Despite its financial success and popularity with top black talent, Black Entertainment Television has long come under fire from those inside and outside the black creative community who feel the channel should have been more aggressive in providing meaningful and insightful entertainment by and for blacks.
Those criticisms escalated last year when BET--the nation's only black-owned cable network--celebrated its 20th anniversary, prompting critics to lament that the network had failed to fulfill its potential, focusing too much attention on music-related programming--particularly hip-hop videos with scantily clad women.
At the time, BET Founder and Chairman Robert L. Johnson brushed aside the barbs, proclaiming that BET had been a powerhouse creatively and financially. The questions, however, have arisen again this year, as media giant Viacom Inc. completed its purchase of BET. With a new parent possessing deeper financial pockets, industry insiders and others speculated about programming changes and whether the network would start developing dramas, sitcoms and other non-music-related projects utilizing black talent.
Although BET is significantly expanding its news and documentary operations in the wake of the merger, the unveiling of BET's upcoming entertainment schedule demonstrates that the song--or rather, the hip-hop--pretty much remains the same.
This fall will see further concentration on music shows, including the series "106th & Park: BET's Top 10 Live," "BET.com Countdown" and specials such as the "7th Annual BET Walk of Fame" on Oct. 30, honoring singer Patti LaBelle. The stand-up comic show "Comicview" returns for a 10th season, while five new shows premiering this fall will revolve mostly around celebrity interviews and entertainment news.
No new original sitcoms or dramas are on the immediate horizon, and BET is also shutting down at least for now its production of original movies that the network launched in 1999, which had opened up opportunities for black writers, directors and performers.
BET President and Chief Operating Officer Debra Lee said in an interview last week that BET is coming off its highest-rated season, and research revealed that viewers want the network to "evolve, but not totally deviate" from its existing format. As a result, BET-produced comedies and dramas are not high on the network's current agenda.
