The Desk appreciates the support of readers who purchase products or services through links on our website. Learn more...

Paramount looks to sell BET for around $1.7 billion

Photo of author
By:
»

mkeys@thedesk.net

Share:
The Paramount Pictures lot in Southern California.
The Paramount Pictures lot in Southern California. (Photo by Patrick Pelster
via Wikimedia Commons)

Paramount Global is engaged in conversations to sell BET Media for up to $1.7 billion, according to a report from Bloomberg on Tuesday.

The report says Paramount is weighing an offer from a consortium of buyers that includes BET CEO Scott Mills and Chinh Chu, the head of a private equity firm based in New York City.

The discussions come several months after Paramount entertained an offer from the duo to acquire BET Media for less than $2 billion, which was lower than what the company was hoping to attract for the brand. BET Media includes the BET and VH1 cable channels, as well as Paramount’s stake in BET Plus, which operates as a joint venture with comedian Tyler Perry.

Talks between Paramount, Mills and Chu resumed weeks ago after the company ended pre-merger discussions with production firm Skydance Media, according to Bloomberg.

The company does not appear to be entertaining an earlier bid made by comedian and television mogul Byron Allen, who reportedly offered to pay $3.5 billion for BET Media last year.

Never miss a story

Get free breaking news alerts and twice-weekly digests delivered to your inbox.

We do not share your e-mail address with third parties; you can unsubscribe at any time.

Photo of author

About the Author:

Matthew Keys

Matthew Keys is the award-winning founder and editor of TheDesk.net, an authoritative voice on broadcast and streaming TV, media and tech. With over ten years of experience, he's a recognized expert in broadcast, streaming, and digital media, with work featured in publications such as StreamTV Insider and Digital Content Next, and past roles at Thomson Reuters and Disney-ABC Television Group.
TheDesk.net is free to read — please help keep it that way.

We rely on advertising revenue to support our original journalism and analysis.
Please disable your ad-blocking technology to continue enjoying our content.

Learn how to disable your ad blocker on: Chrome | Firefox | Safari | Microsoft Edge | Opera | AdBlock plugin

Alternatively, add us as a preferred source on Google to unlock access to this website.

If you think this is an error, please contact us.