BET President of Programming Stephen Hill Steps Down

After 18 years, BET’s now-former president of programming Stephen Hill resigned from his post at the network amidst rumors of a network overhauling.

Hill’s planned departure was announced late afternoon today (March 29) by BET Networks chairman/CEO Debra Lee in an internal staff memo, saying that Hill “has decided to step down,” the letter reads. “Who could ever forget THE Prince Tribute, James Brown and Michael Jackson, Beyoncé & Kendrick Lamar? This list can go on and on. The incredible “awww yeahhh” moments Stephen has created during his 18 years literally are too many to mention.Please join me in thanking Stephen for all the love and support he has given BET over the course of his remarkable career. Let’s wish him well in his next adventure.”

During his tenure, he helped birth such critically acclaimed six-hour biopic The New Edition Story, 106 & Park, The BET Awards, The Hip Hop Awards, Being Mary Jane, The Quad, and Real Husbands of Hollywood.

Hill, along with Executive Vice President of Programming Zola Mashariki, leaves the network at the end of the week.

According to Deadline, the departure may due to a revamping of parent network Viacom Media Networks under new CEO Bob Bakish.

“[BET] is part of Viacom Media Networks, which is in the middle of a revamp under new Viacom CEO Bob Bakish. Last month, he unveiled a sweeping new game plan to focus the entertainment giant around six TV brands and tie them more closely to the Paramount studio, for example with co-productions,” the industry insider reported.

“One of those brands was BET, along with Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Comedy Central, MTV and the new Paramount Network which is what Spike will become.”

In his final memo to the company, Hill wrote, “I will miss you all. I will miss this. I will miss us. But I am so excited to see where you next take this powerful, agile, thrusting spacecraft of a brand. Imagine it and drive well.”