BET+ Joins Forces with Paramount+ as Paramount Acquires Tyler Perry’s Stake
Paramount to Consolidate Streaming Services, Absorbing BET+ into Paramount+
Paramount is set to streamline its streaming offerings by integrating BET+ into Paramount+, reducing its U.S. subscription video on demand platforms from three to one by early June. The move will transfer over 1,000 hours of content, including originals, movies, and specials from BET+, to Paramount’s flagship platform.
"This powerful next step ensures the stories we champion, the creators we support, and the culture we represent go further than ever before,” said Louis Carr, President of BET, in an internal email.
This consolidation aligns with the new leadership’s efforts to expand scale and enhance financial performance in the competitive streaming landscape. The transition follows Paramount’s recent acquisition of Tyler Perry Studios’ 25% stake in BET+, a deal valued in the tens of millions of dollars. While financial specifics remain undisclosed, a Paramount spokesperson emphasized the shared ambition to broaden the reach of BET content. Perry will retain a significant partnership through an overall programming agreement.
Perry’s recent nine-figure deal with BET Media Group, announced in 2024, extends until 2028, committing him to provide hundreds of new episodes across various series for BET and the now-integrated BET+ content on Paramount+.
Current subscribers of BET+ will receive discounts when transitioning to Paramount+ as the BET+ platform is sunsetted. The pricing for BET+ has been $5.99 monthly for essential content and $10.99 for premium, while Paramount+ offers subscription rates of $8.99 and $13.99.
As a part of this transition, all existing BET+ content, including Tyler Perry’s extensive catalog of films, TV shows, and stage works, will be available on Paramount+, subject to licensing agreements. Popular series set to debut on Paramount+ this year post-transition include Perry’s Ruthless, Divorced Sistas, All the Queen’s Men, and Zatima, as well as Average Joe and Diarra from Detroit. Divorced Sistas notably had the most-watched series premiere on BET+ last summer.
Original series from BET+ will continue to be renewed on Paramount+, maintaining the momentum of hit shows like The Ms. Pat Show, which recently concluded its fifth season on BET+.
On Paramount+, migrated BET+ content will find a home in the existing BET Hub, which features scripted and unscripted originals alongside other content that celebrates Black stories. The hub seeks to enhance the visibility of BET+ content, moving it from a platform with an estimated 3.5 million subscribers to Paramount+, which boasts approximately 80 million subscribers.
This transition mirrors a previous move by Paramount Global in 2023, when Showtime’s standalone streaming service content was integrated into Paramount+ as part of a premium subscription tier. This consolidation trend is reflective of broader industry practices, where major players like Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery have initiated similar integrations without complete absorption of their platforms.
Following the recent acquisition by Skydance, CEO David Ellison indicated ongoing consolidation efforts to enhance efficiency within Paramount, anticipating potential savings of $6 billion post-WBD merger, though some costs may result in layoffs.
Plans for integrating BET+ into Paramount+ have been evolving for months, established during the restructuring of the BET Media Group after the exit of its President and CEO, Scott Mills. Carr reaffirmed the significance of the BET brand in Paramount’s long-term strategy, emphasizing its central role in Black culture.
"BET is a cornerstone of Black culture and an essential part of Paramount’s portfolio," Carr stated. "Our celebrated Black storytelling will live alongside Paramount’s premium series, reinforcing our commitment to diverse narratives."
Tyler Perry, a minority owner of BET+ since its launch in 2019 as a joint venture with Paramount, had previously sought a majority stake in BET Media Group, but that deal did not come to fruition.
The full impact of these changes in the streaming landscape will likely continue to unfold as the industry adapts to shifting audience needs and competitive dynamics.
