BET is undergoing a sweeping leadership and structural shift as longtime executive Scott Mills exits after 23 years and Louis Carr steps into the role of President. Carr, a 39-year BET veteran and the network’s longtime President of Media Sales, will now lead BET while continuing to oversee its advertising business. He will report directly to George Cheeks, Chair of TV Media at Paramount Skydance.
Mills’ departure comes amid the first major restructuring under Paramount Skydance, which closed its acquisition of Paramount Global four months ago.
CBS Absorbs BET Studios — What That Actually Means
Alongside Carr’s promotion, Paramount Skydance has moved BET Studios—the production arm launched in 2021—under CBS Studios, effectively making it a label within the larger CBS Studios ecosystem.
What does this mean:
- BET Studios is no longer a standalone division.
- It now operates inside CBS Studios, reporting to CBS Studios President David Stapf.
- The move centralizes production under two main studios: CBS Studios and Paramount TV Studios (formerly Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios, Nickelodeon Live-Action, and Awesomeness).
- Aisha Summers-Burke remains head of BET Studios and will continue leading the label from within CBS Studios.
BET the network, BET Awards, BET+, and all programming decisions remain with Carr, not CBS.
Paramount Skydance leadership says the goal is to streamline production resources while keeping BET’s cultural voice and creative identity intact.
A New Era for BET Leadership
Cheeks praised Carr as a foundational force at the network, pointing to his role in generating more than $9 billion in ad sales and helping shape BET’s cultural footprint.
Carr echoed that sentiment in his staff memo, saying his priorities include:
- Strengthening and celebrating the BET brand
- Deepening the network’s connection to the Black community across platforms
- Leveraging Paramount’s broader resources
- Amplifying Black culture and its global impact
- Expanding relationships with creators and talent
Scott Mills’ Legacy
Mills leaves behind a long legacy that includes:
- Launching BET Studios in 2021
- Elevating the BET Awards and NAACP Image Awards to global recognition
- Expanding BET’s digital presence, including launching BET Mobile and the network’s digital video strategy
- Leading BET through multiple corporate restructures and ownership changes
The Bigger Picture
Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison has made clear that BET remains central to the company’s strategy and is not for sale—a reversal from earlier talks that considered offloading the brand to private investors or industry leaders like Tyler Perry.
With Carr at the helm, BET enters its next chapter firmly positioned within Paramount Skydance’s restructured TV Media division, while CBS Studios takes on a larger role in shaping BET’s future content pipeline.