{"id":323255,"date":"2025-12-03T19:09:07","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T19:09:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/323255\/"},"modified":"2025-12-03T19:09:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T19:09:07","slug":"louis-carr-named-bet-president-bet-studios-becomes-cbs-studios-label","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/323255\/","title":{"rendered":"Louis Carr Named BET President, BET Studios Becomes CBS Studios Label"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tEXCLUSIVE (Updated with Carr\u2019s memo): BET<\/a>\u2018s President of Media Sales Louis Carr<\/a> will lead the cable network where he has been for 39 years. He has been promoted to President, succeeding Scott Mills, who is exiting as BET Media Group President and CEO<\/a>. Carr will also continue in his role as President of Media Sales, which he has been in for the last 24 years.<\/p>\n

\n\tGoing forward, Carr will report to George Cheeks, Chair of TV Media, which spans Paramount\u2019s linear brands, including CBS, BET, MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central. Cheeks made the announcement in an internal memo, in which he also acknowledged Mills and his contributions to BET. (You can read it below.)<\/p>\n

\n\tAdditionally, Cheeks revealed that BET Studios<\/a> will become a label within CBS Studios<\/a>. According to sources, Aisha Summers-Burke<\/a>, who has led BET Studios since its 2021 launch as EVP, Head of Creative, will continue to do so in the entity\u2019s new incarnation. At CBS Studios, headed by President David Stapf, BET Studios will complement the studio\u2019s production venture with NAACP. <\/p>\n

\n\tThe move, which Cheeks said is \u201ccreating alignment, resources, and support across studios while preserving BET\u2019s unique programming brand and point of view,\u201d\u00a0completes the puzzle of the various production entities within Paramount\u2019s cable universe that existed prior to the company\u2019s August acquisition by Skydance. They have been split between the company\u2019s two post-merger TV studios with BET Studios joining CBS Studios and Showtime\/MTV Entertainment Studios, Nickelodeon live-action and Awesomeness folded into the new Paramount TV Studios. <\/p>\n

\n\tCheeks\u2019 memo does not address BET+, which currently sits within his portfolio as part of the former BET Media Group overseen by Mills, which consisted of the BET Network, BET Studios and BET+. It is also unclear whether there would be a senior programming executive under Carr at BET.<\/p>\n

\n\tDuring his tenure with the company, Carr has shepherded more than $9B in advertising sales to top companies such as Procter & Gamble, Unilever, McDonald\u2019s, and Apple.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cFor nearly four decades, Louis has been instrumental in driving BET\u2019s success and cultural influence,\u201d Cheeks said. \u201cHis deep experience and proven track record position him to expertly guide the brand into its next era.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\tCheeks also indicated that many BET corporate and other functions will be shared across the TV Media division, a move for centralization that was signaled by the recent Paramount layoffs which hit the company\u2019s cable networks hard<\/a>. Integrated cross-brand areas include communications, finance, BALA, marketing and research.<\/p>\n

\n\tAdditionally, Cheeks echoed comments by Paramount CEO David Ellison and President Jeff Shell about the value of BET and some of company\u2019s other cable brands.
\u00a0
\u201cBET remains one of the most iconic brands in entertainment,\u201d Cheeks said. \u201cTogether, we will honor this legacy while driving its future growth across platforms and lines of business. With Louis at the helm and our teams aligned, BET is poised to innovate, expand its influence, and set the standard for culturally relevant storytelling in the years ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tIn his own memo, which you can also read below, Carr spoke of his goals as BET\u2019s new leader:<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cStrengthen and celebrate the BET brand and its importance to all who love Black culture. Deepen our connection across all platforms that serve our community. Optimize resources across the Paramount ecosystem. Give a clear definition of Black culture and its impact. Further strengthen our relationships with creators and talent who serve our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tUnder Summers-Burke, BET Studios in 2024 launched its first series, the well received Diarra From Detroit for BET+, which has been renewed for a second season. Previously, she was a creative executive at Warner Bros. Television and Warner Horizon Scripted Television.<\/p>\n

