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Bye-Bye BET?
Hi Everyone,
Just wondering what y'all think of this. I just heard that Viacom, a non-Black owned media company (which owns MTV, VH-1, etc.) is going to buy BET. Supposedly, the founder of BET will now be a "major" shareholder of Viacom. But what do you think this will mean for BET? Will the type/quality of shows on BET change for the better or worst with this new ownership? ------------------ We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle |
With the caliber of programming now, it can only get better...perhaps an infusion of cash will cause more intelligent orginal programming to appear...
And to answer the question posed in the topic header, no, I don't think BET is going anywhere, not after its new owners just paid $3 billion for it... |
Right now there is not much to miss. Soror DG, I agree the programming can only GET BETTER!! I hope!!
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I think Mr. Johnson is making a very big mistake. I forsee BET becoming another UPN, where The White executives are telling us Blacks how to be BLACK!!!!! I must admit the money is enticing for any owner that owns majority of a public company. But because it is a public company he might as well clean out his office because he will certainly be moved for what THEY (the new board of directors) call "Creative Differences".
OHHLALA |
And BET doesn't already make a mockery of our culture, with all the buck dancing, booty-shaking video shows, warmed-over talk shows, stereotypical loud-#@$ed comics telling the same "black people cain't never afford to have a timely funeral"-type jokes and the like? And don't get me started with that CITA mess!
Unfortunately, many of US are the ones who have some say in the images of our people shown to the world via television and film. We can't always blame someone else for the buffoonery and JIVE that blacks show on TV...a lot of it is our own fault. |
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I have several white friends, so we're always having discussions on race relations in this country. And through talking to them, I found that a lot of the way we are perceived as a people is strictly by the way some of us act. And I said some of us. But with our race, if some of us do it, we all are guilty. That's just the way society looks at us. BET as a major network for all black programming, should be trying to erase those stereotypes not validate them. ------------------ KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY, INC. SPR 97 XI LAMBDA |
I agree with you Discogoddess (to some point). However, we ARE the ones, we pay our $$$ and tune in to such programming. The shows are not all positive, but they are a reflection of our people, it may not be you nor I, BUT it does represent a % of us (sad to say). And ComicView is one of the networks most popular show. This is obvious with all the $$$$ they put in to the show. Yes, we do have a say in our image, but the point I was trying to make it that if the image NOW does nt reflect a more unbiased and sterotyped image, then when VIACOM owns BET, we can definitely forget it! So, we need to not ony check them on that aspect, but we need to check ourselves!
OOH LA LA! |
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For the uninformed, UPN stands for United Paramount Network. Paramount Television/Pictures is a subsidiary of Viacom, which at one time had a HUGE ownership in the syndication arena (and I think to this day still does). Look at how many syndicated shows that after the credits had that big @$$ black V (Viacom logo) coming towards the screen with the drum roll and/or the huge silver V. That mess gave me nightmares as a kid, but I digress. If Viacom owns Paramount and UPN is the Paramount network, then if BET is owned by Viacom/Paramount and the same buffoonish Black shows air primarily on UPN, then Oohlala, your prediction may warrant some merit, though I am not lookin' forward to it. We can only keep our fingers crossed at this point. By Oohlala (read: George), I think you got it. Da Rain Man |
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Da Rain Man |
Rainman, you see my point. I was aware that UPN is a subsidary of Viacom, thus proving my point to somewhat of a degree of certainity. I am just saying that BET was basically the first, a trendsetter in Black based entertainment that most of us could identify with and I hate to see it begin to lose its momentum (sp?) after all these years. I hate to stay it, but, if Johnson sells, he is going to be selling more than his shares. I give BET 5-10 years before the name changes to something that includes more than blacks or the entire network will completely disappear. This is because we will definitely no longer be able to identify or it will be to ridiculous (sp?) to watch!
Discogoddess, I guess we better start with that new show that reflects the positive side of Blacks. BUT, who will put up the money, will the idea sell? And if so, then how long will it last? I don't think very long, for some strange reason, we do not support the positive enough to last, but run, even break our backs, necks, and will spend our last dollars to see the negative! OOH LA LA! |
i think BET sucks. i'm all for a little comedy. but its mainly foolish shows showing blacks in a stereotypical role, its not helping us to portray positive images, however televsion is a business and if people are willing to watch these programs then they BET/Viacom will continue to produce them. What we need is a network owned by say Bill Cosby etc. that would show a variety of shows with us covering the whole spectrum not just the ghetto mentality we see on BET all the time.
