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43-606: In 1980, Robert L. Johnson , who left his position as a cable lobbyist; established his own cable network called Black Entertainment Television . It was originally a programming block on the Madison Square Garden Sports Network (later renamed to USA Network ), until it became a separate channel in 1983. In 1991, the network became the first black–controlled TV company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange . Starting in

86-504: A holding company with a diverse portfolio including hotel real estate investment, private equity , financial services, asset management, automobile dealerships, sports and entertainment, and Video lottery terminal gaming. The RLJ Companies is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. By January 2009, Ion Media had another subchannel network, Urban TV, in the works with him targeted to black Americans. Axiom Bank N.A. Maitland, Florida,

129-498: A criticism of Obama's admitted use of marijuana in his youth: As an African-American, I'm frankly insulted that the Obama campaign would imply that we are so stupid that we would think Bill and Hillary Clinton, who have been deeply and emotionally involved in black issues when Barack Obama was doing something in the neighborhood that I won't say what he was doing, [but] he said it in his book. The Clinton campaign denied that Johnson

172-478: A joke about Obama doing drugs [and it's] 'Oh my God, a black man tearing down another black man.'" Following Donald Trump 's victory in the 2016 presidential election , Johnson met with the then-president-elect for a meeting at Trump International Golf Club . Johnson stated in a CNBC interview that he had known Trump personally for years, and urged Black Americans to give Trump a chance. Johnson argued that Black voters should not be wedded to either party in

215-565: A member of the board of directors for several other companies and organizations, including US Airways , Hilton Hotels , General Mills , the United Negro College Fund , and Deutsche Bank's Americas Advisory Board. Johnson became the first black American majority club owner of a major American sports league team with his 2002 purchase of the Charlotte Bobcats . In 2010, Johnson sold his majority stake in

258-476: A profit in 1985 and it became the first black-controlled company listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1991. In 1998, Johnson and Liberty Media bought all outstanding shares of the company. This purchase gave Johnson 42% of the company. Viacom acquired BET in 2001 for a reported $ 3 billion; Johnson earned over $ 1 billion from the sale, making him the first black American billionaire. He remained BET CEO until 2006. Johnson founded The RLJ Companies ,

301-558: A ratings success, and is cited by observers as the beginning of the network's programming leaning towards shows about African-American personalities (such as the Basketball Wives and Black Ink Crew franchises); similar to BET and its sister networks . In 2011, VH1 debuted the first installment of the Love & Hip Hop franchise; which would go on to become the network's longest-running program. On November 9, 2022, it

344-507: A recent Clinton event. In my zeal to support Senator Clinton, I made some very inappropriate remarks for which I am truly sorry. I hope that you will accept this apology. Good luck on the campaign trail. On April 14, 2008, Johnson made comments to the effect that Obama would not be the Democratic Party 's leading candidate if he were not black, in defense of a similar comment made by Geraldine Ferraro . He also went on to say "I make

387-403: A three-way merger between the entities. By July 2, 2024, Skydance reached a preliminary agreement to acquire National Amusements and merge with Paramount. Meanwhile, Paramount reportedly entered talks for a sale of BET Media to buyers led by CEO Scott Mills for $ 1.6-$ 1.7 billion. On July 7, 2024, Paramount's board approved the deal to merge with Skydance. Skydance's executive team also supported

430-540: Is an American basic cable television network that launched on January 1, 1985, and is currently owned by the BET Media Group subsidiary of Paramount Global 's CBS Entertainment Group based in New York City . The network was originally owned by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment ; a division of Warner Communications , and the original owner of then-sister channel MTV at the time. It was launched in

473-448: Is an American entrepreneur, media magnate, executive, philanthropist, and investor. He is the co-founder of BET , which was acquired by Viacom in 2001. He also founded RLJ Companies , a holding company that invests in various business sectors. Johnson is the former majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats (now Charlotte Hornets). He became the first black American billionaire in 2001. Johnson's companies have counted among

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516-697: Is best known for franchises such as Behind the Music , the I Love… series, the Celebreality block, Love & Hip Hop , and Basketball Wives . As of December 2023, VH1 is available in approximately 67,481,000 American households; down from 90.2 million in January 2016. VH1, an acronym for Video Hits One , launched on January 1, 1985 over the channel space of Turner 's Cable Music Channel . The channel originally focused on music and programming aimed at older audiences than its sibling channel at