\n\tHere is Cheeks memo:<\/p>\n

Hi Team,\u00a0
\u00a0\u00a0
I wanted to share the note\u00a0Scott Mills\u00a0sent his team, letting them know that after an extraordinary tenure, he is stepping down from his role as head of BET.\u00a0
\u00a0\u00a0
Under Scott\u2019s leadership, BET has been a cultural powerhouse, championing and amplifying Black voices. Scott expanded BET\u2019s reach and influence, including the creation of BET Studios in 2021 with partners like Kenya Barris and Rashida Jones. He positioned BET as the home for culturally defining tentpole events such as the BET Awards and the NAACP Image Awards, deepening our connection with Black audiences. These strategic moves cemented BET\u2019s status as a leading entertainment brand.\u00a0
\u00a0\u00a0
Please join me in thanking Scott for his\u00a0leadership and unwavering commitment to BET\u2019s mission, and in wishing him continued success in his next chapter.\u00a0
\u00a0\u00a0
Looking ahead,\u00a0Louis Carr\u00a0will lead BET while also continuing as President of Media Sales for the brand, reporting to me. For nearly four decades, Louis has been instrumental in driving BET\u2019s success and cultural influence. His deep experience and proven track record position him to expertly guide the brand into its next era.\u00a0
\u00a0
Louis brings unmatched expertise across linear, digital, and social ecosystems. His programming instincts are exceptional. He has generated billions in advertising sales and cultivated partnerships with category-leading companies such as Procter & Gamble, Unilever, McDonald\u2019s, and Apple. His leadership has shaped corporate strategies for global brands, driven innovation, and strengthened BET\u2019s role as an industry leader.\u00a0
\u00a0
Going forward, BET\u2019s core operations and department heads will also now connect more closely with the broader TV Media structure, supported by our group\u2019s scaled cross-functional capabilities in communications, finance, BALA, marketing, research, and other areas. This includes BET Studios, which will have its own label as part of the CBS Studios division \u2013 creating alignment, resources, and support across studios while preserving BET\u2019s unique programming brand and point of view.\u00a0
\u00a0
BET remains one of the most iconic brands in entertainment. Together, we will honor this legacy while driving its future growth across platforms and lines of business. With Louis at the helm and our teams aligned, BET is poised to innovate, expand its influence, and set the standard for culturally relevant storytelling in the years ahead.\u00a0
\u00a0\u00a0
-George\u00a0
\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tBelow is Carr\u2019s memo:<\/p>\n

Dear Team Members,<\/p>\n

As we step into a new chapter for BET, I want to take a moment to share my gratitude, reaffirm my commitment, and outline the direction we will pursue together.\u00a0 It is an honor and a privilege to step into the role of President of BET, in addition to my duties as President of Media Sales for the brand.
\u00a0
This transition reflects the Paramount TV Media organization\u2019s structure, enabling us to move forward with momentum and alignment. I extend my deep appreciation to Scott Mills for his leadership and partnership. Scott has played a pivotal role in shaping BET\u2019s evolution, and we all appreciate his direction and commitment.
\u00a0
Looking ahead, I am confident in the power, purpose, and enduring impact of the BET brand. As the media landscape shifts, our identity and creative voice remain strong and meaningful to our community and Black culture. Our mission is clear:\u00a0deliver exceptional storytelling that inspires and motivates our community.\u00a0In this next phase, we will focus on three guiding principles:\u00a0Community, Culture, and Connection.\u00a0These pillars define who we serve, what matters to them, and how we engage with them as we look to the future.
\u00a0
Together we will:
Strengthen and celebrate the BET brand and its importance to all who love Black culture.
Deepen our connection across all platforms that serve our community.
Optimize resources across the Paramount ecosystem.
Give a clear definition of Black culture and its impact.
Further strengthen our relationships with creators and talent who serve our community.
\u00a0
I look forward to connecting and further outlining the vision and business priorities for the year ahead. Please remember that collaboration and cooperation will be our foundation for success as we take the BET brand forward. Thank you for all your resilience and patience over the last several months. Keep in mind that BET continues to be strong because of you, and I am confident that together we will grow and shape the brand for generations to come.
\u00a0
Louis<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"EXCLUSIVE (Updated with Carr\u2019s memo): BET\u2018s President of Media Sales Louis Carr will lead the cable network where…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":323256,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[143144,1875,143145,49,48,143146,75,143147,348],"class_list":{"0":"post-323255","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tv","8":"tag-aisha-summers-burke","9":"tag-bet","10":"tag-bet-studios","11":"tag-ca","12":"tag-canada","13":"tag-cbs-studios","14":"tag-entertainment","15":"tag-louis-carr","16":"tag-tv"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/323255","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=323255"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/323255\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/323256"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=323255"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=323255"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=323255"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}