Paramount is transferring oversight of VH1 over to the BET Media Group. Meaning the community behind the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and “Love and Hip Hop” franchises, amongst others, will now fall beneath the oversight of BET president/CEO Scott Mills and his staff.
Paramount president/CEO Bob Bakish made the announcement on Wednesday in a memo to staffers. The shift signifies that VH1 is not a sister community to MTV, which it has been for the reason that channel’s launch in 1985 (as “Video Hits One”). Lengthy part of the MTV Networks household, VH1 started as an grownup up to date music video channel earlier than finally shifting to actuality fare.
Chris McCarthy had beforehand held oversight of VH1 as president and CEO of Paramount Media Networks, however he just lately gained management of Showtime Networks, prompting Bakish to reassess among the firm’s construction. MTV Leisure Studios, beneath McCarthy and Nina L. Diaz, will proceed to supply a number of of VH1’s current exhibits for the community, Bakish stated in his memo.
VH1 has discovered success lately with hits which have appealed to a Black viewers, together with “Basketball Wives,” “Black Ink Crew,” “Love & Hip Hop” and the “Pricey Mama” specials. The community has additionally thrived by way of signature franchise “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
In transferring to the BET Media Group, VH1 will now function alongside BET, BET+, BET Studios, BET Her and BET Digital beneath Mills, who was promoted to CEO final yr presently. In the meantime, McCarthy has his fingers full after just lately taking on Showtime Networks final month, following last month’s exit of David Nevins. Additionally as a part of that transition, BET (and Mills) now stories to George Cheeks, the president and CEO of CBS.
Right here is Bakish’s newest memo detailing the change:
Group,
As we take additional steps to speed up the transformation of our enterprise and maximize the complete energy of Paramount, I’m excited to share that VH1 will transfer into the BET Media Group, which incorporates BET, BET+, BET Studios and BET Digital.
This strategic alignment will make sure that VH1 − a pacesetter in multi-cultural programming and the second largest U.S. cable community for Black viewership − is finest positioned for future success as a key a part of the highly effective BET ecosystem beneath the management of Scott Mills.
Scott and his staff proceed to drive the evolution and development of BET by constructing an interconnected set of main platforms – linear, streaming, digital and studios – centered across the Black Group, Black Tradition and Content material. Their potential to create hit programming and experiences, put money into new expertise and storytellers, leverage our capabilities in streaming and unique manufacturing, and increase and deepen relationships with key business companions make them ideally suited to tackle this model and enterprise.
I’d additionally like to acknowledge the MTV Leisure Studios staff beneath the management of Chris McCarthy and Nina L. Diaz, who, for the previous 5 years, have rebuilt the VH1 model and produced highly effective hit franchises from “Black Ink Crew” and “Love & Hip Hop” to “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Their work has helped VH1 rating almost 40 Emmy Awards whereas establishing it as an business champion in driving range each in entrance of the digital camera and behind the screens. As Chris and his staff proceed to give attention to integrating Showtime and globalizing the Media Networks Group, they’ll additionally companion with the BET groups to proceed producing a number of of the prevailing hit exhibits on VH1.
We’re working via the main points of that transition now and can share updates as we now have them. Within the meantime, as we sit up for this profitable subsequent chapter of VH1, please be part of me in congratulating Scott and the BET group, and thanking Chris and the MTV Leisure staff for his or her ongoing contributions.
Greatest,
Bob