559-487: Is now Paramount Global , BET was transferred from the Paramount Media Networks division to CBS Entertainment Group under the oversight of the latter's president, George Cheeks. By then, the subsidiary overseeing BET-branded assets became known as the BET Media Group . On November 9, 2022, it was announced that oversight of VH1 would move to BET under Scott Mills . The move reunited the network with

602-407: The 2020 general election , Johnson made comments that were interpreted as him indicating a preference for Trump's reelection candidacy over Joe Biden 's campaign . However, CNBC noted that "Johnson, when pressed, refused to outright endorse Trump". During the interview, Johnson stated that "[w]here I come out as a businessman, I will take the devil I know over the devil I don't know anytime of

645-671: The Bahamas . Johnson released a neckwear line in coordination with PVH and The Ella Rose Collection, the RLJ Ella Rose Africa Tie Collection, in 2012 to benefit the charitable organization Malaria No More. In 2007, Johnson created the Liberia Enterprise Development Fund with a $ 30 million investment. The fund provides credit for Liberian entrepreneurs. During the 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries , Johnson

688-717: The University of Illinois in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in social studies. While at the University of Illinois, Johnson became a member of the Beta chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. He received a master's degree in public affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University in 1972. After graduating from Princeton, Johnson found a job in Washington, D.C. , which introduced him to

731-561: The 1990s, VH1 would gain popularity for original music-related programs such as Pop-Up Video and Behind the Music . In the 2000s, VH1 would begin to scale down its music offerings, while shifting its focus to pop-culture and nostalgia-based programming; including reality television shows focused on celebrities , and various documentaries and panel shows. Headlining this programming shift would be VH1's Celebreality block, featuring The Surreal Life & its franchise of various spinoffs. One spin off, Flavor of Love , proved to be

774-532: The American two-party system , stating that overwhelming Black support for the Democratic Party means "we are locked into one party which undoubtedly limits and dilutes our voting power". In 2018, he stated that he declined an unspecified position in the Trump Administration . In 2019, Johnson praised Trump's economic policies, stating that he "[gives] the president a lot of credit for moving

817-603: The BET Foundation, which executes the Healthy BET obesity awareness campaign and other pro-social causes like the annual charitable black-tie BET Walk of Fame ceremony. BET's programming is distributed on DVD and through video-on-demand services under the name BET Home Entertainment. In 2007, a distribution deal was arranged with Paramount Home Entertainment , a sister company of BET since 2001. Robert L. Johnson Robert Louis Johnson (born April 8, 1946)

860-546: The Charlotte Bobcats to Michael Jordan . It has been rumored that Johnson named the Bobcats after himself. In 2016, Johnson finalized a partnership agreement with AMC Networks through his RLJ Company after launching his own video on demand streaming service Urban Movie Channel in 2014. According to the agreement, AMC will use its programming and distribution clout to benefit Acorn and UMC. Additionally,

903-463: The National Cable and Television Association (NCTA). In 1980, Johnson launched Black Entertainment Television , which became a full-fledged channel in 1983. Johnson left NCTA in 1979 to create Black Entertainment Television , the first cable television network aimed at black Americans . When the network launched in 1980, it only aired for two hours on Friday night. BET first turned

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946-572: The RLJ-AMC partnership will allow for greater investment in content from black American creatives, Johnson emphasized. The agreement called for AMC to provide RLJ with a $ 60 million loan on a seven-year term and $ 5 million on a one-year term. AMC has received warrants to purchase at least 20 million shares or the equivalent of 50.1% of the company. The time frame for exercising those warrants is open-ended, AMC said. In 2011, Johnson worked with Morgan Freeman to raise funds for hurricane preparedness in

989-475: The channel space of Turner Broadcasting System 's short-lived Cable Music Channel . VH1 was originally conceived to build upon the success of MTV by playing music videos targeting a slightly older demographic focusing on the lighter, softer side of popular music. Like MTV, VH1 ultimately drifted away from music and into reality television programming; albeit with a focus on music personalities, celebrities, and shows targeting African-American audiences. VH1

