BET is entering a new chapter after adding its first-ever board of advisors to provide “insight, perspective, and accountability.” In an announcement on Tuesday, June 2, the network said the board is made up of influential Black entertainers and business figures.
The inaugural board includes six individuals:
Bob Johnson, Founder of BET
Queen Latifah, Grammy-winning rapper, actress, producer
LL Cool J, Grammy-winning rapper and actor
Troy Vincent, Executive VP of Football Operations at the NFL
Raymond J. McGuire, President of Lazard asset management
George Cheeks, Chair of TV Media at Paramount
The board was established under the leadership of Louis Carr, who was promoted to president of BET Media Group in December and reports directly to Cheeks.
“BET has always been more than a platform. It is a cultural institution with a responsibility to serve, reflect, and advance our community,” Carr said in a statement. “As we enter this next chapter, this Board brings together leaders whose influence, perspective, and integrity will help ensure we continue to honor that responsibility while building what comes next.”
Related: BET+ to Shutter as Paramount+ Absorbs Streamer
Related: BET Experience 2026 Scores The Roots and Nas Concert
Bob Johnson launched Black Entertainment Television (BET) in 1979, with an initial investment of $500,000. He turned the upstart into an empire and sold it to Viacom for a reported $3 billion in 2000.
Over the years, BET has faced criticism from viewers and industry leaders, including Oscar-winning filmmaker Spike Lee and The Boondocks creator Aaron McGruder, for programming that focused too heavily on entertainment and raunchy music videos instead of shows that inform and elevate the Black audience.
Still, the BET brand has continued to grow. BET Media Group now includes BET, BET Her, BET Studios (the production arm of BET), BET Digital, and VH1, which was transferred to BET Media Group in 2022.
Meanwhile, the BET Awards draw thousands of fans to Los Angeles each year and includes a multi-day BET Experience #FanFest featuring concerts, panel discussions, and a celebrity basketball tournament.
After a string of mergers, BET is now owned by Paramount Skydance, following an $8 billion deal that officially closed in August 2025.
In March, the company announced the BET+ streaming platform would be folded into Paramount+ in June 2026. Carr said BET+ content will be “clearly branded, prominently featured and easy to find in the BET Hub” on Paramount+.
BET+ debuted in September 2019. The platform’s original programs include The Ms. Pat Show; Diarra From Detroit; Zatima; Average Joe; Ruthless; All the Queen’s Men; The Family Business; The Family Business: New Orleans; The Black Hamptons; Divorced Sistas; and Churchy.
The image above shows (L-R) Bob Johnson, Queen Latifah, LL Cool J.
Discover more from Urban Hollywood 411
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
