BET FIRES TAVIS SMILEY EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY!!!

CulturedPearl · #1 03-24-2001, 12:45 AM

BET FIRES TAVIS SMILEY EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY!
Will use guest hosts until next fall. BET's Bob Johnson
to talk "live" on Monday, March 26 at 11 p.m. ET/PT**

In move that could only be characterized in street parlance:
"It's on!" BET/Viacom has pulled the trigger and fired BET Tonight
show host Tavis Smiley effective immediately! Only this time, Smiley
was told personally as opposed to a 4 line fax. Smiley's Los Angeles
office confirmed that BET executive, Nina Henderson Moore,
personally called to tell him of the decision. Beyond that, they
had no comment. In a press release, BET Chairman and CEO,
Robert L. Johnson, made the decision public.
"After a five-year relationship with Tavis Smiley, we have
terminated the remainder of his contract effective immediately,"
Johnson said. "There are a number of public and private concerns
which led to my decision. Recent actions by Mr. Smiley left
us little recourse but to make this move."
To address the issue for viewers, BET has scheduled a special
one-hour edition of BET Tonight with guest host Cheryl Martin
THIS MONDAY, MARCH 26 at 11 PM. ET/PT**, during which
Johnson will take open line phone calls from viewers about
Smiley and the network's decision.
EUR will have more on this story as it develops. In the meantime,
below is the BET press release in its entirety. We encourage you
to go to the EURweb messageboards NOW
(http://www.eurweb.com/forums/index.cfm?action=forum&roomID=5)
... and make your feelings/thoughts known.

(**Telecast will be live to Eastern and Central Time zones; tape-delayed

to Pacific and Mountain regions).

THE OFFICIAL BET PRESS RELEASE:

BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION TERMINATES CONTRACT
WITH BET TONIGHT HOST TAVIS SMILEY; WILL USE GUEST
HOSTS UNTIL NEXT FALL

BET Chairman to Take Calls "Live" on Monday, March 26
at 11 p.m. ET/PT**

WASHINGTON (March 23, 2001) - Black Entertainment Television
(BET) Chairman and CEO Robert L. Johnson announced today the
immediate termination of the network's contract with Tavis Smiley,
host of the talk show BET Tonight. The show will use guest hosts
until a permanent host is selected for the Fall 2001 television season.

"After a five-year relationship with Tavis Smiley, we have terminated
the remainder of his contract effective immediately," Johnson said.
"There are a number of public and private concerns which led to
my decision. Recent actions by Mr. Smiley left us little
recourse but to make this move."

To address the issue for viewers, BET has scheduled a special
one-hour edition of BET Tonight with guest host Cheryl Martin
on Monday, March 26 at 11 p.m. ET/PT**, during which Johnson
will take open line phone calls from viewers about Smiley
and the network's decision.

"There has been a public outcry driven by misinformation circulated
around this issue, and fueled by the Tom Joyner Morning Show,"
said Johnson, who has offered - to no avail - to appear on the
Joyner program to address the issue. "As the person responsible
for this network and the individual who made this decision, it is
important to offer my perspective on this matter which, until
now, has been ignored."

Public debate surfaced this week when syndicated radio host
Tom Joyner openly criticized BET for an earlier decision not
to renew Smiley's contract for the upcoming fall season.
Joyner and Smiley further inflamed the issue by accusing Viacom,
parent company of BET, and its CEO Mel Karmazin, of being
behind the decision. Johnson reiterated that "nothing could
be further from the truth," and that the decision was made
by him.

Black Entertainment Television, a subsidiary of Viacom, is the
nation's only 24-hour television network providing quality programming
targeted toward the African-American audience. BET reaches
65 million households according to Nielsen media research.

(**Telecast will be live to Eastern and Central Time zones; tape-delayed

to Pacific and Mountain regions).
###

sweettgabrown · #2 03-24-2001, 01:09 AM

I am not surprized. I had dinner with someone this evening who "works" at BET in New York, he had this to say: "There are only about 4 or 5 full-time permanent employees at BET 106 and Park. They (BET Management) treats all of the other employees (freelancers) like crap. The only think Bob Johnson thinks about is money $$$$
(Fortune magazine estimated his personal wealth at $300-500 Million). " I offer this: at what price do our children and young people have to suffer with his sub-par programming? From my understanding BET is in direct competition with viewers of MTV.
I say we boycott BET. Dang...where all Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson when you need 'em?

AKA2D '91 · #3 03-24-2001, 11:20 AM

Now I see why Diamond007's emails to Viacom were returned...

Now Mr. Johnson has put Tom in it! I can't wait until Monday morning...

NUPE4LIFE · #4 03-24-2001, 11:52 AM

BET will no longer be watched in my house. Mr. Johnson is a house nigger.

