Showing posts with label BET+. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BET+. Show all posts

Saturday, September 21, 2024

BET AND THE NATIONAL PAN-HELLENIC COUNCIL JOIN FORCES TO MOBILIZE BLACK VOTERS FOR THE 2024 ELECTION

BET and The National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. (NPHC) are proud to announce the launch of the new BET 'We VOTE' Public Service Announcements (PSA) featuring all nine Black fraternities and sororities. These PSAs leverage the influence of the NPHC, affectionately known as "The Divine Nine," to drive awareness, encourage voter participation, and reinforce the importance of every vote in shaping our future.

Esteemed leaders representing the The National Pan-Hellenic Council of Presidents include:

  • Dr. Willis L. Lonzer III – General President, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
  • Danette Anthony Reed – International President and CEO, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
  • Jimmy McMikle – Grand Polemarch, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
  • Ricky Lawrence Lewis - Grand Basileus, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
  • Elsie Cooke-Holmes – International President, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
  • Hon. Chris V. Rey, J.D. – International President, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
  • Dr. Stacie N.C. Grant – International President, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
  • Marica Harris – International Grand Basileus, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
  • Dr. Sean D. Housen, Sr. – International Grand Polaris, Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.

"The Council of Presidents is committed to supporting this important initiative with BET," said Hon. Chris V. Rey, J.D., International President of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated and Chair of the NPHC Council of Presidents. "The vote is the most powerful tool in democracy, and we look forward to using our collective voices to help drive strong voter engagement and turnout."  

"BET is proud to highlight the Divine Nine and collaborate to ensure voters get the critical information they need about the election, including exercising our right to vote. We, like the Divine Nine, are committed to elevating the well-being of our community. Voting is one such mechanism in which to do so", said Kimberly Paige, CMO and Co-Lead of the BET Social Impact efforts.

BET created the 'We VOTE' effort to exclaim that we Vote for Ourselves, for Togetherness, for Everyone. It is this unifying theme that embodies BET's steadfast commitment to empowering all Black voters to harness their collective power to drive meaningful change.

The Divine 9 PSA is one of many being unveiled today. BET is proud to highlight nine emerging young leaders sharing their voices on the importance of voting. The nine leaders include the following (in alphabetical order):

  • Demetris Causer - Voting Rights Attorney, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Inc.
  • Marley Dias - #1000BlackGirlBooks Campaign
  • Jared Evans - Voting Rights Lawyer, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Inc.
  • Myles Hollingsworth - Student, Howard University and President, NAACP NY Youth & College Division
  • Arnold Walter Ludd, Jr. - CEO & Founder, Jiggabite Gloves Up, Guns Down
  • Christian Nathaniel Matthew - National President, National Action Network, Youth & College Division
  • Chelsea Miller - Co-Founder, Freedom March NYC
  • Jerome Richardson - Ambassador, Hip Hop Caucus
  • L. Joy Williams - President, NAACP – Brooklyn, NY and Host, #SundayCivics Podcast

"We aim to raise awareness of the issues at stake through our efforts to educate the Black community and encourage voters to create and take action on their voting plan, whether it's early voting or on election day," said Tiyale Hayes, EVP of Insights and Co-Lead of the BET Social Impact efforts.

Produced for BET by The House of JOY (a Black and woman-owned firm), these latest creative spots are a testament to BET's ongoing efforts to elevate and educate the Black community, and ignite unprecedented civic engagement, voter registration, and turnout among Black voters in this critically important election.

To download the videos for your social media, please use the links below:

To learn more, go to BET.com/vote.

Thursday, September 05, 2024

HBCU Buzz, BET, Live Nation Urban and When We All Vote Launch Vote Loud: HBCU Voter Registration Challenge

HBCU Buzz , BETLive Nation Urban and When We All VoteMichelle Obama's national, nonpartisan voting initiative, announced the Vote Loud: HBCU Voter Registration Challenge, calling on HBCU students and community members to use their voices at the ballot box this November. By registering to vote and making sure their communities do the same, current students, alumni, professors and extended family members can help their school community win special prizes to be announced soon, which may include access to special performances brought to you by Live Nation Urban, HBCU Buzz, BET and When We All Vote.

