Tyler Perry says his interest in buying a majority stake in BET following news that Paramount is exploring a sale is far from a rumor.
The producer and studio owner, who is a longtime partner of BET, dispelled notions that he wasn’t completely interested in the network while recently speaking with Entertainment tonight at Tyler Perry’s studio.
“Hearsay? No, it’s not a rumor,” Perry said. “I’ve been there for four years now and I’ve had tremendous success. I didn’t expect that to happen, so, yeah… If possible, I’ll take as much as I can from him.”
The Hollywood Reporter first reported news of interest from Perry, whose 2017 contract with Paramount is up soon. If he can make the purchase, a majority stake in BET would give the mogul ownership of the brand that airs many of his shows. At the time, multiple sources told the magazine that the sale was still in the early stages, as were other interested buyers, including Brian Allen and P. Diddy.
While speaking with ET, the actor, writer, producer and studio owner explained the reason behind his strong interest in buying a stake in BET, noting that it would return the network to a black owner.
“I think there was sadness when Bob sold it, and I think there will be happiness when it becomes black-owned again,” Perry said. “Although Shari (Redstone) and what is it? Viacom and Paramount? They have done a phenomenal job with it. They did not let him fall by the wayside; they didn’t let him go to dust. They raised him and took care of him. And to see Shari in that position saying, “I think it should go back to a black owner?” I thought, “Okay, you see, that’s my kind of guy.”
Perry added that despite the competition for ownership, he’s ultimately excited to have several black figures who can be a part of those conversations and stake a claim on a black-focused network.
“I read about Byron Allen and Puffy and everybody wanting to bid and so on and so forth and I think it’s really cool,” he said. “That’s what I love about it — when Bob Johnson sold it in 2000, I think it was, there wasn’t a single black person who could buy it. So now, to see all these black people, men and women, who are able to buy it? Man, this makes me feel really, really excited.
paramount importance, THR is expected to retain a minority stake in the business as well as a commercial relationship.