BET & MTV Networks With DIRECTV Announced New BET 'J' Channel at Satellite Carrier's L.A. Headquarters

Earlier this month at the headquarters for DIRECTV in Los Angeles, executives from BET Networks, DIRECTV and MTV Networks announced to a host of industry and press in attendance, the launch of the new BET J Channel--a music, culture and lifestyle network born from the best programming of the popular BET Jazz Channel. With the addition of the BET J Channel, DIRECTV continues its tradition of providing the most exciting and unique programming for its customers. BET J is available on Channel 330 on DIRECTV's TOTAL CHOICE PLUS programming package. MTV Networks negotiated this new carriage agreement as part of its Affiliate Sales and Marketing representation of BET Networks. With the DIRECTV launch, BET J has built a total distribution platform that reaches approximately 21 million homes.

Following the announcement were musical performances and comments from R&B and jazz artists who will be among the many featured in BET J programming: Teena Marie; Rachelle Ferrell, Chante Moore & Kenny Lattimore; Stanley Clarke; and George Duke.

ABOUT BET NETWORKS
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom, Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 80 million households according to Nielsen media research, and can be seen in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of businesses extensions: BET.com, the Number 1 Internet portal for African Americans; BET Digital Networks - BET J, BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; and BET Mobile, a service venture into the lucrative world of ring tones, games and video content for wireless devices.