Robert L. Johnson launched his own cable television network with a $500,000 investment in 1980. He named his network Black Entertainment Television.
It originally ran in two-hour blocks on Nickelodeon, running music videos and black sitcoms.
In 1983 BET became a full-fledged channel.
In 1991 the network became the first black-controlled company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Today BET is the most prominent television network targeting African-American audiences and reaches 90 million households.
The network features rap, hip-hop, and R&B music videos, as well as original and acquired television series and home-video-released movies.
BET also runs www.bet.com, which offers news, health, music, and careers to an audience of 3 million.
BET is owned by BET Networks, a division of Viacom.
BETRobert L. Johnson launched his own cable television network with a $500,000 investment in 1980. He named his network Black Entertainment Television.
It originally ran in two-hour blocks on Nickelodeon, running music videos and black sitcoms.
In 1983 BET became a full-fledged channel.
History
In 1991 the network became the first black-controlled company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Today BET is the most prominent television network targeting African-American audiences and reaches 90 million households.
The network features rap, hip-hop, and R&B music videos, as well as original and acquired television series and home-video-released movies.
BET also runs www.bet.com, which offers news, health, music, and careers to an audience of 3 million.
BET is owned by BET Networks, a division of Viacom.