VIACOM MIGHT HAVE SIGHTS
SET ON BET

Purchase Would Add Another Jewel To Company’s Cable Crown
Viacom has held talks to acquire BET Holdings for roughly $3 billion, people familiar with the situation told the Wall Street Journal.

Separately, Viacom said it would increase by 5% the amount of Viacom stock it previously offered to Infinity Broadcasting holders to acquire the 35.7% of Infinity that it doesn't already own.

Spokesmen for Viacom and closely held BET declined to comment.

The Wall Street Journal cautioned that while people familiar with the purchase talks took place within the last several weeks, a deal may not come to fruition.

A purchase of BET, which owns the Black Entertainment Television cable TV channel, would significantly expand Viacom's already sizable collection of cable networks, which include the MTV and VH1 music-video channels. Viacom recently added a country-music channel with its acquisition of CBS, but doesn't currently have a cable service aimed at African Americans.

BET is 63%-owned by Robert Johnson, its founder and chairman, 35%-owned by Liberty Media Group and 2%-owned by Debra Lee, the company's president and chief operating officer.

TOP 20: TAYLOR TIME
A record that's breaking records (4/24a)
VMAs BEAMING BACK
TO THE BIG APPLE
Getting back to where they once belonged (4/24a)
THE COUNT: ALL THE DESERT'S A STAGE
Jon Wayne is rolling over in his grave. (4/24a)
 A CHORUS OF PRAISE: IVORS 2024 NOMS
Action across the pond (4/24a)
GONE COUNTRY: HOUSE LIPMAN INVESTS IN WESTERN WEAR
The full Monte (4/24a)
THE NEW UMG
Gosh, we hope there are more press releases.
TIKTOK BANNED!
Unless the Senate manages to make this whole thing go away, that is.
THE NEW HUGE COUNTRY ACT
No, not that one.
TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PLAYLIST
Now 100% unlicensed!
 Email

 First Name

 Last Name

 Company

 Country
CAPTCHA code
Captcha: (type the characters above)