BET is up for grabs, and Tyler Perry is interested.
According to Variety, BET Media Group owner Paramount Global is open to selling a majority stake of BET.
So far, Tyler Perry and Byron Allen are the serious buyers lined up to take Paramount Global up on its offer.
Will Tyler Perry Be The New BET Head?
Variety confirmed Perry’s interest in the Black-centric media giant.
However, a spokesperson for Byron Allen also confirmed that the Allen Media Group founder also wants BET.
(Allen is)…“interested in buying BET, and he will be pursuing the acquisition of the network.”
Perry’s interest in BET isn’t random.
The media mogul already has a minority stake in BET Media Group, which includes VH1 and BET.
Through Perry, the Media Group launched BET+ in 2019.
In addition, the Media Group owns BET Studios, whose minority stakeholders include:
- Kenya Barris
- Aaron Rahsaan Thomas
- Rashida Jones
Perry Has Worked With BET For Years
Without Tyler Perry’s “Diary of a Mad Black Woman,” we wouldn’t have Madea.
And without funding from BET, Perry wouldn’t have made the iconic 2005 film.
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Since 2020, Perry has struck a TV deal with Paramount.
Through the deal, Paramount properties like BET have rights to air Tyler Perry projects like:
- Assisted Living
- Sisters
- House of Payne
- The Oval
- Ruthless
- Zatima
Perry Shouldn’t Underestimate Allen
While Perry is the favorite to become the new BET majority shareholder, Allen is not out.
Allen bought the Black News Channel in 2022 for $11 million.
The Allen Media Group has also spent over $1 billion on 27 Fox, NBC, ABC, and CBS affiliates.
The decision to consider selling a majority stake of the assets, which cater primarily to Black audiences, is part of the entertainment giant’s effort to shore up resources to bolster its flagship Paramount+ streaming service and its advertiser-supported free streaming platform Pluto TV.
Time will tell whether Tyler Perry will get his wish, or if Byron Allen will usurp him.
