NEW YORK — Paramount Global has officially acquired Tyler Perry Studios’ minority equity stake in BET+, clearing the way for the niche streaming service to be folded into Paramount+ later this year.
The move, announced internally by BET Networks President Louis Carr on Friday, marks the end of BET+ as a standalone platform. Starting in June 2026, more than 1,000 hours of original content, movies, and specials from the BET+ library will migrate to a dedicated branded hub within Paramount+.
The End of an Era for BET+
Launched in September 2019 as a joint venture between BET and Tyler Perry Studios, BET+ was designed to be the premier destination for Black-oriented streaming content. Perry, who held an estimated 25% stake in the platform, has been the face of the service with hit series like Sistas, The Oval, and Zatima.
While financial terms of the buyout were not disclosed, Paramount confirmed that Perry remains a “valued and important partner” under his existing overall programming agreement, which was renewed in 2024 and runs through 2028.
”Beginning in June, we are expanding our reach by making Paramount+ the new home for BET+ content,” Louis Carr wrote in a memo to staff. “This powerful next step ensures the stories we champion… go further than ever before.”
Strategy: Efficiency and Scale
The consolidation is part of a broader strategy by Paramount (now operating under the Paramount Skydance banner following their 2025 merger) to streamline its streaming portfolio. By folding BET+ into Paramount+, the company aims to:
- Boost Scale: Transition BET+’s roughly 3.5 million subscribers to the larger Paramount+ platform, which boasts nearly 80 million global users.
- Reduce Overhead: Move all content onto a single backend infrastructure, a goal set by CEO David Ellison for completion in mid-2026.
- Centralize Branding: Follow the successful “Paramount+ with Showtime” model by housing premium niche content within a larger ecosystem.
What This Means for Subscribers
Availability: Content begins moving to Paramount+ in June 2026.
The App: The standalone BET+ app is expected to be sunsetted by late summer 2026.
Pricing: Current direct-to-app subscribers will be offered a discounted rate to transition to Paramount+.
Programming: New seasons of All the Queen’s Men and The Ms. Pat Show will premiere directly on Paramount+.
The BET linear cable channel is not affected by this change and will continue its traditional broadcasting operations.
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