"With only nine weeks until the 2024 election, the power of young Black voters has never been more clear," said Beth Lynk, Executive Director of When We All Vote. "The issues that impact our community the most are on the ballot, and it's time to ensure our communities are ready and empowered for the work ahead. We're so excited to partner with HBCU Buzz, BET and Live Nation Urban to encourage some healthy competition and make sure that HBCU community members are bringing the energy from this Challenge to the ballot box this year."

"Voting in the upcoming election is a critical way for HBCU students to make their voices heard and drive the change they want to see," said Luke Lawal, Jr., Founder and CEO of HBCU Buzz. "Our participation goes beyond casting a ballot; it's about shaping policies that impact our education, our communities and our future. We are thrilled to be partnering with When We All Vote, BET and Live Nation Urban to challenge the HBCU community to rise up, register and vote loud in the 2024 election."

The Vote Loud: HBCU Voter Registration Challenge celebrates the power of Black voters, who will determine elections around the country. This year, more than 34 million Black Americans are eligible to vote, representing 14% of all eligible voters in the United States who will decide much more than the presidential election this November. Down-ballot races and ballot initiatives on the issues that matter the most to young Black voters are on the ballot, including the economy and cost of living.

"At BET, we understand that the collective voice of young Black voters is a force for change," said Kimberly Paige, EVP, Chief Marketing Officer and Co-Lead of Social Impact at BET. "That's why we're proud to partner with When We All Vote, HBCU Buzz and Live Nation Urban on the Vote Loud  Challenge — a powerful commitment to shaping the future and empowering the next generation of leaders. By voting, we're actively working to protect our education, our families and our communities, ensuring that our future is decided by us, for us."

"Live Nation Urban has had a longstanding partnership with When We All Vote, and we are extremely excited to continue that partnership alongside HBCU Buzz and BET for such an important initiative," said Brandon Pankey, VP, Business Development + Operations at Live Nation Urban. "The company was built upon the notion of giving power and strength to Black voices, and there has never been a greater moment in history for young Black voices to be heard during such an important election season. The Vote Loud: HBCU Voter Registration Challenge not only will help to impact this election, but it has the opportunity to become an initiative that can affect real change for generations to come."

The Vote Loud: HBCU Voter Registration Challenge will be open from Thursday, September 5, 2024, to Saturday, October 5, 2024. More information on how to enter and share voter registration information with friends, family, neighbors and classmates to win points for your school community can be found HERE.

Monday, July 15, 2024

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN TO APPEAR ON BET FOR PRIMETIME INTERVIEW TO ADDRESS BLACK AMERICA

BET Media Group announced “Black America Votes: The Biden Interview,” an exclusive BET News interview special with President Joe Biden airing Wednesday, July 17, at 10 PM ET/9 PM CT on BET. In this critical stage of his re-election campaign, President Biden will sit down with award-winning journalist Ed Gordon for his first on-camera interview on BET and speak directly to Black America. The conversation will focus on critical issues impacting our community and discuss why Black Americans should continue to support his candidacy amidst growing public concerns and calls for him to withdraw.

 

Black voters played a pivotal role in delivering the Democratic nomination and the presidency for President Joe Biden in 2020. As we approach the 2024 election, the stakes have never been higher for the President and Black America. At this crucial moment, it is imperative for President Biden to directly address the concerns of Black voters and articulate his vision for the future.

 

This exclusive half-hour special will discuss the growing concern over President Biden’s fitness for office, the state of the economy for Black families, the Project 2025 conservative policy agenda, and the fight to engage Black voters. 

 

Executive Produced by Jason Samuels, this news special complements BET’s “We V.O.T.E.” campaign to increase civic engagement and voter participation within the Black community.

 

Clips, photos, and the interview transcript of “Black America Votes: The Biden Interview” will be made available at a later date.

