Old-Skool BET vs Viacom version of BET: Which version is your favorite?

                                                               Old-Skool BET logo

                                                                Current BET logo

  I remember being a little kid growing up in a small city that the only two TV channels that you could watch to see the latest music videos were VH1 and BET ( our cable provider at the time didn't have MTV on the channel line-up). In the early 90's, I remember VH1 would rarely show any black music videos unless the artists were mainly pop mainstream like Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Prince, Lionel Richie, Tina Turner, etc. I remember switching the channels between VH1 and BET back and forward being that the only time that I will watch VH1 would be if they were airing black music videos (at which were very rare).

     During that time, my oldest brother would have his TV on BET all day, everyday and his love for the network did rub off on me as I suddenly start watching BET more often than VH1 ( the only time that I did watch VH1 would be if they were airing a Michael Jackson weekend marathon. I am a big Michael Jackson fan). I love watching shows like Video Soul, Rap City, Comic View, BET News, Teen Summit, Caribbean Rhythm on a Saturday afternoon, and Black College Football during the fall seasons. BET have played a major role of me learning about urban culture as well as building the foundation of my love for music.

In 2003, BET founder Robert L. Johnson sold BET to Viacom Inc. and I (as well were others) were starting seeing changes concerning the network's shows lineup. After Viacom purchase of BET, BET shows were getting cancel and were either being replace by reruns or a movie spot for BET Star Cinema. Shows like BET College Hill, Rap City, Comic View, Cita's World, BET Uncut, Midnight Love, and specials like BET Spring Bling and the network's airing of Black College Football games were being canceled from left to right being the only two TV shows that has lasted since Viacom arrival are 106 & Park, Bobby Jones' Gospel and the annual BET Awards.

     Although BET is still the most popular network for black entertainment, I (as well as others) am not feeling the watered-down version of BET. I don't think that Viacom has any REAL knowledge of what is really BLACK ENTERTAINMENT. Viacom is going by their perceptions in their mind of what they would considered being BLACK ENTERTAINMENT by airing old TV reruns and movies on a daily basis. While there are others that likes the new version of Black Entertainment Television, there are many who are wishing that BET would change their current model of airing old TV shows and movies and starting putting more focus on creating more music video shows, sitcoms, and specials.

     The question is do you like where BET Networks is going in the future or would you like to see BET Networks going back to the roots of what had made the network a success throughout the years of BET existences?