1032-468: The economy in a positive direction that’s benefiting a large amount of Americans". He argued that tax cuts implemented under Trump helped stimulate the economy and inspire confidence among businesspeople. He stated that the Democratic Party moved too far to the left, and indicated he did not have a "particular candidate" he supported in the 2020 Democratic primary . In September 2020, during

1075-1004: The formally-named VH1 Soul , while also splitting it from MTV and its other formerly-branded sibling channels ( VH1 Classic and VH1 Country ). In March 2023, it was reported that Paramount Global was exploring the sale of a majority stake in BET Media in order to provide additional funding to its flagship streaming service Paramount+ . Shaquille O'Neal, Tyler Perry, as well as Sean "Puffy" Combs (who founded Revolt TV ) and Byron Allen (who owns Allen Media Group ; including TheGrio , This TV , and The Weather Channel ), were identified as potential suitors. Paramount Global initially dropped its plans to sell BET Media in August 2023, before renewing interest in December of that year. Since April 2, 2024, Paramount and its parent company, National Amusements , were in discussions with Skydance Media for

1118-533: The late 1990s, the network expanded with the launch of digital cable networks: BET on Jazz (later known as BET Jazz, BET J, Centric, and BET Her), created originally to showcase jazz music–related programming, especially that of black jazz musicians; in 1998, it entered into a joint venture with Starz (then–owned by John Malone's Liberty Media ) to launch a multiplex service of the premium channel featuring African American–oriented movies called BET Movies: Starz! 3 (later renamed Black Starz after BET dropped out of

1161-528: The mid-1990s. In 2003, MTV Networks VSPOT , a broadband video channel that followed the model of MTV Overdrive , containing the shows aired by VH1 and music videos . Like Overdrive, it was coolly received due to a heavy reliance on broadband and advanced web technologies. VH1 returned to a traditional-style website in late 2007. As with other MTV channels, Paramount Global has broadcast international versions of VH1, besides VH1 India they all closed down however: In Canada, CHUM Limited launched MuchMoreMusic ,

1204-473: The most prominent black American businesses in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Johnson was born in 1946 in Hickory, Mississippi , the ninth out of ten children to Edna and Archie Johnson. His mother was a schoolteacher and his father was a farmer. His parents moved the family to Freeport, Illinois , when he was a child. He was an honors student in high school. Johnson graduated from

1247-717: The network on September 11, 2008. He was then replaced by Stephen Hill, who is also executive vice president of music programming and talent. BET announced in March 2010 that Ed Gordon would return to the network to host "a variety of news programs and specials". In 2015, oversight of VH1 Soul & MTV Jams was moved to BET Networks, with both networks relaunched under the BET brand. In March 2017, president of programming Stephen Hill and executive vice president of original programming Zola Mashariki both stepped down. Connie Orlando, senior vice president of Specials, Music Programming, and News,

1290-482: The network; as of 2016 this feed is downgraded at a provider's headend to provide the network's standard definition channel on systems. VH1 initially launched four spinoff digital networks as part of The MTV Suite , with another being launched at a later date. By August 2016, these channels spinoffs had either been realigned under the MTV, BET , or CMT branding, or were shuttered altogether. VH1's website launched in

1333-641: The original Viacom; which would retain CBS , Paramount Television , UPN , CBS Radio , and Paramount Parks (later sold to Cedar Fair in 2007). By 2007, BET had launched two more music–oriented networks, BET Hip Hop and BET Gospel . The flagship network would also launch new original programming by this time, including reality shows Baldwin Hills and Hell Date , competition show Sunday Best , and town hall–style discussion show Hip Hop vs. America . BET's president of entertainment Reginald Hudlin resigned from

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1376-455: The potential sale of several Paramount assets which were deemed "not strategic" to their plans, including BET Media. Year in parentheses denotes when channel was created. In 2006, BET Interactive, LLC became a subsidiary of BET Networks. Former and defunct digital assets include BET on Blast and BET Mobile. The BET Walk of Fame Awards were established in 1995 by BET. In 2004, proceeds were shared between United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and