Saturday, June 08, 2024

BET Media Group Submits The Most Emmys In Its History

Please Consider Donating 10 to help Black Students Attend & Finish College. Donate Here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-black-students-attend-and-finish-college

BET Media Group, which includes BET+ and BET Studios have submitted in over 35 Primetime Emmy categories, the most in its history. Those submissions are for the shows “Diarra From Detrioit”, “Average Joe”, “The Ms. Pat Show”, “Kingdom Business”, and “BET Awards 2023” Here are those Primetime Emmy submissions:

“Diarra From Detrioit”

Comedy Series

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series – Diarra Kilpatrick

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Morris Chestnut

Guest Actress in a Comedy Series – Phylicia Rashad

Directing for a Comedy Series – Chioke Nassor (“Chasing Ghosts”)

Writing for a Comedy Series — Diarra Kilpatrick (“Chasing Ghosts”)

Casting for a Comedy Series

Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program (One Hour or More)

Picture Editing for a Comedy Series

Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score)

“Average Joe”

Drama Series

Lead Actor in a Drama Series – Deon Cole

Lead Actress in a Drama Series – Tammy Townsend

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Michael Trucco

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Cynthia Kaye McWilliams

Writing for a Drama Series

Casting for a Drama Series

Directing for Drama Series

Cinematography for a Series (One Hour)

Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score)

Special Visual Effects in a Single Episode

Stunt Coordination for Drama Programming

Stunt Performance

“The Ms. Pat Show”

Directing for a Comedy Series – Mary Lou Belli

Directing for a Comedy Series – Jordan E. Cooper

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series – J. Bernard Calloway

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series – Ms. Pat

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Tami Roman

Comedy Series

“Kingdom Business”

Original Music and Lyrics – “The Way”

Directing for a Drama Series – Oz Scott

Music Supervision – Kirk Franklin and Warryn Campbell

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Loretta Devine

“BET Awards 2023”

Production Design for a Variety Special

Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming

Directing for a Variety Special

Music Direction

Variety Special (Live)

SOURCE: SOURCE: VARIETY

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

African-American TV network Bounce for sell?

E.W. Scripps is reportedly considering offers to sell off Bounce, its multicast channel targeted at Black and African-Americans, according to CNBC.

Interest in the network appears to have been, at least in part, spurred after Paramount Global considered selling BET, its cable channel aimed at a similar audience, in 2023. Paramount ended up backtracking on the deal and kept BET its portfolio.

Scripps didn’t elaborate on who might be interested in Bounce. CNBC analysis suggests the network could go for hundreds of millions of dollars.

Bounce became part of Scripps in 2017 when it bout Kat Networks for over $300 million. In an interview on CNBC, Scripps CEO Adam Symson described the company as being being proud of its “stewardship” of the Bounce brand.

The potential sale comes at a time with significant moves in Black media.

In addition to still owned BET, Paramount also owns Dabl, a network marketed as a “strong Black comedy” offering, which rebranded in December 2023.

Meanwhile, Tyler Perry inked a major new deal with BET and streamer BET+. Perry also owns part of BET+.

Comedian and TV host Steve Harvey has also ventured into digital by inking a deal with Dr. Phil’s Merit Street Media. Harvey also became an investor in the venture created by the former syndicated talk show host and psychologist.

{SOURCE: NEWSCASTSTUDIO]

Sunday, January 08, 2023

NAACP AND BET ANNOUNCE “54TH NAACP IMAGE AWARDS” TO AIR LIVE SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2023 ON BET

The NAACP and BET announced that the “54th NAACP Image Awards” will broadcast LIVE on Saturday, February 25, 2023 at 8:00 PM (live ET/PT on delay) on BET from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, CA. The show will be in front of an audience for the first time in three years. Nominees will be announced and online international voting opens on Thursday, January 12, 2023. Voting closes on Friday, February 10.

Leading up to the Image Awards, NAACP will be hosting a range of week-long activities in Los Angeles to further celebrate and honor achievements in film, television, music, and literature. Media credential application for these activities and the show will be released at a later date.