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[This message has been edited by Talaxe (edited November 06, 2000).] |
Boy oh Boy,
Bye Bye Bet. I must admit the qualities of the network can be summed up in one word: poor. I mean videos are nice but even MTV and VH1 realized the importance of developing television shows without videos i.e. The Real World and Behind The Music. Bet does not represent the greater community of black americans though it does represent a small population. Are there that many people who watch videos? Also how does BET support non-mainstream black artists. I would love to see a show about the art work of Gordon Parks or poetry of Gwendolyn Brooks and young artists. Instead of the network building the cultural awareness of the black community, it allows us including young children to watch booty shake videos and learn the words to songs that can not refrain from using the words "bitch" "ho" or "ma" to describe a WOMAN. Oh Drama is oh so terrible. The jokes aren't funny and one person can not carry a show. I too loathe Cita and her booty swinging loud mouthing ways. I turn the channel when I see her and that big mouth of hers. I really dont think that white executives can portray black people any worse than the black executives at BET have. And white executives would not be able to proceed with shows like Moesha, The Parkers and Girlfriends without two things: black actors and actresses and a black population that enjoys watching stereotypical portrayals of "us". Will I miss BET and it's programming? Not really. Not unless it becomes representative of a population of blacks that desire to see the greater benefit of its race. What's wrong with putting a few less shows with videos and a couple more highlighting the achievements of black americans. Did anyone hear about the black jockey riding in the Breeders Cup, the first in over 75 years if not more. I'd like to see a show about those types of things. Until then, I'll just watch some Judge Joe Brown. |
Bobby Johnson can go. BET can go.
But SAVE TAVIS |
Robert Johnson had a 63 percent stake in BET, so I don't see how that translates to majority-white ownership, as stated in a previous post. I'm not sure of his stake in the post-Viacom acquisition.
I think the death-knell is being sounded too soon. BET, as long as it makes money for its owners, will be around, showing the same old tired mess that US FOLKS seem to love and support so much. |
"You didn't know that White people already own the majority of BET?"
OHH, I certainly did!!! However as stockholders (two different classes of stock) in the corporation they do not have as much say (common vs. preferred) I can not speculate on the logisitcs of the stockholder make-up, but I am certain that the stockholders that receive dividends ($$$ for their preferred stock) do have a say that effects the B.O.D. Anyone can buy some of BET's stock, but that does not mean we have a say in what goes on the air. Hey Discogoddess, maybe we can save BET by buying some of the preferred stock and change the programming to reflect the positive side and reflect the history of our great ancestors that worked hard to get us to where we are. OOH LA LA! |
DG, yes Johnson may have 63%, but he probably has that in some form of LLC, LP or some sort of partnership. (I don't have time ro research it right now, but I will when I get the chance.) But what this means is that he is the managing partner, which translates into owner! For tax purposes, I am almost certain that their are legal entities (sp?)of BET that has been formed for Johnson to protect his assets. LOL, where I was going with, that HMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!
But your point about the call of death, I am sorry but with this takeover I think it may be inevitable....... OOH LA LA! |
Well, it's sad in the sense that it was a black owned station and there are not that many if any now T.V./entertainment outlets other than record companies that we control.
My "beef" w/BET was that all they created and devoted time to were video shows. They can devote hours upon hours to music, even less to educational programming and what, a half-hour to any kind of in-depth discussion such as "LEAD STORY" or "TONIGHT WITH TAVIS SMILEY? It gives the "other" America the impression that all we can do is sing,dance,floss jewelry,worry about what kind of designer clothes we have/how many men/women we can get,neglect and mistreat,how much money we can "obtain" and looking oh so good in our car that costs 10 times more than a college education and/or a house! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/rolleyes.gif Oh well........ |
Whatever happened to Bev Smith?
The UNSEEN VJ? This week in Black Entertainment? |
[b][QUOTE]Originally posted by Eastcoast Sunshine:
Well, it's sad in the sense that it was a black owned station and there are not that many if any now T.V./entertainment outlets other than record companies that we control. My "beef" w/BET was that all they created and devoted time to were video shows. They can devote hours upon hours to music, even less to educational programming and what, a half-hour to any kind of in-depth discussion such as "LEAD STORY" or "TONIGHT WITH TAVIS SMILEY? It gives the "other" America the impression that all we can do is sing,dance,floss jewelry,worry about what kind of designer clothes we have/how many men/women we can get,neglect and mistreat,how much money we can "obtain" and looking oh so good in our car that costs 10 times more than a college education and/or a house! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/rolleyes.gif Oh well........ You are just making too much sense!!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif |
So why is that now Viacom's fault or problem, that we ourselves can't seem to reflect the more positive aspects of our cultural identity? You're right, Oohlala, that many of us ARE reflected in the stereotypes, but we perpetuate those things by supporting a "Booty Call" and not "Daughters of the Dust." That's not "the man's" doing, and we need to stop always crying racism when we ourselves are at fault.
On another note, why is BET the last word on black programming? Are we not capable of creating another network? Geesh!!!! |
Oohlala: I'm all for conspiracy theories, but the idea that Viacom paid $3 billion for a network just so they could get rid of it stretches the imagination. Frankly, I don't care, and that's my final say on this. I hope Robert Johnson invests his money wisely.
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DG: Yes, they may not want to see billions of dollar go to waste now, but after several years and ROI, they will let it go without a second thought. I sure hope Johnson spends those $$$ very wisely!
