Several prominent figures in the entertainment industry, including Tyler Perry, Byron Allen, Sean “Diddy” Combs, 50 Cent, Kenya Barris, and Shaquille O’Neal, have expressed interest in acquiring a majority stake in BET if Paramount decides to sell the network. Tyler Perry, in particular, has a strong connection to BET due to his extensive work with the network, and some believe that BET is essentially “Tyler Perry’s network.” Perry has created significant content for BET, and if he were not able to acquire the company, he could potentially start his own network and continue his successful contributions to the industry. The potential ownership change has generated significant interest and speculation among these moguls.
While Paramount has not made any official statements regarding the potential sale of BET, 50 Cent is confident in his chances if a bidding situation arises. He believes that his successful shows, such as the “Power” universe spinoffs and “BMF,” which air on the Starz network, would make him an attractive candidate. Despite his previous partnership with Starz ending, he sees BET as a more comprehensive network with various divisions, including BET Plus and BET Studios. He expressed interest in exploring the opportunity to own BET, and he shares the sentiment with Tyler Perry, Byron Allen, and Sean “Diddy” Combs, who have also expressed support for the network returning to Black ownership. The future of BET’s ownership remains uncertain, and it is yet to be seen if Paramount will decide to sell the network.