CENTRIC Debuts Monday, September 28

Centric Kicks Off Celebrating the Legendary Michael Jackson, Remembering
"Fame" and Bringing Back Peace, Love and Soul

NEW YORK, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- CENTRIC, the 24-hour entertainment network
featuring the artists, music, series, movies and reality programming that
reflects the lifestyle and sophistication of today's African-American and
multi-cultural adult, made its debut on Monday, September 28 at 6:00 a.m. ET.
The CENTRIC brand replaces the BET J brand, and the channel will continue to
focus on the influential 25 to 54-year-old viewer. With a new name, new brand
and a renewed commitment to super-serving its core audience CENTRIC can be
found on the major satellite, cable and telco providers.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070716/BETNETWORKSLOGO )

CENTRIC kicks off the week with a series of shows that commemorate the
unforgettable legacy of Michael Jackson. On September 28, CENTRIC premieres
the original episode of the classic music show, SOUL TRAIN featuring the late
performer at 9:00 p.m.*; followed by a half-hour in-depth profile, MJ: OUR
ICON at 10:00 p.m. INSIDE THE MJ MANSION, an insightful documentary that
gives viewers a personal snapshot into the singer's life at 11:00 p.m.; plus
an electrifying block of Michael Jackson-inspired music videos showcased in a
special episode of SOUL SESSIONS. CENTRIC also features a marathon of the
best episodes from the beloved series "Fame".

CENTRIC will also air an exciting lineup of music-themed programming
throughout the week, including memorable concert performances, movies, and
originals touting iconic star power from notable figures such as Tina Turner,
Beyonce, Erykah Badu, Diddy, Salt & Pepa, The Roots, the Notorious B.I.G., and
India Arie. Viewers can also tune in to the original series LEADING MEN and
LEADING WOMEN which intimately chronicle the dynamic lives of celebrities like
Boris Kodjoe, Hill Harper, Brian McKnight, Dr. Maya Angelou, Iman, and Patti
Labelle.

In November, CENTRIC will bring viewers the return of the highly-popular urban
music awards show, THE SOUL TRAIN AWARDS, the music special that bridges the
gap between the soulful sounds of yesterday and today. Taping at the famed
Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, this star-studded two-hour special
is slated to premiere on Sunday, November 29 at 9:00 p.m. The show will
celebrate music's legacy by recognizing winners from various prestigious music
categories and honor some of R&B music's notable icons. The special is
guaranteed to take viewers on a soul-stirring ride through Soul Train's most
memorable moments, as well as feature hot performances from today's hottest
artists.

"This couldn't be a more perfect time to debut the Centric brand and build
from BET J's strong music foundation, bringing a fresh offering dedicated to
the African-American and multi-cultural adult audience," said Scott Mills, BET
Networks President and Chief Operating Officer. "CENTRIC is all about
reflecting the beautiful life that our audience has created for themselves and
the one they are still reaching for. This is a time of profound cultural
change and we are simply thrilled to have the opportunity to super-serve this
audience, with compelling content that reflects their lives, tastes and
aspirations."

"We are extremely proud to offer our audience a destination that strongly
reflects who they are today," stated Paxton Baker, CENTRIC's General Manager
and Executive Vice President.

"We have really listened to our audience and understand where they are in
their lives and what they are looking for. We know that it will take us some
time to get there, but over the next few months we will be adding new original
programming as well as a robust online offering that we will continue to grow.
Additionally, through our strategic programming roll out, integrated
marketing and digital elements, and cross-promotional efforts across BET
Networks' platforms, CENTRIC will become the top destination for our audience
to tune into 24/7."

The following is a programming snapshot of CENTRIC's music-themed launch week:

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
9:00 A.M. - 9:00 P.M.* on CENTRIC
FAME: CENTRIC brings the popular television series based on the 1980 motion
picture "Fame," and depicts the story of the students and faculty at the New
York Art School, and follows their dream to sing, to dance, act and play music
to hopefully become famous. Featuring: Debbie Allen, Gene Anthony Ray, Carlo
Imperato, Albert Hague, Carol Mayo Jenkins and Valerie Landsburg.

