BET Networks, a division of Viacom Inc., has debuted its television programming available for download and purchase on Apple’s iTunes Store. BET’s new crime docu-drama AMERICAN GANGSTER is one of the ten most-downloaded cable TV shows on iTunes, and has garnered a four out of five star rating from iTunes users.
AMERICAN GANGSTER is also a runaway hit on BET with a November debut that made it the network’s #1 original series telecast ever during the fourth quarter of any year. It is also this quarter’s #1 weekday original series on cable among Black households, with more than 1 million Black homes tuning in for new episodes on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Narrated by multi-talented actor Ving Rhames, AMERICAN GANGSTER chronicles the rise and fall of the country’s most notorious Black criminals and the terrible toll their actions levied on the Black community.
“We are delighted that BET programming is now available on iTunes as an important element in BET’s global digital strategy,” said BET Networks Chairman and CEO Debra Lee, in the December 12th press release. “As the world’s most popular digital download store, iTunes is a key platform for serving our existing audience of African-American media super-consumers, and for introducing our breakthrough programming franchises to other audiences.”
Along with AMERICAN GANGSTER, BET offerings on iTunes feature star-studded and highly-rated programs including LIL’ KIM: COUNTDOWN TO LOCKDOWN; DMX: SOUL OF A MAN; BEEF: THE SERIES; BET COMIC VIEW; and from BET’s adult-targeted companion channel BET J, THE CHRISTIES: COMMITTED. These BET shows can be purchased and downloaded for $1.99 per episode, and represent the first wave of BET content that will make its way to the iTunes store:
• LIL’ KIM: COUNTDOWN TO LOCKDOWN – The most-watched original series in BET history and this year’s #1 new original series on cable in Black households, hip-hop diva Lil’ Kim takes viewers on an emotional rollercoaster ride during her final two weeks of freedom as she prepares to serve a prison sentence for giving false testimony to a federal grand jury.
• BEEF: THE SERIES – Explore the conflicts that have captivated the public with an insatiable hunger for juicy celebrity controversy. This hard-hitting original series features conflict between Lil’ Romeo vs. Bow Wow; Houston’s Northside vs. Southside (with Paul Wall, Slim Thug, Bun B, Pimp C and others); The Roc-A-Fella Records break-up (Jay-Z vs. Damon Dash); Dave Chappelle vs. Comedy Central; Oprah Winfrey vs. Rappers; Jay-Z vs. R. Kelly; The Game vs. Ras Kass; Jackie O vs. Foxy Brown; The Source Magazine vs. Kim Osorio; and many others.
• BEST OF BET COMIC VIEW – Television’s longest-running cavalcade of stand-up comedians marches on with the most hilarious joke-makers from nearly 15 years of BET’s primetime favorite laugh machine. Catch some of today’s hottest comics in the early years of their careers as well as celebrated veterans who were always proud to call BET home. Major headliners in the series include D. L. Hughley and Cedric “The Entertainer”.
• DMX: SOUL OF A MAN – A top new cable series among Black households for 2006, this BET original features DMX, perhaps the most notorious hardcore rapper in the music business. But he’s also a father, neighbor, friend and local citizen in the unlikeliest of locations – dry and dusty Carefree, Arizona. Find out what tugs at his soul; touches his heart; and ignites his provocative, sometimes controversial rap lyrics.
• THE CHRISTIES: COMMITTED – Is it marital bliss or the prototype of a “whipped” husband ruled by an overbearing wife? You be the judge as NBA star Doug Christie and his strong-willed wife Jackie allow the cameras of BET’s adult-targeted companion channel BET J to spotlight their infamous marriage. It’s an up-close reality series like none other.
Click for BET TV Networks shows via Apple’s iTunes Store.
This happened back in November.
MY MAC NIZZLES
What. No Wayans Bros.?
I want to see Pops on my ipod.
I guess since I am a WASP Republican I can’t make any jokes about Color TV.
Why do blacks get so many rights and attention. Sad state of the world we live in.
::pops oxy-cotttttttttt-en::
Last week they gave away a free episode of American Gangster – excellent show. I was so impressed, I bought the season pass. I’ve never done that before, and never thought I would do so.
DY-NO-MIIIIIIITE!!
