Key Points
- Paramount plans to shut down the standalone BET Plus service and move its content library into Paramount Plus later this year.
- BET shows will move to the BET Hub on Paramount Plus, expanding their reach to the platform’s global audience.
- The transition will begin in June after Paramount acquired Tyler Perry Studios’ ownership stake in BET Plus.
Paramount plans to shut down the standalone BET Plus streaming service later this year and fold its programming library into Paramount Plus, consolidating more than 1,000 hours of content into the company’s flagship streaming platform.
The transition is expected to begin in June, when BET Plus titles will migrate to the existing BET Hub within Paramount Plus. The move follows Paramount’s acquisition of Tyler Perry Studios’ minority ownership stake in BET Plus, clearing the way for the platform’s absorption into the larger streaming service.
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Tyler Perry Studios had held an estimated 25 percent stake in BET Plus since the service launched in 2019 through a production partnership with Paramount’s BET Media Group.
In a memo to staff announcing the change, BET Networks President Louis Carr said the integration is designed to expand the reach of BET programming by placing it alongside Paramount Plus’ broader lineup of original series, films and live sports.
“Beginning in June, we are expanding our reach by making Paramount Plus the new home for BET Plus content,” Carr wrote. “This powerful next step ensures the stories we champion, the creators we support and the culture we represent go further than ever before.”
The BET Hub within Paramount Plus will house titles previously available on the standalone service, including series such as “Zatima,” “All the Queen’s Men,” “Diarra from Detroit” and “The Ms. Pat Show.” Upcoming seasons of shows like “Ruthless,” “Divorced Sistas,” “Average Joe” and “Zatima” are also expected to debut on Paramount Plus after the transition.
Original series that began on BET Plus will continue to be considered for renewal under the new arrangement, according to the company.
Launched in September 2019 shortly before the merger of Viacom and CBS to form Paramount Global, BET Plus offered more than 1,000 hours of programming centered on Black storytelling and culture. The service has around 5 million subscribers, according to some reports.
By contrast, Paramount Plus has more than 80 million subscribers globally, giving BET programming a substantially larger potential audience once the content is integrated into the platform.
Current BET Plus subscribers who signed up directly through the app will be offered discounted options to transition to Paramount Plus when the standalone service is sunsetted. BET Plus currently charges $5.99 per month for an ad-supported tier and $9.99 per month for an ad-free tier, while Paramount Plus plans start at $8.99 per month.
Carr said the broader BET brand will continue operating across multiple platforms even after the streaming service is discontinued. The linear BET television channel, BET Studios production arm and BET Digital operations will remain active as part of Paramount’s portfolio.
“BET is a cornerstone of Black culture and an essential part of Paramount’s long-term content strategy,” Carr wrote.
