Three Months Into His New Gig, Carr Has Big Ambitions for the Network, From the Return of the Soul Train Awards to Community Focused Programming
Barely three months into his role as president of BET, Louis Carr is already mapping out what the network’s next chapter will look like, and it includes a familiar name many viewers have been waiting on.
In a recent interview with Jabari Young on “The Enterprise Zone” podcast, Carr said the BET Soul Train Awards return is firmly on the table after the show was paused in 2025.
“That’s the one,” Carr said. “I think that’s the one everyone wants to come back.”
A Veteran Executive Steps Into Leadership
Carr, who replaced Scott Mills last December, admitted the promotion came as a surprise.
“I didn’t see it coming,” he said. “What I saw was: I’ve had an amazing career. It’s time to go do something else.”
Instead, the longtime executive now leads a network he has helped shape for more than 40 years. Before becoming president, Carr built his reputation in advertising, helping generate more than $10 billion in revenue during his tenure.
That experience now carries added weight as BET navigates major internal and industry changes.
Also Read: BET+ Shutting Down as Service Merges With Paramount+
Streaming Shift and Programming Reset
One of the biggest recent shifts came in March when BET+ was absorbed into Paramount+, part of a broader restructuring by parent company Paramount Global. The company also bought out Tyler Perry’s stake in BET+.
At the same time, newer efforts like the Cam Newton led “106 & Sports” were short lived, ending after just eight episodes.
Despite those shifts, Carr says the network is refining its direction rather than stepping back.
“We have a new slogan out: BET is something you can believe in,” he said.
Returning to Core Identity
Carr’s strategy leans heavily on what he sees as BET’s original purpose. He pointed to earlier programming like “Teen Summit” and “Ed Gordon” as examples of how the network once centered community driven storytelling and information.
“We’ve decided the lanes that we’re going to play in,” Carr said. “Those lanes are community, culture, and connection.”
He emphasized that audiences expect more than entertainment from brands rooted in Black culture.
“They expect to be seen. They expect to be heard. They expect to be respected. And they expect to be understood,” he said.
New Programming and Familiar Staples
Looking ahead, Carr outlined a mix of new and nostalgic content. Plans include expanding into sports and comedy, two areas that helped define BET in earlier decades.
The network is also exploring microseries, microdramas, and original shows, along with programming focused on mental health.
Still, the possible return of the Soul Train Awards stands out as the clearest signal of how BET plans to balance reinvention with tradition.
Reinvention in a Changing Media Landscape
Carr acknowledged that BET is navigating the same uncertainty facing the broader media industry.
“We’re just like every other media brand trying to figure it out,” he said. “What is the new paradigm, what is the new model we need to operate under.”
With the network entering a new phase under the Paramount Skydance merger, Carr is positioning BET to evolve while staying rooted in its cultural foundation.
Whether through new formats or the return of legacy shows, the goal remains consistent: keep BET at the center of Black culture.
