Robert Johnson

Birthplace: Freeport, Illinois
Birthday: April 8, 1946

Cable TV executive who in 1980 founded Black Entertainment TV (BET), the only black-owned and oriented national cable channel, with $15,000 of his own money and a $500,000 investment from cable giant Tele-Communications Inc. Despite a rocky history, the network, which features many music videos by African-American performers, college sports, movies, news and talk shows, has adopted a 24-hour format and Johnson has gradually seen its modest ratings increase. Unafraid to confront MTV with its domination of airing rights to black music videos, Joh…more

Full Biography

Credits

Actor

Nantucket: Rock of Changes
Interviewee
The Crash
Teen Summit Town Hall Meeting: STDs...What You Don t Know Can Hurt You
Panelist
25 Strong! The BET Silver Anniversary Special
Lying Eyes
Interviewee

Below The Line

Under the Biltmore Clock
Assistant
Diplomatic Siege
Apprentice
Cool Women
Production Assistant

Camera, Film & Tape

Jacked!
Assistant Camera

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Career Milestones

1991
Oversaw the broadcast of his first cable pay-per-view effort, a James Brown concert
1991
Partner of actor-producer Tim Reid in United Image Entertainment
1980 to 0000
Founder and president of cable channel Black Entertainment TV (BET)
1980 to 0000
Founder and president of District Cablevision Inc.
1973 to 1976
Served as press secretary to the Honorable Walter E. Fauntroy, Congressional delegate from the District of Columbia