Globally recognized as one of the most distinguished multicultural awards shows, the “54th NAACP Image Awards” will continue a tradition of excellence, uplifting values that inspire equality, justice, and progressive change, and highlighting artists committed to that purpose. The “54th NAACP Image Awards” will also include three new submissions within the motion picture, television + streaming categories. New submission categories include:

• Outstanding Hairstyling
• Outstanding Make-up
• Outstanding Costume Design

“Throughout the past year, we’ve witnessed Black artists showcasing our history and uplifting values of progressive change, while redefining genres and bringing our stories to the forefront of entertainment in so many innovative ways,” said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP. “Black voices are necessary to continually inspire audiences around the world. We’re proud to once again provide a platform that both elevates and celebrates these voices through the 54th NAACP Image Awards.” “BET is extremely proud to continue our long-standing partnership with the NAACP and magnify their endeavors to honor the incredible contributions made by the Black community,” said BET President and CEO Scott Mills. “We’re looking forward to celebrating Black excellence at next year’s Image Awards on all of our platforms, honoring those who help tell our diverse stories in powerful ways.”

Only submitted work will be reviewed for consideration. All valid entries are evaluated and narrowed to the top five in each category by members of the NAACP Image Awards Nominating Committees which are comprised of individuals within the entertainment industry (studio/network executives, actors, artists, managers, agents, publicists, journalists, literary agents, and others) NAACP Board members, NAACP Foundation Trustees, staff, partners and others. As of November 18, nominee submissions are now closed.

One of the most iconic annual celebrations of Black excellence, the NAACP Image Awards draws the biggest and brightest stars in Hollywood. Previous years' attendees and winners include Prince Harry & Meghan Markle, Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer Hudson, Rihanna, Lizzo, BeyoncĂ©, Jay-Z, Michael B. Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, Jamie Foxx, Chloe x Halle, RegĂ©-Jean Page, Michaela Coel, Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Blair Underwood, Will Smith, Taraji P. Henson, Marsai Martin, Viola Davis, Gabrielle Union, Kerry Washington, Anthony Anderson, Sterling K. Brown, Loni Love, Sheryl Underwood, Mandy Moore, Halle Berry, Common, Dwayne Johnson, Audra Day, John Legend, Lena Waithe, Tracee Ellis Ross, David Oyelowo, Laverne Cox, Octavia Spencer, Issa Rae, Trevor Noah, Yara Shahidi, Danai Gurira, Jacob Latimore, Jill Scott, H.E.R., Jay Pharoah, Jemele Hill, Josh Gad, Loretta Devine, Sylvester Stallone, Meta Golding, Michael Smith, Tyler James Williams, Ava DuVernay, the late Chadwick Boseman, and many more.

Thursday, June 16, 2022

BET celebrates Juneteenth with a curated programming slate under its “Content For Change” initiative

BET will commemorate ‘Juneteenth’ with inspirational films, music videos, and a special interstitial Manifesto campaign featuring messages of hope from top Black talent, thought leaders, and change agents pledging our collective commitment to freedom, liberation, and joy starting Saturday, June 19, at Noon ET/PT

----

#JuneteenthOnBET #FreedomDayMarathon


New York, NY – June 17, 2021 – BET celebrates Juneteenth with a curated programming slate under its “Content For Change” initiative that honors the resilience of the African American spirit and the promise of powerful Black futures. Starting at Noon ET/PT, the network will showcase Black achievement across all platforms and will celebrate the national commemoration of the abolition of slavery in the United States with social justice-themed episodes of series, inspirational films and short-form content. 

BET’s Freedom Day Manifesto

Juneteenth is our day of celebration.

No matter the zip code,

No matter who we love or how we show up.

No matter our age, gender, faith…

We are one.

Today, we celebrate the collective liberation of Black People.

Our spirit has always been free,

Our perseverance remains unmatched.

Black is beautiful.

Black is brilliant.

Black is bold.

We will exercise our power.

We will dream bigger.

We honor ourselves every day…

On this Juneteenth, we show each other extra love

And celebrate the freedom, that is our birthright.

Happy Juneteenth!

From our family to yours.

We celebrate Juneteenth. This year and always.

