BET CEO Scott Mills Announces Departure after Transformation Focused on Streaming Growth
Scott Mills is stepping down as President and CEO of BET after 23 years with the company, as announced in a note to staff.His departure comes after a period of significant change aimed at positioning BET for success beyond traditional cable television.
Mills highlighted the challenges facing cable networks and the strategic shift undertaken by the BET team since his return as CEO in 2018. recognizing the “inexorable decline of cable,” the company focused on expanding its reach beyond its original cable business. This included the launch of BET+, a streaming service that has grown to millions of subscribers and doubled content production, alongside efforts to increase BET’s digital footprint and maintain its cable share. Further expansion included the establishment of BET Studios and a presence in the FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) ecosystem through co-branded channels.
Mills credited the support of the Black creative community as crucial to BET’s success,citing partnerships with figures like Tyler Perry,Lee Daniels,Queen Latifah,Taraji P. henson, Kevin Hart, and Jesse Collins. He also emphasized the company’s commitment to community service, including raising nearly $20 million to support black Americans during the pandemic and collaborating with organizations like the NAACP and National Urban League.
Mills joined BET initially at the invitation of founder Bob Johnson,describing the experience as a “master class in bold vision and exceptional execution.” He also acknowledged the contributions of Debra Lee, who led BET’s transition into premium scripted originals and cultural events like The Game, Being Mary Jane, and The New Edition Story.
the announcement follows a statement in August from Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish that BET is “not for sale,” despite previous reports of potential interest from other companies. Paramount President Jeff Shell also noted at the time that BET is a ”pretty strong brand” and “an important building block of our streaming strategy.”