Comments on: BET trying to find its place http://blackinformant.wordpress.com/2007/05/31/bet-trying-to-find-its-place/ African-American culture, news commentary, politics Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:16:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: MIB http://blackinformant.wordpress.com/2007/05/31/bet-trying-to-find-its-place/#comment-4529 MIB Thu, 31 May 2007 15:14:23 +0000 http://blackinformant.com/2007/05/31/bet-trying-to-find-its-place/#comment-4529 I'm not in the habit of defending BET, mainly because its business model is so archaic and its management unimaginative. But in its defense, BET J -- a 2nd channel (formerly known as 'BET on Jazz') -- <i>has</i> been quietly made over to feature indie films from Af-Am directors and more adult-oriented, long-form music programming including Jazz, Blues, R&B, and Neo Soul concerts. Since BET 'Classic' (?) continues to function as MTV's de facto beta channel for Rap & Hip-Hop music, I'd like to see them demonstrate more independence with their music videos by featuring a more aggressive playlist of 'emerging' artists. BET could also benefit by investing in the development of original talent in-house and integrating the Internet as a source of new programming ideas. I’m not in the habit of defending BET, mainly because its business model is so archaic and its management unimaginative. But in its defense, BET J — a 2nd channel (formerly known as ‘BET on Jazz’ ;) — has been quietly made over to feature indie films from Af-Am directors and more adult-oriented, long-form music programming including Jazz, Blues, R&B, and Neo Soul concerts.

Since BET ‘Classic’ (?) continues to function as MTV’s de facto beta channel for Rap & Hip-Hop music, I’d like to see them demonstrate more independence with their music videos by featuring a more aggressive playlist of ‘emerging’ artists. BET could also benefit by investing in the development of original talent in-house and integrating the Internet as a source of new programming ideas.

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