BET Shocker, Stephen Hill President of Programming Steps Down at Week's End
Stephen Hill, president of programming for BET Networks, has resigned after 18 years with the company. Connie Orlando, senior VP for specials, music programming and news will serve as the interim head of programming for BET Networks.
Hill’s resignation was announced today March 29 by BET Networks chairman/CEO Debra Lee. In an internal staff memo ( read below), Lee saluted Hill as a “trusted colleague and friend” as well as his “energy, passion and love of BET.” Continued Lee, “Who could ever forget the Prince Tribute, James Brown and Michael Jackson, Beyoncé & Kendrick Lamar? The incredible ‘aww yeahhh’ moments Stephen has created during his 18 years literally are too many to mention.”
Editor's note--After not being a fan of BET, primarily due to the proliferation of the Hip Hop music videos the channel programmed for many years (That was not Black Entertainment); BET and along with the Centric Network has in some ways transformed itself into a more positive light. There is still a need to incorporate more news programming, but Stephen Hill will certainly be missed, if for nothing else, the award shows he produced. BET, once owned by Robert Johnson, is corporately owned by Viacom, which owns MTV, Nickelodeon, VH1, and a host of other media platforms. It will be interesting to see the direction BET is headed as it appears Stephen Hill is being forced out as Viacom is under going company wide restructuring, and as they say in the industry- "we've decided to go in a new direction Mr. Hill."
Read Lee and Hill's memos, both below:
Here's Hill's memo:
Hill’s resignation was announced today March 29 by BET Networks chairman/CEO Debra Lee. In an internal staff memo ( read below), Lee saluted Hill as a “trusted colleague and friend” as well as his “energy, passion and love of BET.” Continued Lee, “Who could ever forget the Prince Tribute, James Brown and Michael Jackson, Beyoncé & Kendrick Lamar? The incredible ‘aww yeahhh’ moments Stephen has created during his 18 years literally are too many to mention.”
Editor's note--After not being a fan of BET, primarily due to the proliferation of the Hip Hop music videos the channel programmed for many years (That was not Black Entertainment); BET and along with the Centric Network has in some ways transformed itself into a more positive light. There is still a need to incorporate more news programming, but Stephen Hill will certainly be missed, if for nothing else, the award shows he produced. BET, once owned by Robert Johnson, is corporately owned by Viacom, which owns MTV, Nickelodeon, VH1, and a host of other media platforms. It will be interesting to see the direction BET is headed as it appears Stephen Hill is being forced out as Viacom is under going company wide restructuring, and as they say in the industry- "we've decided to go in a new direction Mr. Hill."
Read Lee and Hill's memos, both below:
Dear BET Team,
I want to let you know that Stephen Hill, President of
Programming for BET Networks has decided to step down from his role.
Stephen joined Viacom in 1995, and then BET in 1999, serving
as President of Music Programming and Specials before taking on the role as
President of Programing.
Stephen has earned a reputation as one of the leading
creative minds in television and music. His contributions to the team have been
invaluable as we worked together to successfully reinvigorate our brand.
Who could ever forget THE Prince Tribute, James Brown and
Michael Jackson, Beyoncé & Kendrick Lamar? This list can go on and on. The
incredible "awww yeahhh" moments Stephen has created during his 18
years literally are too many to mention.
I recently told the story of the first time I saw Stephen
dancing in the aisle with red pants! I knew that was the spirit needed to take
BET to the next level. And that was exactly what he did. His programming vision
helped to create 106 & Park, The BET Awards, The Hip Hop Awards and hits
such as Real Husbands of Hollywood, the amazing success of The New Edition
Story and many, many more.
Most importantly, Stephen has been a trusted colleague and
friend to many of us. We are fortunate to have enjoyed his service, creativity
and laughter for so many years. I can't imagine this ride without his energy,
passion and love of BET. Thank you Stephen for every awesome and magical
moment, I know this won't be our last dance. I know your dedication to BET will
still live on in everyone you’ve touched over the years.
Please join me in thanking Stephen for all the love and
support he has given BET over the course of his remarkable career.
Let’s wish him well in his next adventure.
Best, Debi
Here's Hill's memo:
My first morning at BET was the day after Roger Troutman
died. WKYS, WPGC and WHUR were all full with the music of Zapp and as I drove
the car (that I still own) down New York Avenue in DC towards the BET Complex,
I thought to myself “we’ll need to get the details and some footage quickly so that
we can get something on the air today about Roger.” Immediately after
orientation, I began searching out the people that could make it possible. But
it turns out it was not possible. Due to the shoot schedule for the video
shows, the edit time, and the way that Master Control was set up, the quickest
anything could be turned around was one week. It was unimaginable to folks
there then that BET could react to anything in real time. Crestfallen, I
slumped in my way-too-big chair and gazed out at the McDonald’s across the
street from my NetOps office; determined that the paradigm shift.
18 months later, we were live daily on BET and would stay
that way for the next 14 years. What was previously unimaginable had been made
real.
This Friday, 6,549 days after I took my first step through
the doors of BET, I will walk my last one out. It has been my honor to serve
this brand in that span and I am thrilled to have been able to be a member of
the teams that ideated and created so many spectacles, moments, memories and
miracles. It’s been fulfilling to be part of huge changes that literally
shifted culture.
As we go forward, I’m excited by all of our immediate and
long term upcoming trajectories.
For you and BET, it’s the opportunities you will mine
through your new designation: VIACOM made a wise choice making BET a “Flagship”
brand. It’s been proven over and over again that viewers want BET to win and
that they believe highly in your ability to do so. We saw that recently with the
culture shifting New Edition Story when, with one series, pundits and social
media were ablaze proclaiming BET as the best TV producers of biopics. Full
Stop. Huh? “Best” after one attempt? Yes. That’s the feeling. That’s the energy
of an audience rooting for you. That’s a populace hot for you. Your audience
knows that other channels have to study the culture, but BET is the
culture...and they respect the difference. I truly wish you the fuel of
innovation, execution and support to feed those fire-flames. There is an
abundance of talent at BET Networks; each person a spark that can start the
blaze of the next success; to again take what is currently unimaginable and set
on a path to make it real. It has been my immeasurable joy to work alongside
you.
As for me, since I was 16, I haven’t had many workdays of
not getting up, getting into it and getting involved. ‘Tis a truly foreign
concept. I talk about “time”...well, all of the time ( at least twice a year on
email); about its value and to consider how you use time...as a friend or a
foe. Right now, I’m choosing friend. I’ma throw my arms around it like I would
a long lost buddy and enjoy a bit of what it might offer. I am truly looking
forward to some time to just be. There’s much in this world I haven’t experienced
that I soon will.
And then, I’ll re-approach the side of the action, sway to
and fro while catching the rhythm and jump back into the fast-paced
double-dutch of life. However, these same feet that will one day return to
churning in time with the ropes will now, for a few moments, have their
individual digits sifting sand...not unlike another former President. Check the
IG in a little while. Previously unimaginable. About to be wonderfully real.
Thank you Debra Lee for pretty much everything since the day
you saw me in the red pants. Your leadership, tenacity, dedication...and
style...are appreciated. Your investment in me and support of me from the very
beginning has been strong and constant. I treasure it and will pay it forward.
I will miss you all. I will miss this. I will miss us. But I
am so excited to see where you next take this powerful, agile, thrusting
spacecraft of a brand.
Imagine it and drive well.
-sgh
-sgh
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