WHO WANTS TO SEE ME DANCE! YIPP YIP YIPP
It’s amazing how much racism comes out (along with bravery) when some people can hide behind computers and have no email to refer to. For lots of black people BET is a joke. The level of humor (or lack thereof) caters to the base instincts, the language is course and crude. The images beamed to the general public do not reflect the total reality of any black community anywhere in the country. The emphasis on me, my and mine and the whole socalled bling bling culture is getting many young black men killed or sent to prison! There are very few things about BET that I like and it isn’t on my favorites list on my DirecTV, so I will not be buying anything from iTunes Store concerning BET.
THE most disgraceful and bigoted TV channel ever. What a shame! BET stopped being an asset to the black community a long time ago. News shows were replaced with videos of rappers, hoochies, jewelery, cars, and every detrimental behavior a youth can posess. Of course, if your black, ’bout to get some wings and a forty, puff a dutch, and watch BET all day because your unemployed, then you just might disagree with me.
Rush, TONE it down!
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I’m black, and I think BET sucks. I’m not the only one. It was better when it was an independent network, but ever since Viacom took over, it’s been getting A LOT worse.
When will they put WET on iTunes?
Why did the black guy wear a suit to his vasectomy?
“Cause if I’ma be impotent, I’s might as well look impo’tant.”
BET is for Blacks what FOX is for Whites. It is amazing how racist BET is, Black Entertainment Television. Wow, how would it go over if FOX was called WET, White Entertainment Televison. If I was black BET would piss me off. BET perpetuates the black stereotype and needs to go off the air. Stop watching BET. Better yet stop watching TV.
R2, I laughed hard. Very funny. Ditto!
It seems that Apple is “selling out”. I think the real stuff that Apple was born of is slowly going away. Hard to believe Apple is catering to specific race types. I was let down when they came out with the “Latino” section on iTunes. Now, BET and what a disgrace. Way to go Steve Jobs you have officially become the opposite of all good that you once stood for. Can we really say that Apple is thinking different? No I think Apple has become just like all other huge corporations. The difference is that they are doing it with a little bit more flair.
BET= BET
VH1= BET2
MTV= BET3
MTV2=BET4
You would think that there was nothing but HH being made these days. There is a huge hole between CMT and HH that Viacom doesn’t give a sh*t about.
Of course, Madison Avenue doesn’t care about guy like me. I’m a professional with a degree and don’t have to be carded to buy beer. If it was about the music the programming would be much different.
I don’t have a problem with marketing and demographics.
You have channels for fishing, women, sports, and so forth. (and women fishing for sport).
Having a Latino outlet makes all kinds of sense, too.
Now if any channels were encouraging people to break laws, say poaching, sneaking across the border, hunting women, kitty juggling, then it may be time to step back and see if reselling that influence is what you want to be known for.
There is more to smut than just porn.
Viacom, with it’s MTV, BET and other channels that cater to the most base levels of “entertainment”, is a pox on civilization. I am serious. This country (and perhaps the world) would be a better place if MTV had never come to fruition. MTV was a cool idea when it launched, but it has deteriorated to unwatchable. I am fascinated to learn that many blacks on this forum feel the same way about BET. I tune into BET as I’m flipping channels and I admit that I don’t relate to well to the shows. I’m more of a Law & Order: Criminal Intent fan (Vincent D’Onofrio’s Detective Gorin trips me out).
gee I wasn’t expecting so much raacial conversations going on but I suppose it shows that we still have not moved on as a country. Yes obviously I am black and I do not watch BET or any MTV channel because I hate it all. I believe that there shouldn’t be certain channels that cater to certain races. I just had a conversation with my friends who indeed are black and they get very upset over the fact that there is a BET and they demanded to have WET. I told them well maybe the entire thought of there ever being BET was because black people are a minority and at the time they wanted to express the way our culture is. Now BET is crap and so is MTV which neither actually do anything that they were originally made to do.
Calm down, Jake. Please just.. just take my wallet. I don’t want any trouble.
R2 you’re pretty sad. It doesn’t matter if you were joking. I have a huge sense of humor, but I know when it isn’t right to say certain things, like now. When I feel offended enough to write a comment, it’s really not cool.
To R2 and all his ilk… Go f@ck yourselves!
R2
Haaah!!