Programming line-up celebrating the holiday includes:


On BET:

Noon* - “BLACK-ISH” (Social Justice and Family-themed episodes)

  • 5 PM*- “ALI”
  • 9 PM-11 PM* – “QUEEN COLLECTIVE” (More about this series below)
  • 11 PM* – “PASS THE MIC”

*All Times ET/PT


About The “Queen Collective,” P&G’s signature multicultural talent development initiative in partnership with Queen Latifah, Flavor Unit Entertainment, and Tribeca Studios, continues to accelerate gender and racial equality behind the camera, by opening doors to the next generation of up-and-coming Black women directors, as it returns to the Tribeca Festival for a third year.


The mentoring and talent development program is designed to give women filmmakers of color a platform to share important stories from their unique perspective with the aim of expanding the creative pipeline for Black female creators. Created by four diverse young female directors including Arielle Knight, Tina Charles, Cai Thomas, Haimy Assefa, and premiering at Tribeca on Thursday June 17th, these unique documentaries shine a light on important issues directly impacting the black community such as health care, bias and discrimination.


Tune into BET and BET Her on Saturday, June 19, 2021 to watch the full Queen Collective program at 9:00 pm ET/PT, with an encore on Sunday, June 20 at 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm ET/PT on BET Her. For more information go to BET.com/queencollectivefilms.


Watch and share the Juneteenth programming promo by clicking on the link below:

https://app.shift.io/review/60c798e11d531606b2835804


On BET Her:

9 AM* - “GIRLFRIENDS” (Family-themed episodes)

  • 6 PM*- “Miss Juneteenth”
  • 9 PM-11 PM* – “QUEEN COLLECTIVE” (Episodes 201-204 to simulcast with BET Her) #QueenCollective
  • 11 PM* – “PASS THE MIC”

*All Times ET/PT


On BET+ :

BET+, the premium streaming service for the Black community is capturing the spirit of the holiday by showcasing Black culture through the stories that celebrate family, love, laughter and Black excellence. Some of the nostalgic, feel-good content now streaming on BET+ include:

  • All the Way Black
  • Always a Bridesmaid
  • Bigger
  • Boomerang
  • Diggstown:
  • First Wives Club
  • The Jamie Foxx Show
  • Madiba
  • Martin
  • Miss Juneteenth
  • The New Edition Story
  • Tyler Perry’s Bruh


On BET Digital:


Go to BET.com starting on Friday, June 18 for:

  • Op/ED: Juneteenth Is An Opportunity To Remember The Fight Against Voter Suppression.
  • Op/ED: Why Juneteenth Is More Than Just A Day Off – Provided in partnership with Color Of Change
  • VIDEO: What Is Juneteenth? 5 Fascinating Facts About the Soon To Be Federal Holiday


Go to BET.com Saturday, June 19 (Juneteenth) for:

  • Q&A: An interview with Pulitzer Prize winning historian Annette Gordon-Reed on her new book, “On Juneteenth”.
  • Article: 5 Juneteenth festivals across the country to help you celebrate the day.
  • Article: 10 Movies To Watch In Honor Of Juneteenth


Wednesday, September 15, 2021

BET LAUNCHES BET STUDIOS

BET, a unit of ViacomCBS (NASDAQ: VIAC; VIACA), today launched BET Studios, an unprecedented studio venture that offers equity ownership for Black content creators. Propelled by the infrastructure and financing of BET and ViacomCBS, BET Studios will create premium television series and films for an array of internal buyers, including Paramount+, SHOWTIME, CBS, Nickelodeon, BET+ and BET, in addition to select third-party platforms that seek best-in-class content from both leading and rising Black creatives. BET Studios will launch with principal partners Kenya BarrisRashida Jones and Aaron Rahsaan Thomas.


“The demand for premium content from Black creators has accelerated dramatically as a result of both the rapidly changing media and social landscapes.  BET, with our 40-year legacy of celebrating Black culture, and the full power of the ViacomCBS ecosystem—is uniquely positioned to service this demand,” said BET President Scott Mills. “As a company with its origin in Black entrepreneurship, we are incredibly excited to create the first major studio to provide Black creators with ownership, creative freedom and the unparalleled partnership and support of BET. I am thrilled to have Aisha at the helm of this venture, and I look forward to our collaboration with our amazing creative partners in BET Studios.”


