Entertainment

BET set for Jazz transformation

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Some major changes are coming to the 24 hour BET Jazz television network next month.

On March 1, BET Jazz becomes BET J as the network increases its outreach to African American and Caribbean viewers with a change in name and content.

Speaking ahead of the 8th Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism (CMEx), Cybelle Brown, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for BET Events Production and BET Digital Networks, said BET J will move from 100 percent jazz programming to a new format that will present jazz programming as its core, but will also target African Americans who are 30 years and over.

She announced that the new line-up will also include a bloc of Caribbean programs on Saturdays featuring the culture, music and news of the region. It will also broadcast “neo soul”, R & B, and short films in primetime Monday through Friday. “We don’t expect to lose our hard core jazz viewer; in fact, we expect to gain some new African American viewers who may be interested in more adult programming,” said Brown, who predicts the channel will be a home for ‘BET graduates’ and complement the format offered by BET, BET J’s sister network.

The accent on more Caribbean programming had already began on BET Jazz, which currently showcases many of the Caribbean’s finest festivals and carnivals. “There will a lot more Caribbean coverage when we relaunch. We will be a true home for Caribbean artists to present their skills and talent,” Brown said, promising strong partnerships with Caribbean musicians.

BET Jazz has also been working closely with its sister MTV Digital Networks to generate more visibility to the Caribbean and when the network launches on Direct TV on March 1, BET J’s audience will skyrocket to 21 million households, an additional 8 million viewers, which will undoubtedly strengthen the network’s relationship with its Caribbean destination partners.

The BET executive will give more details at this weekend’s CMEx event, whose theme is “Sustainable Development: A Balancing Act,” as delegates will examine how they can motivate the best people to engage in tourism development which creates wealth while revitalizing local culture and conserving the fragile environment.

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