NEWS: Master P Competes W/ BET, Readies ‘Better Black TV’ Network

Written By Cyrus Langhorne

Looking to compete against popular cable network Black Entertainment Televsion (BET), hip-hop entrepreneur Master P is preparing to launch his own station titled Better Black Television (BBTV).

According to Billboard, the rapper known for his mega successful No Limit records, will use the African American-targeted channel to provide a wide range of programming including headline news, sitcoms, cartoons, reality-based shows, plus many more with an additional aim at displaying “responsible hip-hop music and videos.”

Wasting no time, P (born Percy Miller) has already scouted and positioned a strong line-up of celebrities and political figures for the network’s advisory board like Oscar winner Denzel Washington, NAACP executive director Vicangelo Bullock, NBA player Derek Anderson, hip-hop originator DJ Kool Herc and many more.

Self-appointed BBTV chairman and CEO, P confidently feels that now is the best time to offer new programming and stiffer competition for what’s available on television.

“I believe that there is a market in our community for a new diverse network that provides a new brand of superior programming that caters to all aspects of television,” he told Billboard. “From reality to original programming.”

Despite becoming a significant competitor against popular networks like BET and MTV, P also mentioned he and his son, Lil’ Romeo, “will continue to do work with them and support their networks.”

Production has already kicked in to full gear across the nation in California, New York, Louisiana and Florida. P is currently in the pursuit of buying local channel associates across the country.

BBTV is currently scheduled to officially hit television sets next year.

[For more info on your favorite rappers from the South peep SOHH Dirty]

Comments

[Clofresh (Last of the Real OG's)]

My man P. This is what i'm talking bout. 95% of these lame ass rappers in the game today need to take note. And to think that everyone that was not from the south was trying to clown dude when he first jumped on the scene. Now P is having the last laugh. I AM SO GLAD THAT HE IS TAKING THIS APPROACH, ESPECAILLY AFTER BOB JOHNSON SOLD OUT. BET THESE DAYS ARE TRASH, OVER SATURATED WITH REALITY SHOWS AND MORE TRASH. I, FOR ONE, CAN'T WAIT FOR HIM TO LAUNCH THIS STATION TO GIVE THE COMPETITORS SOME MUCH NEEDED COMPETITION. KNOWING MASTER P, THIS WILL BE A HUGE SUCCESS, CAUSE HIS DRIVE AND DETERMINATION, IN MY OPINION, IS STRONGER THAN P. DIDDY. AND TRUST ME, P GOT MORE $$$$ THEN DIDDY. HE'S JUST NOT IN THE SPOTLIGHT!!!!

[TheSponsor]

eager to see this succeed.

[macado]

Yo, this is a good look for P. Im very proud of this dude for makin moves like this cause B.E.T. has alot of junk food for the brain. Like how do you not have at least an hour of somethin educational. How is that possible. Anyhow, my only concern is the quality of the programming. P has a resume of very low quality $@*t under his belt so i hope that part gets straightned out.

[gullyson]

This is a good look, I pray to God this succeeds over the crap the BET and MTV has to offer. I like the change in Master P's attitude, he's a real man.

[KayStar]

I hope, and will pray, that this move succeed. A lot of rappers, in the past, have boasted of creating opportunities like owning movie production companies that never see the light of day. This is good news for P, his fans and aspiring writers and directors out there. If P wants quality programming, he needs to bring fresh and classy ideas on board by getting at intelligent writers, directors and producers. Trust me, the freshest ones are undiscovered. Holla at me P.

[DJ DCeezy]

Nigga fuck 50 cent and jigga off this... MASTER P is dat nigga. He pulls this off nigga its on, 4 real. BET fallin off so hard right now it ain't even funny! Plus he got got real niggas on his side..... That fuck ass nigga Stephen Hill shoulda played them No Limit videos in the past!

[305]

Im behind P 100%, but I wish he would be more creative with the title.

[The kidd]

Good for him! I back him 100%. I LOVE what he's doing and there def. needs to be more positive people like him helping influence kids in a powerful way. P has to be one of the most responsible entertainers out right now realizing how much he influences kids and what they do. I'll def be watchin this channel helping support him and his cause!

[gee]

uuuugh to all the fools i hear talk shit about P but he brought us some shit fuk what ya say nigga sold records just like dope and we smoked out but the man is educated in business (degree) but never forgot about where he came from and how it really was exploited the industry wit a dope game hustle selling a legal product that he manufactored and made dem fools hustle for him take it to the next level he just about to cook up another sack ughhhh

[cant_get_right!]

need a better title but the whole idea is great.
BET is pretty much the only place u have mostly black shows and show targeted to blacks.

as long as its not on some bastard tv one channel status it has a chance.

kinda wondering what viacom has up their sleeves to make sure his network doesnt get off the ground.

[Debonair]

This is going to be tough. T.V. is a high overhead business. You have to have good relationship with advertisers that value your audiences and black audiences are traditional undervalued by advertisers. Robert Johnson sold BET to Viacom because they could get the advertiser dollars that the audiences deserved. A lot of people don't remember that BET tried the whole better programming thing. That had news shows and business shows and they all didn't really do well. That Better Black TV is a bad name. It limits the brand. I don't like the idea of a "black" network. I just care about a black owned network. I would rather see a black man own a network like Spike or Bravo than something catering mostly to black people.