“BET Studios is an exciting and novel extension of the storied BET brand, and we have a structure well-suited to our times to bring top talent into this production company with real ownership,” said David Nevins, Chief Content Officer, Scripted Originals, Paramount+ & Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Showtime Networks Inc. “Scott Mills deserves tremendous credit for driving this innovative new business from idea to reality – and Kenya, Rashida and Aaron, could not be a more talented or in-demand group to lead this venture along with Aisha Summers.”


“The investment being made by Scott, David Nevins, Bob Bakish and the ViacomCBS team into BET Studios is not only an investment in Black storytelling, it is also an investment in the culture,” said Barris. “And while individual success is great, being able to amplify and champion underrepresented storytellers has been equally exciting and this venture allows that to continue to be a key focus in this next chapter of my career.”


“There is such power in the creative talent that the principal partners bring to the table and BET Studios’ unique ability to tell Black stories at scale,” said Jones. “This joining of forces is super exciting for me in the multitude of ways that people of color see themselves represented on screen.”


“As a new venture, BET Studios offers an opportunity to expand the brand’s legacy of delivering Black stories,” said Thomas. “This is a chance to bring nuanced, layered narratives to life, partnering with a forward-thinking team, interested in surprising and engaging the audience.”


BET Studios will be headed by Aisha Summers Burke, who was recently appointed Executive Vice-President and General Manager of the new venture. In this role, Burke will be responsible for working collaboratively with the Studio’s formidable creative partners and key internal constituencies.  Along with overseeing the day-to-day creative affairs for the company, she will also be responsible for the BET Studios content slate and focusing on growing the Studio’s production output across both internal and external platforms. Burke will report to BET President Scott Mills.


“BET has long been celebrated for excellence in producing quality programming that authentically depicts experiences lived within the Black community,” said Summers Burke.


“With the launch of BET Studios, we are excited to introduce a new model that opens the aperture to a broad array of platforms and supports the full range of content from Black creators.’ This entrepreneurial environment offers creatives the opportunity to produce diverse high-end content reflecting all aspects of entertainment.”


Prior to joining BET, Burke spent thirteen years at Warner Bros. Television, most recently serving as Vice-President of scripted television for the cable and streaming division of Warner Horizon before it merged with Warner Bros. TV in 2020.


Thursday, February 20, 2020

BET Announces Social Impact Campaign #ReclaimYourVote

Los Angeles, CA – February 20, 2020 – Today, at META:2020, BET Networks announced #ReclaimYourVote, a social change campaign in partnership with the National Urban League and key national organizations committed to harnessing Black collective power and increasing Black participation in the 2020 Census and the 2020 Election.

The nationwide #ReclaimYourVote campaign will layout the most significant issues, break down otherwise confusing processes, and highlight specific ways where we can reclaim our collective power by harnessing the power of media, entertainment, and technology to drive civic engagement. #ReclaimYourVote will leverage this opportunity through community activation's, television spots, compelling print, social and digital media platforms and urge the Black community to be counted in the census and to take a stand and vote.

“The 2020 Census and presidential election are pivotal moments for our communities that will produce lasting effects for generations to come, so we’re tackling the critical issues of voting rights and voting suppression head on with #ReclaimYourVote,” said Scott Mills, President, BET Networks. “At BET, we take this mission very seriously because we’re uniquely positioned to mobilize our partners across media, entertainment and technology to drive civic engagement outcomes for the black community like no other brand can.”

“Our nation’s pursuit of liberty, justice and economic empowerment for all hinges largely on the right to determine who will govern us and how. But the right of African Americans to vote—our right to participate in the civic processes of this nation— quite simply, is under attack,” National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial said, referring to findings analyzed in the 2019 State of Black America® report. “Campaigns such as #ReclaimYourVote are essential to harness our collective power and protect our fundamental right to vote.”