9:00 P.M.* on CENTRIC
SOUL TRAIN: MICHAEL JACKSON: America's classic urban music series featuring
pop music icon, Michael Jackson.

10:00 P.M.*on CENTRIC
MJ: OUR ICON: A 30-minute intimate profile on Michael Jackson, and features
exclusive footage from his famed December 2007 Ebony photo shoot.

11:00 P.M.* on CENTRIC
INSIDE THE MJ MANSION: This programming special gives viewers an intimate,
guided tour of Michael Jackson's last home, and includes interviews from the
superstar's friends and colleagues. Starring: Jon Kelly, Kerry Gordy, Miko
Brando, and Rodney Jerkins.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
10:00 P.M.* and 10:30 P.M.* on CENTRIC
LEADING WOMEN: A half-hour original series that intimately chronicles the
dynamic lives of celebrity divas like Patti LaBelle, Iman, Naomi Campbell and
Chaka Khan.

11:00 P.M.* on CENTRIC
MOVIE: PREACHING TO THE CHOIR - A movie drama about two twins, who grow up in
Harlem, N.Y. and take different paths when they reach adulthood. One becomes a
minister - while the other becomes a gangster rapper. Starring: Tichina
Arnold, Billoah Greene, Darien Sills-Evans, Novella Nelson, Adewale
Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Janine Green, Patti LaBelle, and Eartha Kitt.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
10:30 P.M.* on CENTRIC
LEADING MEN: A half-hour original series that intimately chronicles the
dynamic lives of celebrity trailblazers like Common, Hill Harper, Brian
McKnight and Boris Kodjoe.

11:00 P.M.* on CENTRIC
DOCUMENTARY: NOTORIOUS B.I.G.: BIGGER THAN LIFE - The greatest rapper to ever
pick up a mic - with his velvety flow and unparalleled rhyme style he
captivated everyone from Jay Z to Tupac. Now Notorious B.I.G. is revealed.
Hear the stories from his closest friends and some of the biggest names in
Hip-Hop. See raw footage of B.I.G. free-styling on the streets of New York,
rare home video footage, a never-before-seen interview with Biggie shortly
before his death and undisclosed video footage from the night of his murder.
Starring: Biggie, Common, Diddy, E-40, Sticky Fingaz, Jay-Z, Method Man,
Raekwon, and Voletta Wallace.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1
2:00 P.M.* and 11:00 P.M.* on CENTRIC
MOVIE: Seat Filler - A law student, making ends meet by filling empty seats at
award shows, occupies the seat of a high-powered entertainment attorney when
he meets his dream girl, a gorgeous superstar who is performing at the event.
Starring: Kelly Rowland, Duane Martin, Shemar Moore, Patrick Fischler, and
Romy Rosemont.

6:00 P.M.* - 7:30 P.M.* on CENTRIC
SOUL STAGE - Soul-stirring music performances by neo-soul artists Erykah
Badu, Jill Scott, and India.Arie.

*All times are ET/PT

About CENTRIC
CENTRIC is a 24-hour entertainment channel featuring originals, movies, music
and reality programming that reflects the lifestyle and sophistication of
today's African-American and multicultural adult viewer. Its compelling
content infuses a unique mix of music, culture and style that embody the
lives, tastes, and aspirations of the CENTRIC viewer: All You. All Day. All
Night.

About BET Networks
BET Networks, a division of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, 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 98 million households and can be seen in the United
States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET
is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of
businesses extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black
entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment
network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET
Digital Networks - BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for
cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of
BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and
video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and
production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET
Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless
devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and
oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

SOURCE BET Networks

Jeanine Liburd, +1-212-205-3011, jeanine.liburd@bet.net; Lyntina Townsend,
+1-202-608-2745, lyntina.townsend@bet.net, both of BET Networks