Black Entertainment Television provides entertainment centered around the black community and for black audiences. BET launched January 25, 1980, in a few cities on the East Coast, but soon expanded throughout the United States and the Caribbean. The founder, Robert L. Johnson, created the network to supply black images to an industry lacking such. In its early days, BET’s programming was diverse: The network showcased music videos and comedy while also keeping viewers informed on the latest international news. However, in recent years the network has gone down, focusing its content on reality shows and scripted series. There is now limited content.

The most noticeable change to BET’s programming is its lack of coverage on music artists. The BET Awards is the only consistent music coverage audiences can get, yet it only happens once a year. During the late 1990s and early 2000s you could watch "Free and AJ on 106 & Park." This show counted down the top 10 videos and was a great outlet for youth. Not only could one expect great music, but also competitions that featured up and coming artist and dancers. It was a great show for 14 years. It is now cancelled. Leading up to the years before its cancellation, many programs that focused on music soon perished, such as "Rap City" and "Access Granted." While "Rap City" gave rappers the opportunity to spit freestyles and kick it with artists like Big Tigger, "Access Granted" took fans behind the scenes of their favorite artists’ videos. Everything that went into making a video was shown and the audience saw the world premiere at the conclusion of the episode.

Outside of the music realm, BET also focused on the more serious issues with "BET Nightly" and "Don’t Sleep!." "BET Nightly" featured news anchors Jacque Reid and Michelle Miller and the program provided a narrative from the perspective of people of color, while giving opportunities to black anchors. T. J. Holmes was introduced in 2012 with his show "Don’t Sleep!" This show combined news and satire, similar to "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart." Now, BET has no news coverage, and in a time when black men and women are facing harassment from law enforcement, It is imperative that we have someone reporting from our perspective.

With their hands in music and headlines, BET also participated in comedy and drama. "College Hill" and "Baldwin Hills" documented the life of teenagers and college students. "College Hill" covered a historically black college every season, putting four men and four women in a house as roommates and chronicling the college experience. On the other hand, "Baldwin Hills" displayed bratty teens living on the West Coast, dealing with petty drama and crushes. Both shows weren’t the most positive, but they provided for great entertainment, acting as the black "Real World" and "The Hills." Laughs could be emitted from watching both shows, but the real comedy was embedded in Comic View. This series allowed up-and-coming comedians to perform their jokes in front of an audience. BET was not only providing laughs, but giving audiences sneak peeks at rising stars.

BET's programming has become mediocre. Outside of series such as "Being Mary Jane" or "Real Husbands of Hollywood," BET has lost its edge. Looking at BET’s television schedule, their programming consists of nothing but old 90s sitcoms, black films, and reality shows. It has neglected the black talent that exists in music, comedy, news, art, and poetry. Reality shows are not always bad, but an over-saturation of it can be unhealthy.Seeing where BET was and where it has come, there is definitely room for improvement. BET doesn’t have to be like the past, but it can definitely do better for the future generations who will tune in.