Tyler Perry launches new comedy and drama FAST channels with BET
Tyler Perry steers into the FAST lane. The mega-producer is launching multiple FAST (free, ad-supported television) channels as part of its ongoing relationship with BET.
Perry’s library of BET series will be scheduled on the new, just-launched channels BET Tyler Perry Comedy and BET Tyler Perry Drama, marking the first time Perry’s BET series has been made available on FAST channels. The outlets will launch on FAST platforms including Roku, Pluto TV, Plex, TCL, Freevee and more.
The Perry BET library represents more than 600 hours of series including ‘Tyler Perry’s Sistas’, ‘Tyler Perry’s The Oval’, ‘Tyler Perry’s House of Payne’, ‘Tyler Perry’s Ruthless’, ‘Tyler Perry’s Zatima’, ‘Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living’ and ‘All the Queen’s Men’. The channels will launch with marathons of those shows, as well as top highlights and cast conversations.
Shows that will be added on a different date include ‘Tyler Perry’s Meet The Browns’, ‘Tyler Perry’s The Haves and The Have Nots’, ‘Tyler Perry’s For Better or Worse’ and ‘Tyler Perry’s Too Close To Home’.
“The introduction of Perry’s content to FAST channels is a momentous event in our partnership,” said Louis Carr, president of media sales at BET Media Group. “We are excited to give Black audiences a new way to enjoy Tyler Perry content and provide more access options to our original programming.”
BET announced in January at the CES convention in Las Vegas that its library of original Tyler Perry series will be made available for licensing and syndication by third-party platforms including SVOD, AVOD, FAST and broadcast.
In April, Perry inked a new multi-year deal with BET Media Group, which includes the renewal of eight of his shows for BET and its BET+ streamer. BET also ordered a new scripted series from Perry, “Route 187.”
Among the shows renewed under that new content deal were BET’s Tyler Perry’s Sistas for its eighth season, “Tyler Perry’s The Oval” for season 6 and “Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living” for a sixth season. Also renewed is “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” for its sixth season on BET (and 12th overall, having previously run in syndication and TBS). The deal also included new seasons of the BET+ series “Tyler Perry’s Zatima,” “Tyler Perry’s Ruthless,” Tyler Perry’s Bruh” and “All The Queen’s Men.”
Earlier this month, Perry expressed support for a plan by BET CEO Scott Mills, who is part of a group that may want to buy the company from Paramount Global. “I’m a big fan of Scott and if this is a deal he can work out and deliver on, I’m 100% behind it,” Perry said. “Between Shari Redstone and him, they’re the reason I’m here. It was fantastic to work with them. I love working with Scott every day and I will continue to work with him wherever he is.”
Here’s a first look at the Tyler Perry FAST channels:
