Louis Carr Named BET President, BET Studios To Become CBS Studios Label Run By Aisha Summers-Burke
EXCLUSIVE: BET‘s President of Media Sales Louis Carr, will lead the cable network where he has been for 39 years. He has been promoted to President, succeeding Scott Mills, who is exiting as BET Media Group President and CEO. Carr will also continue in his role as President of Media Sales, which he has been in for the last 24 years.
Going forward, Carr will report to George Cheeks, Chair of TV Media, which spans Paramount’s linear brands, including CBS, BET, MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central. Cheeks made the announcement in an internal memo, in which he also acknowledged Mills and his contributions to BET. (You can read it below.)
Additionally, Cheeks revealed that BET Studios will become a label within CBS Studios. According to sources, Aisha Summers-Burke, who has led BET Studios since its 2021 launch as EVP, Head of Creative, will continue to do so in the entity’s new incarnation. At CBS Studios, headed by President David Stapf, BET Studios will complement the studio’s production venture with NAACP.
The move, which Cheeks said is “creating alignment, resources, and support across studios while preserving BET’s unique programming brand and point of view,” completes the puzzle of the various production entities within Paramount’s cable universe that existed prior to the company’s August acquisition by Skydance. They have been split between the company’s two post-merger TV studios with BET Studios joining CBS Studios and Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios, Nickelodeon live-action and Awesomeness folded into the new Paramount TV Studios.
Cheeks’ memo does not address BET+, which currently sits within his portfolio as part of the former BET Media Group overseen by Mills, which consisted of the BET Network, BET Studios and BET+. It is also unclear whether there would be a senior programming executive under Carr at BET.
During his tenure with the company, Carr has shepherded more than $9B in advertising sales to top companies such as Procter & Gamble, Unilever, McDonald’s, and Apple.
“For nearly four decades, Louis has been instrumental in driving BET’s success and cultural influence,” Cheeks said. “His deep experience and proven track record position him to expertly guide the brand into its next era.”
Cheeks also indicated that many BET corporate and other functions will be shared across the TV Media division, a move for centralization that was signaled by the recent Paramount layoffs which hit the company’s cable networks hard. Integrated cross-brand areas include communications, finance, BALA, marketing and research.
Additionally, Cheeks echoed comments by Paramount CEO David Ellison and President Jeff Shell about the value of BET and some of company’s other cable brands.
“BET remains one of the most iconic brands in entertainment,” Cheeks said. “Together, we will honor this legacy while driving its future growth across platforms and lines of business. With Louis at the helm and our teams aligned, BET is poised to innovate, expand its influence, and set the standard for culturally relevant storytelling in the years ahead.”
Under Summers-Burke, BET Studios in 2024 launched its first series, the well received Diarra From Detroit for BET+, which has been renewed for a second season. Previously, she was a creative executive at Warner Bros. Television and Warner Horizon Scripted Television.
Here is Cheeks memo:
Hi Team,
I wanted to share the note Scott Mills sent his team, letting them know that after an extraordinary tenure, he is stepping down from his role as head of BET.
Under Scott’s leadership, BET has been a cultural powerhouse, championing and amplifying Black voices. Scott expanded BET’s reach and influence, including the creation of BET Studios in 2021 with partners like Kenya Barris and Rashida Jones. He positioned BET as the home for culturally defining tentpole events such as the BET Awards and the NAACP Image Awards, deepening our connection with Black audiences. These strategic moves cemented BET’s status as a leading entertainment brand.
Please join me in thanking Scott for his leadership and unwavering commitment to BET’s mission, and in wishing him continued success in his next chapter.
Looking ahead, Louis Carr will lead BET while also continuing as President of Media Sales for the brand, reporting to me. For nearly four decades, Louis has been instrumental in driving BET’s success and cultural influence. His deep experience and proven track record position him to expertly guide the brand into its next era.
Louis brings unmatched expertise across linear, digital, and social ecosystems. His programming instincts are exceptional. He has generated billions in advertising sales and cultivated partnerships with category-leading companies such as Procter & Gamble, Unilever, McDonald’s, and Apple. His leadership has shaped corporate strategies for global brands, driven innovation, and strengthened BET’s role as an industry leader.
Going forward, BET’s core operations and department heads will also now connect more closely with the broader TV Media structure, supported by our group’s scaled cross-functional capabilities in communications, finance, BALA, marketing, research, and other areas. This includes BET Studios, which will have its own label as part of the CBS Studios division – creating alignment, resources, and support across studios while preserving BET’s unique programming brand and point of view.
BET remains one of the most iconic brands in entertainment. Together, we will honor this legacy while driving its future growth across platforms and lines of business. With Louis at the helm and our teams aligned, BET is poised to innovate, expand its influence, and set the standard for culturally relevant storytelling in the years ahead.
-George
