By Jonathan Easton

ViacomCBS has announced the shift of black entertainment network BET to My5, making the BVOD service the official home of the channel in the UK.

BET content has been on My5 since 2018 and the brand has had five consecutive quarters of YoY growth on the BVOD.

The media giant also announced that it will launch a dedicated BET channel on its AVOD platform Pluto TV on April 5 following successful launches in Brazil and France.

Both launches mark the transition of BET in the UK to an all-digital brand as part of a wider strategy for BET International on amplifying distribution.

Accompanying this is an upcoming rollout of new UK-created content including shows such as Celebrity Comfort Food, and We Do That.

SVP of BET International, Monde Twala said: “We are committed to growing the BET brand in the UK, and to continuing to elevate Black love, joy, power and pride worldwide BET is an authentic destination for Black culture globally and we are certain this move will strengthen the brand presence in the UK as we super-serve lovers of Black culture with rich and diverse content across our streaming services.

 “We want to shine a light on Black British culture and excellence while spotlighting a range of talented voices, storytellers and creatives.  By investing in local content and focusing our UK future on streaming, we can connect with a larger base of fans in a deeper, authentic and more meaningful way.”