MSNBC.com, BET.com Form Alliance

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

In an unusual alliance, MSNBC.com and BET.com have reached an agreement to share news
and features across both sites.

The deal links broadcast networks NBC, which owns MSNBC.com, and CBS, sister
company to BET.com under the Viacom Inc. umbrella.

Under the terms of the agreement, MSNBC.com is supplying BET.com with a daily
feed of news headlines. BET.com is providing African-American-based feature
content to MSNBC.com, which will be incorporated into various sections of the
site including its 'Race in America' feature, located in the news section.

'As the leading African-American-targeted Web site, BET.com is a perfect
complement to MSNBC.com's Race in America news section,' MSNBC.com editor in
chief Merrill Brown said.

'This alliance further underscores the fact that the African-American online
community is a strong growing force,' BET.com chief operating officer Scott
Mills said. ''Black History Month' is an excellent time to celebrate this
achievement and begin our relationship with MSNBC.com.'

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.