1419-403: The same time, Viacom was looking into splitting into two entities following multiple issues surrounding the company. On December 31, 2005, a new incarnation of Viacom was created as the new parent of MTV Networks, BET Networks, Paramount Pictures , and Famous Music (later sold to Sony Music in 2007). The "new" Viacom would be spun-off from what became CBS Corporation , the legal successor to

1462-662: The television industry. He served as the public affairs director for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting . In this position is where he learned of the power and untapped potential of television. Around the same time he also worked as the director of communications for the Washington, D.C. office of the National Urban League . Johnson worked as a press secretary for Congressman Walter E. Fauntroy . He later became vice president of government relations at

1505-448: The time, MTV . On August 27, 1985, parent company Warner Communications sold 31% of VH1 and its siblings (MTV and Nickelodeon ; which were already divested by Warner into MTV Networks ) to Viacom . Viacom would eventually buy the remaining 69% of MTV Networks from Warner for $ 326 million on May 20, 1986. By 1989, VH1's music programming would cater to Top 40, adult contemporary , classic rock , and 1980s mainstream pop. During

1548-427: The venture following its purchase by Viacom, then–owner of Starz rival Showtime , and now known as Starz InBlack). In 2000, Viacom announced plans to purchase BET Holdings Inc. for more than $ 2.3 billion. The deal closed in 2001, with BET Holdings' networks becoming part of MTV Networks; but was eventually placed under BET Networks . In 2005, Robert Johnson retired as CEO, and was replaced with Debra L. Lee. Around

1591-693: The week." Johnson married Sheila Johnson in 1969. They divorced in 2001 and have two children. She is CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts and owner of Salamander Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor. Johnson began dating Lauren Wooden, who is 33 years his junior, in 2010. As of 2016, Wooden was pursuing an international business-management doctorate in Paris . They married in May 2016; Greg Mathis officiated, and divorced in 2020. VH1 VH1 (originally an initialism for Video Hits One )

1634-587: Was a prominent surrogate for Hillary Clinton 's presidential campaign . During the campaign, he was a "HillRaiser", a term for a leading fundraiser for Clinton's campaign. Following her defeat in the primary, Johnson wrote to members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), where he urged representatives to lobby Obama to select Clinton as his running mate . In January 2008, Johnson attracted controversy over remarks made about Barack Obama , Clinton's primary rival, which were interpreted as

1677-414: Was announced that oversight of VH1 would move to the BET Media Group under Scott Mills . Original programming currently seen on VH1 includes the Love & Hip Hop and the Basketball Wives franchises. Other notable shows and franchisees that have aired on the network include Black Ink Crew , The Impact: New York (a spinoff of BET+ 's The Impact: Atlanta ), RuPaul's Drag Race (which

1720-604: Was founded by Robert Johnson, who also founded the Black Entertainment Network (BET). As of 2013, Johnson was a member of the board of directors for RLJ Lodging Trust, RLJ Entertainment, Inc., KB Home , Lowe's Companies, Inc. , Strayer Education , Think Finance , Inc., NBA Board of Governors, The Business Council, and the Smithsonian Institution 's National Museum of African American History and Culture . Johnson has also served as

1763-454: Was moved over from Logo , and aired on VH1 from 2017–2022), reruns and new episodes of Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out (which originated on MTV ), and Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party . Since the 2010's, and prior to its move to BET , VH1's programming had shifted towards urban music genres and African-American personalities. VH1 HD (launched in 2005) is a 1080i high-definition feed, with all major providers carrying

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1806-410: Was named the interim president of programming. In July 2017, Viacom signed new film and television development deals with Tyler Perry following the expiration of his existing pact with Discovery, Inc. in 2019. As part of this deal, Perry would produce The Oval and Sistas for BET and co–own the network's newly launched streaming service, BET+ . After Viacom re-merged with CBS to form what

1849-427: Was referring to Obama's past use of marijuana, stating that his comments were referring to Obama's work as a community organizer . Critics accused Johnson of hypocrisy, given that BET has prominently featured artists that glorify drug use and distribution. On January 17, 2008, Johnson sent Obama the following apology: I'm writing to apologize to you and your family personally for the un-called-for comments I made at

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