The year-long non-partisan campaign was revealed during the network’s day-long social impact conference ‘META: 2020’ in Los Angeles. META is designed to explore how the most influential people and platforms across these sectors can work together to impact outcomes for the Black community, with a 2020 focus on driving civic engagement ahead of 2020 elections. The convening featured special guest speakers including Senator Kamala D. Harris, Tip “T.I.” Harris, Angela Rye, Andrew Gillum, Elaine Welteroth, actress Skai Jackson, and many leaders within the social activism space including NAACP President Derrick Johnson, NAACP Legal Defense Fund President Sherrilyn Ifill, Rashad Robinson, President of Color of Change and many more.

The next phases of #ReclaimYourVote will focus on rallying the community around the critical matters that directly affect them with issues-based content and comprehensive analysis.

“Right now, our participation doesn’t match our power. Our goal with #ReclaimYourVote is to build on the long history of work from our national and local organizations to mobilize our community—especially our young voters and African men because their power combined with the proven strength of black women is our true superpower,” said Jeanine Liburd, Chief Social Impact and Communications Officer, BET Networks. “We couldn’t be more excited to launch this campaign with Tip ‘T.I.’ Harris, a perfect partner who shares our commitment to amplifying our collective voices.”

Thursday, September 20, 2018

BET Announces Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign BET GOES PINK

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women and the statistics further reveal that African American women are disproportionately affected by breast cancer. According to Susan G. Komen Foundation, African-American women are almost 40 percent more likely to die of breast cancer than white women in the U.S. and in some cities, that number is as high as 74 percent*. Today, BET Networks announces its national, multi-platform call-to-action campaign, BET GOES PINK, dedicated to raising awareness, encouraging early detection and initiating dialogue about the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the black community. The Network's integrated approach includes BET Her's first original film "HER ONLY CHOICE", the second annual "BET HER FIGHTS BREAST CANCER" hosted by comedian and talk show host Loni Love, original PSAs and more.


"BET Networks is dedicated to reducing breast cancer health disparities among African American women and ensuring that Black women are included in the conversation about this disease, said Nneka Norville, Director of CORPORATE Social Responsibility, BET Networks. "Although we make a concerted effort in October, breast cancer prevention and education is part of BET's larger year-round commitment to women's empowerment. By leveraging our platforms and content offerings, we are able to educate and empower our audience as they navigate this important aspect of their health."

This year's activations include:

BET HER's FIRST ORIGINAL MOVIE: "HER ONLY CHOICE" PREMIERES, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6 at 9 PM ET/PT ON BET HER.

Kicking off BET Her's original movie franchise "Her Only Choice," tells the story of a woman who after years of infertility becomes pregnant only to be diagnosed with a life-altering disease. She must make a choice to either fight for her life or sacrifice her child's. The film stars Denise Boutte, Timon Kyle Durett, Leon Robinson, Tiffany Snow, Tamara Tunie and Vanessa Bell Calloway. Christel Gibson serves as the film's director and Brett Dismuke, Rob Johnson and Nikki Love serve as Executive Producers for SoChi Entertainment.

"BET HER: FIGHTS BREAST CANCER" PREMIERES SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7 AT 7 PM ON BET & BET HER

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness month, BET Her will premiere the second annual "BET HER FIGHTS: BREAST CANCER" special, hosted by comedian and "The Real" co-host Loni Love. The one-hour special looks to raise awareness, and encourage more people to take action to prevent, diagnose, treat, & end breast cancer.

This year's honorees include Bershan Shaw and Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green. Shaw, a transformational coach, motivational speaker, author, and founder of URAWARRIOR.COM, is a two-time breast cancer survivor. Initially diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, it returned as stage 4 in 2009, she ultimately beat the odds is now nine years' cancer free. Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green, one of the first 100 African American women to earn a Ph.D. in Physics, is a physicist who specializes in targeted cancer therapeutics using nanotechnology and lasers. She founded the Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation in memory of her aunt, Ora Lee "Auntee" Smith, whose tragic experience with cancer inspired her to develop a cancer treatment without side effects.

