BET Chief Retiring

Archive

Robert Johnson, who built BET into the leading TV network aimed at black Americans, announced on Thursday he would retire from the company next January.

Debra Lee, the company’s president and chief operating officer, will assume Johnson’s CEO role when he leaves.

Johnson began Black Entertainment Television from the basement of his Washington home during the beginning of the cable boom in 1979. BET is now seen in more than 80 million homes in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.

Johnson, 59, became the nation’s first black billionaire when he sold BET to Viacom for $3 billion in 2000, joining the company that also owns MTV and Nickelodeon.

He’s the owner of the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats and is involved in several businesses, including real estate, hotel ownership and a record label.

Lee started with BET as general counsel in 1986 and moved into her current position in 1996.

“I am convinced that BET’s legacy is in great hands with Debra at the helm,” Johnson said.

BET has received plenty of criticism in recently for de-emphasizing news and public affairs and not investing in quality original programming.

Credit: Yahoo/AP