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Every once in a while #yall say you’d like BET to do like 17 new types of programming (all of which require sponsor buy in) and then BET responds... and y’all don’t watch it.
I gave up when Robin Thede’s show was canceled.
I gave up when Robin Thede’s show was canceled.
Nor do you watch TV One, who’s doing half the programming y’all are asking for already.
I’m surprised #AmericanSoul survived to come back a second season. Whole scripted drama about the most foundational show in Black entertainment. Producers like Robert Towsend on deck...
I do not see the hashtag cross my TL weekly.
I do not see the hashtag cross my TL weekly.
And BET digital had some hot stuff going last year (although I think they could have promoted the build out of digital programming better), and... quiet.
So y’all gonna get these maybe two new scripted shows every few years for the 2-3 seasons y’all let them live, plus an annual event situation (like the Uptown limited series), and the awards. Bc that’s what BET can prove to advertisers sells.
... plus all the Tyler Perry shows your heart can stand.
I saw somebody ask for Black college football. BET used to run all the HBCU games, but Aspire has them now. I wonder if that person is watching 
That’s the other thing: the demo I see complaining largely aren’t appointment TV people anyway. They’re streamers.
https://twitter.com/hoopefiasco/status/1280164756117168133?s=21 https://twitter.com/hoopefiasco/status/1280164756117168133
https://twitter.com/hoopefiasco/status/1280164756117168133?s=21 https://twitter.com/hoopefiasco/status/1280164756117168133
BET has had in the last decde:
- A family sitcom w/ Tracee Ellis Ross the year BEFORE Black’ish
- A sitcom centered around Brandy
- A drama w/ Anika Noni Rose set in an HBCU
- A show w/ Charlie Murphey, Ced the Entertainer, DL Hughley
- A John Singleton-produced police procedural
- A family sitcom w/ Tracee Ellis Ross the year BEFORE Black’ish
- A sitcom centered around Brandy
- A drama w/ Anika Noni Rose set in an HBCU
- A show w/ Charlie Murphey, Ced the Entertainer, DL Hughley
- A John Singleton-produced police procedural
- A series that explored the breakdown of the criminal justice system
- A sitcom with the younger generation of Wayans
- A docuseries following NFL player Desean Jackson
- A docuseries @ Michael Vick
- A talkshow created for young Black men
- Mo’nique’s Arsenio style show...
- A sitcom with the younger generation of Wayans
- A docuseries following NFL player Desean Jackson
- A docuseries @ Michael Vick
- A talkshow created for young Black men
- Mo’nique’s Arsenio style show...
- A Mandela mini-series
- 2 late night news/opinion talk shows a la Trevor Noah (TJ Holmes & Robin Thede)
- A game show based on Black Card Revoked
- and of course The Game, Being Mary Jane, Boomerang, now Twenties, Soul Train Awards, BET Honors, Sunday Best and BET Awards
- 2 late night news/opinion talk shows a la Trevor Noah (TJ Holmes & Robin Thede)
- A game show based on Black Card Revoked
- and of course The Game, Being Mary Jane, Boomerang, now Twenties, Soul Train Awards, BET Honors, Sunday Best and BET Awards
With the exception of that last bullet point and MAYBE TJ Holmes (I gotta check) ONE SEASON.
Oh, and with the exception of Mo’nique she went a couple of seasons
For the last TWENTY YEARS. That doesn’t mean as much as people act like it does re: programming.
https://twitter.com/cheikhlikechake/status/1280173642001899521?s=21 https://twitter.com/cheikhlikechake/status/1280173642001899521
https://twitter.com/cheikhlikechake/status/1280173642001899521?s=21 https://twitter.com/cheikhlikechake/status/1280173642001899521
Even the reality programming on BET has been - maybe not STELLAR but as good as anything on Bravo, TLC or VH1.
Y’all be talking like the network is still all 106th & Park, infomercials and BET uncut. (BET Uncut went off the air in 06, BTW)
Y’all be talking like the network is still all 106th & Park, infomercials and BET uncut. (BET Uncut went off the air in 06, BTW)
Let’s talk about “not a good job at promo.” I can’t tell you the last time I saw a promo for... “This is Us” and I WASN’T watching NBC. I *look* for it, my DVR is set to it, I follow the cast (con’t)
https://twitter.com/alebutton/status/1280176373965914112?s=21 https://twitter.com/alebutton/status/1280176373965914112
https://twitter.com/alebutton/status/1280176373965914112?s=21 https://twitter.com/alebutton/status/1280176373965914112
We know about the BIG event programming on BET in part bc yeah, there’s a bigger push, but also bc ppl RT the trailers and start chatter.