AKANGEL · #5 03-24-2001, 11:54 AM

This is awful when will the struggle end. Tavis Smiley is a voice for his people and they don't like that. BET!!!!! I thought we were overcoming but I guess we haven't???? I am for the BOYCOTT!!!!! NO MORE BET IN MY HOUSE OR MY FAMILY MEMBERS HOUSES EITHER!!!!

[This message has been edited by AKANGEL (edited March 24, 2001).]

CrimsonTide4 · #6 03-24-2001, 12:11 PM

Although I have seldom watched BET Tonight, whenever I did I was impresseed with Tavis' questions and the commentary that he provides.

I seldom watch BET anymore. Comicview lost me as a "loyal" supporter when I heard how much they paid the comics.

BET and VIACOM and Johnson need to wake up and realize that for me to be ENTERTAINed as a BLACK person watching TELEVISION, videos and GHETTO FABULOUS TALK SHOWS just ain't going to get it. Rather we need TAVIS on during prime time not late at night. We need some of the TV shows that have been cancelled by NBC, CBS, ABC, et al to be picked uo by BET, i.e. City of Angels. BET could and SHOULD BE responsible for more intelligent broadcasting. BET needs to realize that those videos they show all day and all night are a detriment, As a teacher I see it first hand, these kids can't even complete assignments, conversation without referring to the latest video. I am disturbed at how Mr. Johnson and his programming staff are going to augment Tavis' absence. When are they going to have FAMILY PROGRAMMING that does not revolve around old reruns but instead FRESH ideas.

AKA2D '91 · #7 03-25-2001, 07:15 PM

Whatever happened to Bev Smith and OUR VOICES on BET?

[This message has been edited by AKA2D '91 (edited March 25, 2001).]

WenD08 · #8 03-26-2001, 05:06 PM

Bev Smith has a syndicated radio talk show. i've heard bits and pieces and it's good. i wonder what will happen with LEAD STORY, Heart and Soul, and BET News with Ed Gordon. These are really good shows who don't seem to fit in with the direction BET is wanting to go. from what i understand, BET/Viacom is targeting the 18-34 age bracket. perhaps, these shows are next...

Rachel0497 · #9 03-26-2001, 07:14 PM

**Putting on my combat boots**
I am all for boycotting, no doubt about it. It's time we stand up and let them know we won't accept the okey-doke, shuck and jive they keep bombarding us with. After the BET Tonight this evening where "Sell-Out" Johnson will discuss the decision to fire Tavis, my TV set will not be tuned in to ANY Viacom owned outlet until we get more quality programming.

------------------
The Women of Zeta Phi Beta...Simply Irresistible!!!!!!!!!!!

CrimsonTide4 · #10 03-26-2001, 09:00 PM

GO TO http://www.bet.com and you can post a question for JOHNSON to answer tonight on the LIVE EDITION of BET TONIGHT!!

Here is my question: The firing of Tavis Smiley has angered a lot of your viewers. Across America, there is a lot of dialogue among your viewers that is angered at the termination of Tavis Smiley. My question to you, what is the direction that your company will now be taking. Will there be even more videos added to the line up? Where is the quality programming for BET? Surely you don't think that OH DRAMA is quality television. You need to rethink the mission of BET and help us understand where your vision lies as you remove a great program hosted by a man who is committed to the betterment of Blacks in America.

[This message has been edited by CrimsonTide4 (edited March 26, 2001).]

AKA2D '91 · #11 03-26-2001, 09:15 PM

While listening to Tom Joyner this morning, someone made a statement that Mr. Johnson is NOT the person who needs to talk or explain.

Viacom should have its representatives discussing in what direction BET will go. Answering questions why Tavis was IMMEDIATELY fired.

Mr. Johnson has his billions of dollars in his pocket, worried about NADA!

#12 03-26-2001, 11:25 PM

I think Mr. Johnson and Viacom representatives should be on the show tonight to explain the decision to the public. This is what Mr. Johnson had to say:

“As the person responsible for this network and the individual who made this decision, it is important to offer my perspective on this matter, which until now has been ignored. ”

Johnson reiterated that he, not Viacom’s President Mel Karmazin, made the decision to terminate Smiley.

AKAtude · #13 03-27-2001, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Black Entertainment Television, a subsidiary of Viacom, is the nation's only 24-hour television network providing quality programming targeted toward the
African-American audience.

Quality programming?! What BET is he watching?

Jorrie96 · #14 03-27-2001, 02:08 PM

Did anyone see Johnson last night on BET? If so, what did he say was the rationale for the firing?

sweet aka · #15 03-27-2001, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jorrie96:
Did anyone see Johnson last night on BET? If so, what did he say was the rationale for the firing?

I saw it and it was rediculous....He said Tavis got a major interview and he didn't offer BET the opportunity to air the interview. But, Tavis said that wasn't true...so, I don't know....I kind of believe Tavis....because Johnson approach was done in poor taste.