BET programming president Stephen Hill and his top lieutenant are stepping down from the network, marking the latest transition in the management of Viacom-owned cablers.
Hill, an 18-year BET vet, announced his departure to staffers on Wednesday. BET also confirmed that exec VP and head of programming Zola Mashariki would exit along with Hill.
Connie Orlando, senior VP of specials, music programming and news, will head programming in the interim while BET searches for a successor for Hill.
The timing of Hill’s departure is surprising. BET on Tuesday launched a new drama series “Rebel” that had mostly favorable reviews (ratings were not immediately available on Wednesday) and traction in social media. In January, BET scored a big hit with its three-part miniseries “The New Edition Story.”
Hill has headed BET programming since September 2014. He joined BET in 1999 and moved up the ranks in various programming posts. He was the driving force behind BET’s music-related shows for years before taking the reins of all programming. Before BET, he spent four years as a programming exec at MTV. Last month at the Grammy Awards, Hill was caught on camera dancing during the tribute to Prince.
“His programming vision helped to create ‘106 & Park,’ The BET Awards, The Hip Hop Awards and hits such as ‘Real Husbands of Hollywood,’ the amazing success of ‘The New Edition Story’ and many, many more,” BET chairman-CEO Debra Lee said in a memo regarding Hill’s departure.
Mashariki came to BET in April 2015 from Fox Searchlight.
The shakeup at BET comes on the heels of executive shifts at Viacom’s MTV, VH1 and Comedy Central implemented by the new corporate regime at Viacom after Bob Bakish was named president-CEO in December. Paramount Pictures has also seen a changing of the guard with former 20th Century Fox head Jim Gianopulos replacing Brad Grey in the top job just this week.
In a memo to BET staffers, Hill said he was preparing to take some time off “to just be.” He declined an interview request.
