Black Entertainment Television Reviews

Pros

Though the broadcast network is the crown jewel, making a statement at the .com, especially in a senior role, can be beneficial for your career at the company - both previous GM's for bet.com are the COO and CFO of the company.

Cons

For a while (and still today, though I don't follow as closely), innovation was relegated to fast following whatever other Viacom properties had done, specifically MTV and VH1. However, given their audience, BET should consider not only delivering African-American targeted content, but deeper social services. Frankly, they dropped the ball when it comes to aggregating and facilitating share of voice via social media given how greatly African-American's over-index in terms of usage.

Advice to Senior Management

Take a longer view on how to harness share of voice across the social web. By harness, I don't mean control, I mean aggregate and facilitate in a manner where BET consistently has it's finger on the pulse of their community. In 2012, it's not about on-site traffic, it's about insight into your community's overall engagement both on and off-site. Build the best business intelligence around your audience as possible, and use off-site interests to drive new content, curation of off-site content, and recommendations.

Pros

Creative environment, relaxed and fun atmosphere.

Cons

Upper management tend to be inexperienced in creative. Very small window for advancement and promotion. Many employees are negative and disgruntled.

Advice to Senior Management

Provide leadership and bonding workshops and services for employees (freelance & full time). Give praise for good work and encourage collaboration and professional training and development.

Pros

Stephen Hill honestly cares about the company and is open to hearing legitimate suggestions on how to improve the network.
Plenty of events to attend
Summer hours
Once you're in it's hard to get fired

Cons

Extremely unorganized
Lack of commitment to the work
Have to play the game and mingle to get ahead...more than the average entertainment company
Terrible place to start your career...you will learn the wrong way to do business

Advice to Senior Management

Stop hiring your friends and find someone qualified.
Listen to the feedback from your employees.
Executives need to stop trying to be celebrities and just focus on getting the work done.

Pros

Very family oriented, fun place to work until the end of 2009. Very empowering. Senior employees are included in all areas of operations including interdepartmental meetings. Employees are allowed to learn and grow in areas outside of their area of expertise.

Cons

Senior management very incompetent and not concerned about the well-being of employees. There is more of an emphasis on having a good time than doing excellent work. The company alwasy seems to be a step behind the rest of the industry.

Advice to Senior Management

The company should adopt an attitude of continuous improvement as opposed to business as usual.

Pros

Good Health Benefits for the amount you pay.

Cons

Low pay. not enough raises and promotions.

Advice to Senior Management

Pay employees a little more and show them that they are appreciated.