Since 1980, BET has been a popular TV network offering music videos, TV shows, and more. The channel became its own entity in 1983, making it independent of other channels, and it now has a 24-hour schedule. If you pay for satellite, you may be wondering — What channel is BET on DISH Network? Let’s discuss how, and where, you can watch BET.
BET Channel Guide
| Channel Name | Dish Channel Number |
|---|---|
| BET | 124 |
| BET Gospel | 362 |
| BET Jams | 365 |
| BET Soul | 363 |
| BET Her | 251 |
The History of BET
BET stands for Black Entertainment Television. The network, owned by CBS Entertainment Group, started in Washington, D.C.. It’s now recognized as one of the most well-known television networks. It’s a pioneering program for Black American culture, especially among young Black Americans.
The network, which was created for an African-American audience, debuted on television on January 25, 1980. By 1985, the channel had been able to reach all of North America and the Caribbean thanks to its creator, Robert L. Johnson, and it has continued to develop ever since. While it initially focused on older Black comedies and music videos, it has recently expanded to include chat shows, reality TV, comedy shows, and more.
BET was first sold to Viacom in 2005 for $2.5 billion before being acquired once more by CBS Entertainment Group in 2009. The channel was available to about 88,255,000 American households as of February 2015. Since the sale in 2009, the channel has also increased the shows on BET’s sibling channels BET Gospel and BET Jams, as well as launched original programming, such as the drama series “The Oval,” and the docuseries “Black + Iconic.”
BET Sister Stations
BET has a few sister channels on DISH — BET Gospel, BET Jams, BET Her, and BET Soul. CBS Entertainment Group also owns these channels.
BET Programming
With over 40 years of programming, BET is able to offer many different shows. While programming does include syndicated movies from time to time, the channel’s main focus is its shows. Here’s what you may see in a typical week.
Originals
BET has offered many original shows in the last 20 years. Sistas, Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living, Tales, The Oval, and The Wine Down with Mary J. Blige are just a few options you can choose from. These shows vary from drama to comedy to talk shows. Many explore the Black American identity while living day to day.
Syndicated
BET also offers syndicated programming. This means that BET has acquired broadcasting rights to shows that the channel didn’t create. Just a few of these shows include Family Matters, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Martin. While these are the most popular titles, you can also watch The Game, College Hill: Celebrity Edition, and Celebrity Family Feud, just to name a few. These shows air throughout the day, including evenings, nights, and weekends.
Awards Shows
BET has many different award shows, which are aired live once per year. They include the BET Awards, BET Hip Hop Awards, Soul Train Music Awards, and BET Gospel Awards. If you’d like to watch them, BET lists their airing dates on their website. You can also watch previous awards shows online.
BET Gospel Programming
The BET Gospel channel offers shows for growth in religion and spirituality. Viewers can watch faith-based shows like Lifted, Lift Every Voice, and It’s a Mann’s World. These shows include music videos and live singing.
BET Jams Programming
BET Jams simply showcases music videos, including hip-hop, rap, and soul music. Aside from music videos, this channel does not offer any other content, so it’s truly for music lovers.
BET Her Programming
BET Her is listed as a channel with Black women and their wants in mind. The channel offers shows and movies based on Black women, as well as music programming like Morning Glow — a showcase of music videos curated for women.
BET Soul Programming
The BET Soul is similar to BET Jams, offering R&B, soul, hip-hop, and jazz music. The channel started as VH1 Soul but changed to BET Soul in 2015. While this channel doesn’t have any shows, it’s a great way to find music you may love.
BET on DISH Network
Whether you’re looking to watch the original BET network, or want to watch music videos or spiritual shows, you can find quite a bit on BET and its sister networks, BET Gospel, BET Jams, BET Her, and BET Soul. Furthermore, you can also find many syndicated shows on the network, including popular options like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, if you choose.
