Home / Full timeline / Magazine publisher John H. Johnson and Robert L. Johnson, the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Black Entertainment Television (BET) are honored by the Executive Leadership Council.
Magazine publisher John H. Johnson and Robert L. Johnson, the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Black Entertainment Television (BET) are honored by the Executive Leadership Council.
1992 (Oct)
The Executive Leadership Council, an organization of Black American business executives, honored magazine publisher John H. Johnson and Robert L. Johnson, the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Black Entertainment Television (BET). The Council honored John Johnson with its Heritage Award for his lifelong contributions and dedication to the advancement of Black Americans in business and communications. He began his publishing career in 1942 as editor and publisher of Negro Digest (later called Black World). He started with $500 and an idea for a monthly magazine with condensed articles. A year later, Negro Digest had a circulation of 50,000. Three years later, he published the first issue of Ebony magazine. Robert Johnson was honored with the Council's Achievement Award for demonstrating outstanding leadership and commitment to the Black American community. BET premiered on January, 25, 1980, with initial programming airing only on Fridays from 11 P.M. to 2 A.M. "It's Bob Johnson's commitment and determination that brought Black Entertainment Television to the airways, making it the first and only Black American-owned cable network in the United States," Council member James Jenkins said. "Johnson's success with Black Entertainment Television marks the first time in history that American viewers have had access to quality programming that reflects the needs, interests, and diverse lifestyles of Black America." BET is now a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week operation, reaching more than 46 million households.
References:
- • Hornsby, Alton. Chronology of African-American History: Significant Events and People from 1619 to the Present. Detroit: Gale Research, 1995.