The concert will feature inspirational surprise performances and special guests. Last year's performers included Xscape, Keyshia Cole, Sevyn Streeter and Alice Smith. Viewers will have an opportunity to get involved during the program through a dedicated line provided by the Susan G. Komen Foundation, which will provide free, professional support services to anyone with breast cancer questions or concerns, including men diagnosed with breast cancer and their families.

"BET HER FIGHTS: BREAST CANCER" will tape Thursday, September 20, 2018, at the Riverside EpiCenter in Atlanta, GA. The broadcast will premiere on Sunday, October 7, 2018 at 7:00 P.M. ET/PT on BET & BET Her.

ORIGINAL BET GOES PINK ON AIR, ONLINE AND ON SOCIAL

On Air: For the month of October all of BET Networks' brand bugs will go Pink to bring visual awareness to viewers on all of our platforms.
BET.com: BET Goes Pink's online portal - BET.com/BETGoesPink features articles, video vignettes and resources to ensure our audience is armed with the information needed to stay informed and healthy. For more information on "BET Goes Pink" and resources on breast cancer, please log onto www.bet.com/betgoespink.
BET Social: Follow @BET on Twitter and Instagram for updates and health news. Use the hashtag #BETGoesPink to join the conversation with patients, survivors, friends and family.
*Source: American Cancer Society & Susan G. Komen

ABOUT BET NETWORKS

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA) (NASDAQ: VIA.B), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel is in nearly 85 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, sub-Saharan Africa, France and South Korea. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions including BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER (formerly CENTRIC), a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American woman; BET Music Networks - BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET's growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET Networks around the globe.



Saturday, January 27, 2018

Maxine Waters set to respond to Trump after State of the Union

Auntie Maxine BKA as Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) is slated to deliver a televised address immediately following President Trump’s State of the Union speech on Tuesday.

Waters, one of Trump’s most vocal critics, will appear on “Angela Rye’s State of the Union” on BET, according to BuzzFeed News.

Rye, a Democratic strategist and commentator, is set to produce quarterly news programs for the network focused on issues affecting black Americans.

A spokesperson for BET told BuzzFeed that activists and other elected officials will join Waters to discuss the first year of the Trump presidency following his speech, and will discuss “building black politics and the value of engagement across today’s socio-political landscape."

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

Friday, December 15, 2017

Scott M. Mills to become new BET president

Black Entertainment Television will soon have a new president.

BET Networks announced Thursday that Scott M. Mills will take over as president, effective Jan. 1. He succeeds Debra L. Lee, who will remain as chair and CEO. Most recently, Mills was executive vice president and chief administrative officer at Viacom, BET's parent company.

He says in a statement that he looks forward to overseeing "exciting, thought-provoking" programs for African Americans and young people worldwide. Lee had served as president since 2005, when she succeeded BET founder Robert L. Johnson.

BET is known for a wide range of programming, from the comedy series "50 Central" to the Soul Train Awards.

[SOURCE]

Sunday, June 11, 2017

Oprah Winfrey wont be saving the TV series Underground

Rumor had it that The Oprah Winfrey Network was one of the channels (in addition to BET and Hulu) considering picking up the show starring Jurnee Smollett and Aldis Hodge. But at an L.A. press event this week for her network's series, Queen Sugar, Winfrey confirmed that won't be happening.

"I can't afford Underground," Winfrey told a group of eight journalists. "It cost twice as much to make as Queen Sugar. As a matter of fact, my dear friend John Legend called me personally and asked me about it, but we'd already been talking about how we could make it work [...] it's like $5 million an episode, so we can't afford it. It's not cheap, I think because it's a period piece."

Winfrey added that on top of the price, though the show was often trending on Twitter, it just didn't have the ratings to justify the expense, especially considering that OWN is still a young and growing network. "We really tried to make it work," she says. "I wanted to make it work because I think it's a good show. I wanted to be able to save that show, but it did not make good business sense for me."

[SOURCE: Refinery29]

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

The One Problem with BET's The New Edition Story

By George L. Cook III African American Reports.

I know I usually cover more serious topics but a little fun every once and awhile never hurt anyone. I really enjoyed BET's The New Edition Story but there was just one thing that was really frustrating every 5 to 7 minutes...