OOHLALA |
It will be interesting to see what Viacom does with BET. I know the programming isn't much to talk about now, but if "we" weren't looking out for "our" own interests and images in the types of programs produced, it's hard to believe that others will show us any more consideration.
One of the few people doing a good job portraying us on TV today is your sister Yvette Lee Bowser, who did Living Single and For Your Love. But she's only one woman! PositivelyAKA: I think Cosby tried to get a major stake in a network several years back, but faced a lot of hurdles and gave up. Kitten: Until Cos or some other positive Black people can get a network going, we'll have to rely on PBS for the occassional non-mainstream shows. ------------------ We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle |
Amen, Original Ape, AMEN!!!!
OOHLALA! |
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Bill Cosby HAD HIS CHANCE. He had attempted to purchase NBC some years ago, but bailed out(for whatever reason). His problem reflects the overall problem of our people in this country: we don't stick together. Had Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey,Michael Jackson, Mr. Johnson, and a host of other wealthy African-Americans joined forces(and dollars), we could've had our own, non-cable, major network. It would have afforded us the luxury of making our own movies-regardless of what level each of us are on. It would've made a statement about the real purchasing power of our people. Every college student in America that majors in communications, journalism, and other professions would have had a real motivation to learn their craft, and a real place to aim for in terms of where they wanted to work. |
I think Oh Drama could have alot of potential...Soror Vanessa could hold the show on her own. That Whitley girl, from Sparks and Next Friday is the Producer (exec), so I guess that's why it is as WILD as it is... she is SO LOUD AND COMMON.
Get rid of her and change the name, there possibly could be a REAL SHOW! AND that other chick, what's her purpose? Get rid of her, too. I wonder what Soror Starr (Jones) thinks about Soror Vanessa doing this show (they are best friends)... Just curious! [This message has been edited by AKA2D '91 (edited November 08, 2000).] |
How do we know that Johnson owns a 63% stake in BET holdings? Are their annual reports online? I hope it's in preferred stock and bonds...if so...then why is the programming so bad?? He seems like he would know better, but I could be mistaken. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/confused.gif
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------------------ KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY, INC. SPR 97 XI LAMBDA |
Talaxe,
I'm not sure what percentage Johnson owns/owned. I recall several years back that Johnson himself or the corp. BET bought back most or all of the stock that had been on the open market. Someone posted earlier about buying shares, but I'm not sure it's possible to even buy shares of BET. Regarding the programming, Johnson has long been a fan of cheap stuff like reruns of old comedies and music videos. It costs little to show, so almost everything he makes is gravy. ------------------ We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle |
Address to send your comments...
bet-tv_comments@bet.com ------------------ Alpha Kappa Alpha 17-Alpha Phi-91 |
[QUOTE]Originally posted by NUPE4LIFE:
[B] My point exactly. Oh and by the way, me and one of my frat brothers are planning on coming to the Bayou Klassic next year. Email me please. OKAY, MY BROTHER...WHY YOU WANT TO COME DOWN NOW? HUH? YOU BASICALLY DOGGED OUT THE CLASSIC IN YOUR FORUM? WHAT YOU FORGOT? WHAT'S THAT ABOUT? WELL, YOUR FRAT IS WELCOME TO COME, BUT WE DON'T WANT YOU IN THE CRESCENT CITY! OKKKKKAAAAAAAAAYYYYY!?!?!?! JUST KIDDING! LOL! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif BUT SKEERIOUSLY, I EMAILED YOU AT COLLEGECLUB... |
There is one more twist I gotta state on this proposed Viacom/BET buyout.
With everyone saying that BET if bought by Viacom may radically alter the purpose of the network, here's something to consider. Last year or earlier this year, The Nashville Network was bought out by Time Warner and is now known as The NATIONAL Network. In the process, a lot of country music oriented shows left the daily lineup and has been replaced with more contemporary shows. Only one or two country music shows are still on the air. My point is this: With everyone complaining about the "no-brain" programming presently airing on BET, this buyout may improve the programming, however be prepared to have the "blackness" of the channel diluted into mainstream culture to some effect (kinda like the cast of "In Living Color" in the final season after all the Wayans family bailed out). Da Rain Man |
So, from everyone's hemming and hawing about this, am I to assume that because there once was this network called BET, blacks in America will never again own and operate a cable and/or other network?
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Well, why did there ONLY have to be BET?
Who came behind Mr. Johnson in the 80's, 90's, and now the 21st century to establish ANOTHER network? There are many, many WEALTHY African-Americans or people of AFRICAN descent who could have and still can PULL THEIR RESOURCES TOGETHER to establish, build TV networks and other types of CORPORATIONS! The question is...WHY HAVEN'T THEY? |
Oh Drama has been canceled...
One down, how many more to go? |
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That show sux. I wonder might Aaron McGruder address this in an upcoming Boondocks? :p |
I am glad to know that I am not the only one that hates that show!!
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You can add a third to the list. The show is an insult. But what can you expect from an insult of a network station???:rolleyes:
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:D :D :D
SteelTrap, I second that emotion!!!!! (I just don't know how to do those special smilies.) |
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