TV One’s core demo knows when new seasons of #UnSung start.
TV One’s core demo knows when new seasons of #UnSung start.
... put people also have a tendency to just gloss over or not pay attention to stuff they don’t think they’ll be interested in.
You can’t continuously promote a weekly series the way you do a one shot New Edition Story.
You can’t continuously promote a weekly series the way you do a one shot New Edition Story.
Darius McCrary went viral for being in costume as James Brown for American Soul just last week, but ppl are like “I hadn’t even heard of American Soul.”
You just weren’t interested.
You just weren’t interested.
Which is FINE. But don’t assume the programming isn’t there bc you don’t know about it.
Yup. BET Awards production value - even if I know fewer people every year, has regularly topped itself with the exception of 1 recent year. And Soul Train Awards has, too. I just need them to pick a #BlackGirlsRock season and stick to it.
https://twitter.com/onlychyld/status/1280180188333182995?s=21 https://twitter.com/onlychyld/status/1280180188333182995
https://twitter.com/onlychyld/status/1280180188333182995?s=21 https://twitter.com/onlychyld/status/1280180188333182995
Ok, so since I did use This is Us, let me also point out that it’s an NBC program - still a major network - with about 6M viewers weekly. 17M for season premiere. For comparison, strong BET Awards viewership is about 4M.
https://twitter.com/alebutton/status/1280182922973261827?s=21 https://twitter.com/alebutton/status/1280182922973261827
https://twitter.com/alebutton/status/1280182922973261827?s=21 https://twitter.com/alebutton/status/1280182922973261827
Being Mary Jane heights were in the 5M.
New Edition in the mid-high 20M for the full week.
This matters bc these are determining factors in how much networks spend on promotion.
New Edition in the mid-high 20M for the full week.
This matters bc these are determining factors in how much networks spend on promotion.
“Viewers shouldn’t have to look for programming” when shows are competing with on air, digital + streaming?
I’ve never seen ppl complian about finding stuff on Hulu or Netflix or Prime.
I’ve never seen ppl complian about finding stuff on Hulu or Netflix or Prime.
Complaining about BET is so ingrained - they were even clowning the network on the Boondocks - I think everybody just defaults to it. But take assesment, please, of what you’re really expecting from them.
Yes, network could be stronger. They could message better.
Yes, Viacom has money - but also has over 150 networks. The expansion of BET Awards to a full weekend and continued support across all channels for both the BET Awards and now Soul Train is Viacom’s parent support.
Yes, Viacom has money - but also has over 150 networks. The expansion of BET Awards to a full weekend and continued support across all channels for both the BET Awards and now Soul Train is Viacom’s parent support.
But what BET can do is reliant on what *we* start to signal as something that works. The fact that they’re still DOING scripted at all is impressive, frankly.
BET also isn’t alone: MTV (I literally have no idea what they even show anymore), VH1 (turned into a reality network), have also evolved over the last 20 years. Less music, to non-scripted, to trying to figure it out. The challenge is that BET really tries to be EVERYTHING...
You can’t have a solid brand when you trying to be the news channel, the HGTV channel, the sports channel, the music channel and the broadcast network. AND the movie channel. It was Bob Johhnson’s vision but in the current landscape niche focus wins out
And they gotta be church, too. I almost forgot that.
BET trying to appeal to you, your mama, and your mama’s mama. That used to be easily split in programming dayparts, not so easy to do anymore
BET trying to appeal to you, your mama, and your mama’s mama. That used to be easily split in programming dayparts, not so easy to do anymore
I’m not saying *how* BET promotes, markets, messages its content or makes it available isn’t without criticism, but that’s a seperate thing than flat out “Y’all need to do more programming.”
That’s “Y’all need to do a better job of reaching us”
https://twitter.com/jouelzy/status/1280197861909692417?s=21 https://twitter.com/jouelzy/status/1280197861909692417
That’s “Y’all need to do a better job of reaching us”
https://twitter.com/jouelzy/status/1280197861909692417?s=21 https://twitter.com/jouelzy/status/1280197861909692417
And again, I’m not even saying this just about BET. TV One be holding me DOWN, especially with the classic sitcom reruns. But they also have cooking shows and a Black version of snapped and of course UnSung. Programming is out there.
