Before Tyler Perry acquired a stake in BET (Black Entertainment Television), the network was owned by Viacom. BET was founded in 1980 by Robert L. Johnson, who eventually sold the network to Viacom in 2001. Viacom owned BET until 2005 when it split into two separate companies: Viacom and CBS Corporation. BET remained a part of the new Viacom. Tyler Perry announced his partnership with Lionsgate and the acquisition of a significant stake in BET in 2021, which marked a new era for the network under his involvement.
