Comment on The BET Hip Hop Awards cut the cord as DEI dies
jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
This post reminded me of a video that Sabby Sabs made about the BET Hip Hop Awards in August 2025.
Fat Joe Ends the BET Hip Hop Awards? Network TV Is Dead [19:55 (19:43) | AUG 11 2025 | Sabby Sabs | youtu.be/FflwxfGnsPs]
SponsorBlock Timestamps:
- 0:00.000 - 0:02.300 Intermission
- 19:46.200 - 19:55.916 Endcards/Credits
Generated Summary:
The Suspension of BET Awards and the Decline of Network TV
This video discusses the suspension of the BET Hip Hop Awards and Soul Train Awards, exploring the reasons behind it and what it signifies for the future of network television. It argues that while some blame Fat Joe for the decline in viewership, the issue is more complex and tied to the broader shift towards streaming services.
Key Points:
- BET Awards Suspension: BET has suspended the Soul Train and Hip Hop Awards indefinitely, but the CEO stated that they are exploring new platforms for the shows.
- Fat Joe’s Role: People are blaming Fat Joe for the decline in viewership of the BET Hip Hop Awards, with viewership dropping significantly during his time as host.
- Gentrification of BET: Fat Joe claims that BET has been gentrified, with budget cuts affecting the creativity and quality of the shows. He points to the sale of BET to Viacom and Paramount as a turning point.
- Decline of Network TV: The video highlights the broader trend of declining viewership for network television, with people increasingly turning to streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+.
- The Rise of Streaming: Streaming services offer more exclusive content and flexibility, leading people to cut cable subscriptions.
- Network Strategies: Networks are attempting to adapt by creating streaming platforms (e.g., Disney Plus, Paramount Plus, Peacock) and offering skinny bundles, but they are still struggling to compete.
- Historical Context: The video references a 2023 warning from the Center for Digital Future about the impending end of broadcast TV, noting that networks are slowly dying or merging into streaming channels.
- Local TV Impact: Networks are siphoning money from local markets while diminishing the exclusivity of content licensed to local stations.
- The Shift in Entertainment: The entertainment landscape is changing, with a move away from traditional sitcoms and network programming towards streaming platforms.
- Business Decisions: The video questions why black-owned businesses are often sold off, leading to a loss of control and potential changes in the company’s mission.
- Marketing Tactics: Networks often delay revealing declining sales or viewership to avoid accelerating the trend of people checking out.
- The Future of Media: The video suggests that media franchises are likely to move from linear television to streaming or other platforms.
- Exclusivity Erosion: Traditional networks are losing exclusivity on key events and content, as these are also available on their streaming platforms.
- Cable’s Response: Cable operators are pushing back on increasing retransmission rates and negotiating with networks to develop skinny bundles to combat subscriber losses.
About Channel:
Leftist news commentary & interviews. Fighting for political and social change. Sabby Sabs podcast is a part of Revolutionary Blackout Network.
9limmer@piefed.zip 3 weeks ago
Yeah, these old school award shows feel largely out of touch and in dire need of reimagining. In more normal times, I would have bet on investment in reworking the brand, which I hope is still happening behind the scenes. But with DEI, Black culture and history under direct attack now, it’s not looking good in the near future. On the upside, Black culture is less niche and in need of a separate award show in many ways. It punches way above its weight class with prominence as an economic engine with broad global influence. Something better will come along as creativity is often strengthened by resistance and hardship, and corporatization and money is often the death of it.