Basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal, American rapper and businessman 50 Cent and TV producer Kenya Barris are reportedly amongst those vying to own BET, after being spotted at the Paramount offices in NYC. They join Diddy who has found media success with his multimedia company Revolt and Hollywood’s richest man Tyler Perry who were also reported to have shown interest in purchasing BET.
50 Cent who has already had success in television and film, inked a non-exclusive multi-project broadcast direct deal in February, with Fox Entertainment, whilst Kenya became an equity partner in 2021, in the newly launched BET Studios along with Rashida Jones and Aaran Rahsaan Thomas and Shaq, a former NBA superstar turned media personality, has had several successful TV deals.
BET, founded in 1980 by Robert L. Johnson was acquired by Viacom in 2000 for $3 billion. The network has had a significant impact on Black culture and has been a platform for several popular shows over the years, including 106 & Park, and the BET Awards.
Reports of BET’s potential sale have been circulating for a while, but whose money will talk the loudest?
