Tyler Perry is looking to purchase a majority stake in BET amid reports that Paramount Global is going to be putting the company up for sale.
According to Variety, Perry is currently in talks about the purchase – though fellow media mogul Byron Allen has also expressed interest in the sale.
AD LOADING...
The Madea creator already owns a minority stake in the operation, of which VH1 also falls under the umbrella of, along with BET+ and BET Studios. He also has a long-standing relationship with the network, which may give him an advantage over Allen.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the sale is reportedly being made in an effort to put more resources into Paramount+ and Pluto TV.
AD LOADING...
Tyler Perry already has his own gigantic film studio in Atlanta, so real estate for the possible acquisition would seemingly be a breeze. The property opened after a re-build in 2019 with 12 sound stages and 60,000 square feet, which is approximately five times the size of his former studio facility in Atlanta.
There’s no word on what the status will be of shows currently on BET’s slate once the sale goes through. Mary J. Blige recently launched her talk show The Wine Down as part of a new deal with the network, where the singer has “raw, provocative, insightful and real” conversations with “the hottest, most outspoken” celebs in their respective fields over wine.
AD LOADING...
The show is part of a first-look non-scripted deal between the network and Blige’s Blue Butterfly media company that launched in 2019. And it’s quite likely the guests will be sipping on Mary’s Sun Goddess wine, which she launched with Italian winemaker Marco Fantinel in 2020.
Bow Wow also recently launched a new show with the network, hosting a new dating series titled After Happily Ever After. The eight-episode series premiered in the fall, with Bow Wow helping those who have previously separated play matchmaker for their ex-partners in order to help them find new love.
The series announcement arrived two years after Bow Wow announced he wanted to bring BET back to its glory days by taking on a top executive position at the network. The rapper was widely considered “Mr. 106 & Park” for his dominance on the countdown show and later hosted it for two years. Bow Wow claimed BET was losing its luster, and he had a plan to bring it back.
“My only dream job now is i want to take over BET. I want a high position,” the rapper tweeted at the time. “I was blessed to host but NOW i want an office. I want to run and come up with content for the network. I know what they missing. All you have to do is LISTEN to the people.”
AD LOADING...
He added: “BET forgot what made them HOT! The MUSIC!!! breaking artist etc… music shows that mattered. Now its like lifetime. Just a bunch of sitcoms. Do you know the only time there is music on BET IS when there is an award show? Think about that. Like 3 x out the year. Thats crazy!”
