Yahneake Sterling, Staff Reporter
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO:
BET JAZZ network will be re-branding and reprogramming the channel come March 1, this year.
According to Cybelle Brown, vice-president sales and marketing at BET Jazz, the channel will now be called BET J.
Noting that there is an increased demand for Caribbean programming in the United States and the Caribbean, she announced that the changes will see more focus being placed on the Caribbean and African American content.
MUSIC AND LIFESTYLE
"In recognition of African and Caribbean Americans, BET Jazz will be re-branding the channel with a mix of music and lifestyle programmes for Jazz enthusiasts and African Americans 25 plus," Brown said, at the recent Caribbean Media Exchange conference in Puerto Rico.
Saturdays she said, will be dedicated to Caribbean Culture, music and news with a possibility for an extension in the future. Additionally the channel will feature 'neo soul', R&B, and short films in primetime, Monday to Friday. She added that the new Bet J, will be launched on Direct TV, reaching over 70 million households.
BET Jazz is a subsidiary of BET and Viacom, Inc. It is the only 24-hour television channel that dedicates its programmes to jazz interests and is distributed to more than 13 million homes.
