BET Shakeup as Top Executives Exit

Programming president Stephen Hill and head of Original Programming Zola Mashariki leave cable channel

BET Programming president Stephen Hill and head of Original Programming Zola Mashariki are leaving the cable channel.

Connie Orlando, senior vice president for Specials, Music Programming, and News, will serve as the interim head of Programming for BET Networks.

“Over the past decade Connie has worked in a variety of roles in the programming department and is a seasoned, talented and well respected industry veteran,” BET Networks chairman and CEO Debra Lee wrote in an internal memo obtained by TheWrap.

“Stephen has earned a reputation as one of the leading creative minds in television and music,” Lee said.

Why YouTube TV Needs Time Warner But Not Viacom

WKYS, WPGC and WHUR were all full with the music of Zapp and as I drove the car (that I still own) down New York Avenue in DC towards the BET Complex, I thought to myself “we’ll need to get the details and some footage quickly so that we can get something on the air today about Roger”.

Due to the shoot schedule for the video shows, the edit time, and the way that Master Control was set up, the quickest anything could be turned around was one week.

For you and BET, it’s the opportunities you will mine through your new designation: VIACOM made a wise choice making BET a “Flagship” brand.

There is an abundance of talent at BET Networks; each person a spark that can start the blaze of the next success; to again take what is currently unimaginable and set on a path to make it real.

[...] I’ll re-approach the side of the action, sway to and fro while catching the rhythm and jump back into the fast-paced double-dutch of life.