LOWDOWN ON THE UPFRONT: BET Seeks ‘Connection’ With Advertisers
New Animation, Scripted And Reality Series In The Offing
By R. Thomas Umstead -- Multichannel News, 4/17/2008 7:00:00 PM
New animation, scripted and reality series—as well as a youth-targeted get out to vote initiative—were the staples of BET’s upfront presentation to advertisers Thursday night in New York.
Under the tagline “Connection You Can Feel,” the 92 million-subscriber network unveiled several new programs, including a primetime animated series The Black Panther, based on a classic Marvel Comics superhero that will debut in first quarter 2009. BET Entertainment president Reggie Hudlin is a writer for the series.
Other new shows announced at the upfront include: Brutha, a reality series based on the lives of a true-life sibling R&B group set to debut in fall 2008; Judge Karen, the latest iteration of the TV courtroom reality series strain premiering later this year; The Boot, a reality dating/competition series premiering this spring; and 106 & Gospel, a weekly gospel music version of the network’s hit music video series 106 & Park set to launch in 2009.
The network will also return several of its current original series, including American Gangster, Sunday Best,Keysha Cole: The Way It Is and a revamped version of its decade old Comic View series.
On the news front, the network will launch two new series in 2009, including The Truth With Jeff Johnson, a talk show which will focus on the issues facing Black America; and Unreported, an investigative series which looks at the imbalance in journalistic coverage with respect to African Americans.
“We’ve had fantastic original programming success stories during primetime, and the next step in our strategy is to create even more hits throughout the other parts of the day,” said Hudlin in a statement. “We’ll continue to roll out more weekly and daily shows that our audiences crave.”
BET’s on-air programming will complement the network’s online efforts through BET.com where viewers can watch replays of their favorite shows as well as get information and other services. “‘Connection You Can Feel’ is the foundation of BET’s digital offerings,” said Denmark West, president of Digital Media, BET Networks in a statement.
“BET.com users are not only technically savvy, but they are actually driving the next wave of technologies, and we are meeting those needs, whether it’s by creating unique communities online, or being their go-to site for news, entertainment, and information from the Black community," he added.
Basketball, cuisine and leading men are the subjects of three new reality series from BET sister channel BETJ scheduled to bow this fall. Viewers will get a behind the scenes look at the life of National Basketball Association star Carmelo Anthony in a new series called Carmelo’s Way.
Chef Marcus Samuelsson will walk viewers through the preparation of delicious, low-calorie meals as part of his new show Urban Cuisine, while prominent African-American men will provide a rare look at their private lives in the new series Leading Men, said network executives.
On the pro-social front, the network will roll out a multiplatform You(th) Vote! initiative in an effort to encourage Black youth to discuss, debate and actively participate in the presidential election process, said BET executives.
For more information on Madison Avenue's upfront selling season, click here.
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