Black entertainment channel BET to close as linear service in UK next month

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief | 1d

Black entertainment channel BET will become an online-only service in the UK from next month.

BET will close as a linear TV channel and move to an online service only from April 8, it has been confirmed.

The black entertainment service, which broadcast shows including The Wendy Williams Show, 106 & Park and Pimp My Ride, was launched by Channel 5 owner Viacom in the UK in 2008 and operates on Sky and Virgin Media.

According to the latest figures from TV ratings organisation BARB, the channel officially recorded a 0% audience share over the 28-day period ending March 21.

The most recent set of weekly ratings data reported that the channel's most-watched show was an episode of The Wendy Williams Show with just 3,800 viewers - and only six programmes in a week hit the 1,000-viewer mark.

Confirming the channel's move to the streaming service My5, Viacom also announced several UK commissions for BET including a new cookery format and a comedy archive series.

"We are committed to growing the BET brand in the UK and to continuing to elevate Black love, joy, power and pride worldwide," said Monde Twala, senior vp of BET International.

"BET is an authentic destination for Black culture globally, and we are certain this move will strengthen the brand presence in the U.K. as we super-serve lovers of Black culture with rich and diverse content across our streaming services."

Viacom has been ruthless with closing under-performing channels in the UK over the last 18 months, having previously axed VH-1, MTV Rocks, Club MTV, MTV Hits and most of its +1 channels.