Coming off its best year ever in 2010, BET Networks announced it will continue to focus on original scripted content, unveiling a new sitcom Reed Between the Lines and renewing another season of The Game and a second season of Let’s Stay Together.
Starring Tracee Ellis Ross (Girlfriends, Daddy’s Little Girls) and Malcolm-Jamal Warner (The Cosby Show, Malcolm & Eddie), Reed Between the Lines will focus on Dr. Carla Reed (Ross), a psychologist-wife-mom who struggles to balance her home and work lives.
BET will also introduce new scripted web originals – Lenox Avenue and The Come Up, and its first sci-fi thriller web series – Odessa and Asylum. On the documentary front, BET will unveil The Message, which is a new, four-part music docu-series about the music, culture and message of hip-hop.
BET will also bring back a number of its popular returning programs including Black Girls Rock!, Sunday Best and those dreaded The BET Awards. Overall, it sounds like an exciting year for BET — finally getting some quality scripted shows to balance out the music videos.
According to the Nielsen Company, BET continues to be the #1 cable network among African-Americans and remains the #1 cable network among blacks 18-49 for six consecutive years. President of Advertising Sales at BET Networks, Louis Carr explained his view of the company’s progress:
We’re in a category of one because no other network understands African-American consumers as deeply as BET Networks. Our insights, coupled with our compelling content, help our advertising partners engage with the consumers they want the most.
Whoever that Lois Carr is, he doesn’t know jack about understanding African-Aemrican Consumers. What is there to understand when you were started at a time when there was no black TV around? Talk’n bout we understand? You mean feed the people with whatever ‘cos they have to watch it anyways?
Hmm! I think BET wants to turn a new leaf. We should support them. Though, this Carr guy sounds like he knows what people want.
I love BET. of all the shows they’ve done I think The Game stands out the most.