Paramount is set to shut down BET+ as a standalone streaming platform, folding the service into Paramount+ beginning in June as part of the company’s broader effort to streamline its streaming ecosystem.
The move means more than 1,000 hours of BET+ programming — including original series, films, and specials — will migrate to Paramount+, where the content will live within the platform’s existing BET Hub. BET itself is already owned by Paramount Global, which acquired the network in 2001 through its predecessor Viacom, meaning the shift represents a consolidation within the company’s existing portfolio rather than a new acquisition.
The news was shared internally by BET Networks President Louis Carr, whose memo to staff emphasized that the transition is meant to expand the reach of the network’s storytelling.
“This powerful next step ensures the stories we champion, the creators we support and the culture we represent go further than ever before,” Carr wrote in the message.
Tyler Perry stake bought out
The consolidation follows Paramount’s earlier decision to buy out Tyler Perry Studios’ minority stake in BET+, which had been estimated at roughly 25 percent since the platform launched in 2019 as a joint venture between BET and Perry’s company.
While financial details were not disclosed, Perry’s share had reportedly been valued at tens of millions of dollars.
Despite the ownership change, Perry will remain a key creative partner through his nine-figure overall deal with BET Media Group, announced in 2024 and running through 2028. Under the agreement, Perry continues to deliver hundreds of episodes across multiple projects for BET and its streaming platforms.
“As part of this evolution, Paramount acquired Tyler Perry Studios’ equity stake in BET+,” a Paramount spokesperson said in a statement. “We share the same ambition to expand the reach of BET content, and Tyler will continue to be a valued and important partner through his overall programming agreement.”
Content to live in Paramount+ BET Hub
On Paramount+, BET programming will be organized within the BET Hub, a section of the platform dedicated to Black stories. The hub already includes a mix of scripted and unscripted content from the BET cable network as well as library titles across Paramount’s television brands that center Black characters and creators. Once the transition takes place, all current BET+ content — both original and licensed — will move to Paramount+, subject to existing rights agreements.
Existing BET+ subscribers who signed up directly through the app will be offered discounted options to transition to Paramount+ when the service is officially discontinued.
While BET+ had an estimated 3 to 4 million subscribers, Paramount+ now reaches roughly 80 million subscribers worldwide, offering significantly greater potential exposure for the network’s programming.
Part of a larger streaming strategy
The integration mirrors a similar move Paramount made in 2023 when it folded Showtime’s standalone streaming service into Paramount+, later rebranding the top tier as Paramount Premium.
The consolidation also follows Skydance Media’s deal to acquire Paramount Global, which brought new leadership and a renewed focus on simplifying the company’s streaming strategy. Skydance CEO David Ellison, now head of the combined company, has previously discussed plans to unify Paramount+, BET+, and the ad-supported Pluto TV under a shared technology platform.
If Paramount ultimately completes its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Ellison has indicated the company could eventually combine Paramount+ with WBD’s HBO+ service into a single streaming platform.
BET brand remains intact
Despite the streaming shift, Paramount says the broader BET brand will remain central to its long-term strategy.
“BET is a cornerstone of Black culture and an essential part of Paramount’s portfolio,” Carr wrote in his memo, noting that the BET cable network, BET Studios, and BET Digital operations will continue as key parts of the company’s media ecosystem.
The integration of BET+ into Paramount+ had reportedly been in development for months, following a restructuring within BET Media Group late last year after the departure of former president and CEO Scott Mills.
With the transition set to begin in June, the move marks another step in the evolving streaming landscape — one where major media companies are increasingly consolidating platforms in an effort to build scale and compete more effectively in the global streaming market.
What This Could Mean for BET’s Streaming Future
While the move expands the reach of BET+ programming, it also raises questions about what happens when a platform built for a specific audience becomes part of a much larger ecosystem.
Launched in 2019, BET+ was created as a streaming destination specifically for Black audiences, offering original series, films, stage plays, and culturally focused programming. Folding the platform into Paramount+ will place those titles alongside a far broader catalog that includes CBS programming, blockbuster films, sports, and major franchises like Star Trek and Taylor Sheridan’s expanding slate of series.
On paper, the shift could significantly increase exposure. BET+ had an estimated 3 to 4 million subscribers, while Paramount+ reaches more than 80 million globally — potentially introducing shows like Diarra From Detroit, Average Joe, Zatima, and The Ms. Pat Show to a much wider audience.
But the move also reflects a broader industry trend: consolidation. As media companies streamline their streaming strategies, niche platforms are increasingly being folded into larger services in order to reduce costs and compete at scale.
The larger question is where BET originals ultimately sit within that ecosystem. While Paramount has emphasized that BET remains a cornerstone of its portfolio, the transition places Black-focused programming alongside global franchises and high-budget productions competing for the same attention.
Either way, the integration of BET+ into Paramount+ marks another sign of how Hollywood’s streaming landscape continues to consolidate — with scale increasingly becoming the industry’s top priority.