Black Entertainment Television (BET, part of BET Networks

BET Networks

BET Networks is a division of media conglomerate Viacom that oversees the operations of many television channels and Internet brands, including the original BET channel in the United States. BET Networks also operates BET Networks International.-BET Networks:...

) is an American, Viacom

Viacom

Viacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...

-owned cable network

Cable television

Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...

 based in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....

. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its founder, Robert L. Johnson

Robert L. Johnson

Robert L. Johnson is an American business magnate best known for being the founder of television network Black Entertainment Television , and is also its former chairman and chief executive officer...

. Most programming of the network comprises mainstream rap

Hip hop music

Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...

 and R&B music videos and urban-oriented movies and series.

Its programming began with a wide scope of comedy, music, public affairs, and news programming:
ComicView

ComicView

ComicView was an American stand-up comedy show that aired on BET on Tuesdays and Fridays from September 1992 to December 2008. The show has been the launching pad for such comedians as Dante, D.L. Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer, Sommore, and Rodney Perry....

; Video Soul

Video Soul

Video Soul was a 2-hour long American music video program that aired on BET from 1981 to 1996.-History:Video Soul premiered in June 1981 and was originally a half hour show. It was devoted to helping showcase new R&B/soul recording artists and performers...

 with Donnie Simpson

Donnie Simpson

Donnie Simpson is a longtime American radio DJ as well as a television and movie personality. He hosted The Donnie Simpson Morning Show on Washington, D.C. radio station WPGC-FM from March 1993 to January 29, 2010. Simpson is the first urban-format radio personality to have an annual salary over...

, Video Vibrations

Video Vibrations

Video Vibrations was a multi-hour long video block that showcased some of hottest music videos. It is also among one of BET's early video shows. The show debuted on BET in October 1984 and continued through the 1997. In 1997, it was changed to Vibrations.-Hosts:The show's host consisted of a VJ who...

, Softones, Unreal/Planet Groove

Planet Groove

Planet Groove was a music oriented talk show that premiered in late-1996 on BET, when the short-lived Unreal was cancelled. This show's hostess was...

/Caribbean Rhythms

Caribbean Rhythms

Caribbean Rhythms was a music video program that formerly aired on BET . It was hosted by Rachel Stuart, who went by her first name only, "Rachel"....

, Jam Zone

Jam Zone

Jam Zone was a 3-hour long Video block that was created in 1997 on BET. It aired Monday to Fridays during the midday. In 1999, A virtual reality character became the hostess of the show, her name was Cita. In 2000, the show's name was changed to Cita's World. It stayed on the air until 2002....

/Cita's World

Cita's World

Cita's World was a video music show that aired on Black Entertainment Television in the United States. It was the first show to feature a virtual reality black stereotypical character as the hostess named Cita. Cita's World was the brainchild of Curtis A. Gadson, B.E.T. Senior VP of Programming...

; Teen Summit

Teen Summit

Teen Summit is an American talk show/youth show that aired on BET. It dealt with the everyday issues of teens and attempted to bring them into a positive, uplifting light and motivate the teen viewers. Various hosts have appeared on the show throughout the years, including Ananda Lewis.The show...

; and BET News with Ed Gordon

Ed Gordon (journalist)

Edward Lansing "Ed" Gordon III is an American journalist and host of the BET program Weekly with Ed Gordon. He is the son of athlete Edward Lansing Gordon, Jr...

, Lead Story, BET Tonight with Tavis Smiley

Tavis Smiley

Tavis Smiley is a talk show host, author, liberal political commentator, entrepreneur, advocate and philanthropist. Smiley was born in Gulfport, Mississippi and grew up in Kokomo, Indiana. After attending Indiana University, he worked during the late 1980s as an aide to Tom Bradley, the mayor of...

, and BET Nightly News

BET Nightly News

BET Nightly News is the main newscast of the Black Entertainment Television network. The newscast covered national and international news stories from a black perspective.The program ran for four years, ending in July 2005...

.