BET CEO Debra Lee talked about her dealings with Kanye West and Ciara and working to improve the BET brand.

VIDEO

BET Chairman and CEO Debra Lee spoke with FOX Business Network’s (FBN) Gerri Willis about creating a more positive image for women on the entertainment network. Lee stated that BET has “gotten more strict about what we allow on air” and that she’s been working with artists like Rihanna, Kanye West and Ciara to limit risqué content on the network.

Excerpts from the interview are below:

On quelling criticism that BET content degrades women:
“I think the criticism has gone away. The first thing I did, which was in the works anyway, was to create more original programming that shows different images of women. So our sitcoms have started doing that. We’ve got more documentaries. We’re going to get into the drama business. We’ve cut back on the amount of music videos, that’s how we grew up but now we’re in a position where we can do other kinds programming.”

On taking on a more strict programming stance:
“We’ve gotten more strict on what we allow on air. We used to live by broadcast standards, but as the hip hop industry got a little more risqué we had actually had to bring that back some and say just because it can be on the air doesn’t mean it has to be on the air.”

On declining to air music videos from hip hop artists:
“As we worked on our brand and where I wanted to take the network, I started to say no to a lot of artists. I said no to Kanye [West] and to Ciara. Those are the ones that come to mind. I think Rihanna we’ve been working with. And that’s sort of amazed me a little bit, that I had to say no to women, but someone had to be the grownup in the room. I didn’t ask for that job but someone had to say no and looking at it from our young audience’s
perspective.”


http://www.monstersandcri...ara-on-FBN

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