I think that the one thing most black folks tend to forget is what the "E" in BET stands for...

...it stands for Entertainment.

I will be the first to tell you that I do not like this stlye of entertainment for many of the reasons expressed by both you and the last commentor. But in the end, it is entertainment.

And guess what???

Many of our own children watch this stuff.

And guess what again???

It is our own producing this "entertainment".

Although BET is guilty of producing this minstrel-type of entertainment for the world to see, I also feel that we in the black community are just as guilty of expecting every black person that "makes it" to be a messiah-type figure. If we feel that they are not giving enough back to the community, we demonize them as sell-outs (I look to people like Oprah and Robert Johnson as examples). Too bad we do not have the same expectancy for many of our hip-hop artists who in many cases (not all) make their money off of black exploitation under the guise of "art" and "free expression".

BET, like any other channel (or business for that matter) is about one thing--making money. If there is a market for it, sell it and make a profit. This is what we call capitalism--and they deserve to partake in that system just like any other American. If we don't like it, we should come up with better alternatives--and we are (as you have mentioned TVOne--and I would also add The Black Family Channel)!

In the end, it is viewership that will drive the success or failure of any channel. TVOne and The Black Family Channel are no exceptions to that fact.

BET Is Truly A Bad Investment
After 25 Years A $3 Billion Black Media Enterprise
Still Makes Profits From Stereotyping Black Culture

By Dennis Moore - Publisher - BOOKSandWORDS.com

Some readers have wondered whether my criticism of certain elements in Black media was too harsh. In particular there was concern about my past references to BET (Black Entertainment Television) as the "Brain Empty Television" network. I respect and accept those concerns, especially if it means that more of us are taking the quality and substance of our Black media seriously.

But, there is the added details, and confirmation, to what was always a clear and present truth. BET President and Chief Executive Officer Debra L. Lee announced in spring 2005 the coming end of the BET Nightly News program. Not to mention that there was declining substance to their evening news show to begin with -- but now BET executives and Viacom (BET's media master and owner of CBS) decided that Black viewers are too stupid, incapable or inattentive to sit still and watch even 15-plus minutes of news and information -- clearly, as I remember it,
a return to the 70s mainstream philosophy of niggaz dont want or need news.

As an unforeseen insult to Black media and journalism professionals, Ms. Lee attended a February 2005 gathering of the Washington Association of Black Journalists. Though she lightly and briefly affirmed BET's long-term commitment to Black news and public affairs programming, her brief and dubious facilitation and attendance (at BET headquarters) underscores the lie of that moment and the deceptions to follow -- the lie of Blacks being truly informed with just sporadic sound-bite news briefs.

Most production professionals know that news and public affairs programming are the least expensive and complicated of programs to produce. Hit or miss news briefs are no substitute for substance and context. Imagine what could be reported, with analysis, by a dedicated daily one-hour Black TV news program during and since the Katrina hurricane disaster, the ongoing Sudan genocide, the expanding Chinese political-economic influence in Africa, the rapidly changing dynamics of African American socioeconomic survival, or the emerging global renaissance of neo-Black arts and entertainment.

Nevertheless, the BET Nightly News' on and off-camera staff were provided a short journalistic leash for news coverage and analysis, and a low supply of financial oxygen for news production. BET's high-tech set design and video screens were no disguise for poor news quality. Even low-budget local public television stations are able to produce high quality daily news shows. Therefore, it's really a question of the will and commitment from BET's White owner and Black executives rather than financial resources or viewer demographics. Remember, BET was sold to Viacom for $3 billion dollars and has millions of Black and non-Black viewers.

Through all the self-serving happy talk and public relations rhetoric, the Black and White powers at BET have committed themselves to dumbing-down and deprogramming news and knowledge for Black viewers. When you have the so-called professional media people and millions of dollars that BET has in play, this dumbing-down and deterioration is no mistake. Moreover, due to the increasingly complex events and issues of local, national and global Black news, these actions are simply dangerous. The proof is in the programming, and the facts show that BETs decisions are nothing more than calculated efforts to diminish Black intellectual growth while making more money.

Clearly, television is about show business, and the business of the show is mostly also making money from and for advertisers. But, as in many aspects of business, there has to be genuine accountability for decisions that dont benefit the consumer of a businesss product. The bottom line for those of us that know we deserve better and more from Black-oriented media, is to actively seek and support other sources of quality Black news and entertainment (TV One, Black Family Channel, the Internet, etc.).

Surely, after 25 years, BET had numerous opportunities to get its news and entertainment act together. Now, more than ever, it's a sure bet that BET is truly a bad investment for our time, mind and money.
In Other Words . . .
Black media in America should be an accurate reflection of the best of Black culture and its diverse realities, as well as our hopes for a better future -- at least that was the dream of many back in the 70s. Unfortunately, in this new millennium, we have too few real examples of the Black media intended to enlighten and empower us. Truly "back-in-the-day" of thick Afros and deep thoughts, as a young local Black radio news reporter who was able to advance to radio news director, I believed a Black med