BET

Viacom to launch BET+ with Tyler Perry

Viacom is launching BET+, a new SVOD service of its popular African-American cable network, with Tyler Perry as a key financial and creative player. According to The Wall Street Journal, Perry will create original content for the service which will launch in late 2019. This is an expansion of his current five-year production agreement with […]

Viacom names international Paramount, BET bosses

Jill Offman and Alex Okosi have again risen at Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN). Comedy Central International head and Comedy Central and MTV UK managing director Offman has been handed oversight of The Paramount Channel, and VIMN Africa executive VP and MD Okosi takes on BET International. This comes after Michael D. Armstrong, who ran […]

Ex-AwesomenessTV chief joins Paramount

AwesomenessTV founder Brian Robbins as joined Paramount Pictures to lead a new youth-skewed division. Robbins will run Paramount Players, which will be devoted to producing films derived from the Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central and BET brands. The move is the first major deal for Paramount since Fox veteran Jim Gianopulos became its chairman and CEO. Robbins […]

New-look Viacom takes TV to film and film to TV

New Viacom CEO, Bob Bakish, has fleshed out his turnaround plan for the media giant and pledged to bring its TV brands to film and vice versa. Announcing a slate of Nickelodeon movies for the Paramount studio, Bakish said the core Viacom channels will each contribute cobranded movies to the slate of Viacom movie studio […]

Viacom launching BET Play in 100 countries

Viacom is launching BET as a direct-to-consumer streaming service in 100 countries. BET Play is the streaming version of the black culture channel and the SVOD roll out marks Viacom’s first direct-to-consumer move with one of its non-kids channels. Last September Viacom launched Play Plex – a suite of mobile apps offering content from channels […]

Viacom’s BET set for French SVoD launch via Afrostream

Viacom’s African and African-American culture and entertainment channel BET will launch on SVOD in France after inking a deal with fledgling streaming service Afrostream. The BET linear channel launches in France later this month. It is rolling out on the CanalSat, Numericable/SFR, Free and Bouygues Telecom pay TV platforms, giving it a reach of 17.6 million French […]

Viacom to launch BET in France

Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) and BET International are due to launch the BET channel as a 24-linear and multiscreen service in France next month. BET (Black Entertainment Television) will launch on November 17, offering content inspired by urban culture, music, fashion and society. VIMN said that the French launch will be a “360 degree, multiscreen rollout”, with […]

Viacom to launch localised BET channel in South Africa

Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa has partnered with African pay TV provider MultiChoice to launch a new localised BET channel in South Africa. The channel will be available exclusively on MultiChoice-owned pay TV platform DStv from April 2, and will be found at channel slot 129 on the EPG. The launch will mark the […]

New appointments at Viacom international channels

Viacom has upped several of senior channel execs at its international channels, appointing a new boss for the BET, Paramount and Spike channels, and creating a new head of acquisitions position for all of its UK channels. Michael Armstrong will continue to lead the international BET and Paramount channel efforts and oversee the launch of […]

Viacom confirms ‘landmark’ Sony OTT deal

Entertainment giant Viacom has confirmed it is to provide 22 launch channels for Sony Corporation’s upcoming US cloud-TV service. The deal marks the first time Viacom channels have been offered as live internet TV channels via a VOD service. Terms of the agreement were not revealed, but such a significant deal would not have come […]