on Jazz: The Jazz Channel (now named BET J), a pay-per-view network called BET Action, and, along with John Malone's Liberty Media, BET STARZ!, which became Black STARZ! after the Viacom takeover and renamed Starz InBlack in 2005. BET also offers two other music channels, BET Hip-Hop, and BET Gospel, both of which are offered on digital cable platforms across the nation. BET also airs African-American interest specials and introduced public service campaigns. The Rap It Up campaign is dedicated to preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS in the African-American community. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, BET aired SOS: Saving Our Selves, a hurricane relief telethon concert on September 9, 2005, to raise funds for those affected by Katrina. More than $11 million was raised for Katrina victims. BET has a generally black audience. Some label it as the "black" version of MTV(Music Video Television). On the BET website(www.bet.com) it entertains and also show job opportunities to try and help empower the black community.

On weekdays and Saturdays, BET focuses mainly on urban music programming with shows like 106 & Park and Rap City, while also airing sitcoms such as The Wayans Bros., The Jamie Foxx Show, and The Parkers. The drama like Soul Food airs Sunday nights and the stand-up comedy program called Comic View airs throughout the week. BET has recently introduced reality programs like College Hill, collegiate sporting events, and various movies and specials. BET also created a short-lived animated comedy series called Hey Monie, after partnering up with The Oxygen Network. On Sundays, BET carries gospel music and other religious programming for the greater part of the day such as The Bobby Jones Gospel Hour, Video Gospel, and3 Lift Every Voice. Religious programming also airs in the early morning hours every day from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. EST. BET also airs the BET Awards each year. The show honors African American entertainers, athletes and actors. It is usually BET's highest rated show of the year.

On weekdays and Saturdays, BET focuses mainly on urban music programming with shows like 106 & Park and Rap City, while also airing sitcoms such as The Wayans Bros., The Jamie Foxx Show, and The Parkers. The drama like Soul Food airs Sunday nights and the stand-up comedy program called Comic View airs throughout the week. BET has recently introduced reality programs like College Hill, collegiate sporting events, and various movies and specials. BET also created a short-lived animated comedy series called Hey Monie, after partnering up with The Oxygen Network. On Sundays, BET carries gospel music and other religious programming for the greater part of the day such as The Bobby Jones Gospel Hour, Video Gospel, and3 Lift Every Voice. Religious programming also airs in the early morning hours every day from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. EST. BET also airs the BET Awards each year. The show honors African American entertainers, athletes and actors. It is usually BET's highest rated show of the year.

BET's success, and the controversy over its content, has spawned a few smaller competitors aiming toward the African-American market. Although some like NUE TV (New Urban Entertainment Television) had little success, others like TV One and Black Family Channel (formerly MBC) have thrived and succeeded, mostly by eschewing BET's music-based programming for more family-oriented fare.