BET Soul
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2017) |
 | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Headquarters | New York City, New York |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Picture format | 480i (SDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Paramount Media Networks (Paramount Global) |
| Parent | BET Networks |
| Sister channels | List
|
| History | |
| Launched | August 1, 1998 |
| Former names | VH1 Soul (1998-2015) |
| Links | |
| Website | BET Soul |
| Availability | |
Internet Protocol television | |
BET Soul is an American
Originating as VH1 Soul, a spinoff of
History
Early years (1998-2006)
The channel, which was originally a commercial-free service, debuted on August 1, 1998 with
In its early years, VH1 Soul's main focus was on R&B and soul videos of the late 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, along with live performance clips from even earlier years.
Change of format (2006-2015)
On February 1, 2006, VH1 Soul revamped its programming and introduced different one-hour themed video blocks to its schedule, as opposed to the prior random rotation of videos. However, the basic 'wheel schedule' structure remained, and does so to this day.
In Spring 2007, VH1 Soul, alongside its sister networks
The last edition of the
For a short time from 2008 until 2009 the network aired non-music video programming in some timeslots, including
BET era (2015-present)
On December 28, 2015, the channel was given over to BET Networks as part of the continuing reorganization of Viacom's (now Paramount's) assets due to ratings and financial issues in 2015, an issue that had already resulted in BET Networks taking editorial control of the former
BET Soul would change its image again on November 27, 2021, introducing a new logo more in line with BET's current reimaging. This rebrand also saw the channel expand its blocks from one hour to two hours each, alongside the renaming of some blocks (such as "Soul School" to "Diggin' in the Crates") and the introduction of new blocks to the schedule (such as "Woke Wednesday"). Another alteration to the channel's programming was the return of non-music-video programming to the network's schedule, via the weekly "Cuffing SZN" block. However, as of spring 2022, the block seems to have been discontinued.
Presently, a selection of R&B hits from the past 10 years, as well as several 1980s and early 1990s hip-hop videos, can be seen on BET Soul. Several of the more R&B-influenced modern-day rappers and their newest videos can also be regularly seen in heavy rotation on the channel; for example: The Roots, De La Soul, Kanye West, Common, and Talib Kweli. However, the channel still occasionally airs older 1980s or early 1990s R&B/soul hits, such as Prince's "Kiss", Mariah Carey's "Vision Of Love", Stevie Wonder's "Superstition", or Chaka Khan's "I Feel For You".
Programming
Current
- In Rotation (formerly "The Soul Player") – A random rotation of videos. The format is similar to how the channel was operated before February 1, 2006.
- Chronicled (formerly "The Soul Story") – A block of videos by a single artist or group that are mostly shown in chronological order.
- Soul Squared – A block of old and current videos by various artists which airs two videos from the same artist back-to-back, in a similar manner to VH1 Classic's Tuesday Twoplay program.
- Diggin' In The Crates (formerly "Soul School") – This show features old school hip-hop and R&B music videos.
- WORLDwide (formerly "One Planet, One Soul" and "Island Soul") – This show features music videos by Caribbean and international artists with diverse genres such as Afrobeat, dancehall and reggae.
- The Calming (formerly "Soulphrodisiac") – A Quiet Stormformatted show. The show primarily plays love songs and slow jams, and is similar to BET After Dark or BET's Midnight Love.
- Woke Wednesday - A weekly block showcasing politically-charged or "woke" music videos every Wednesday.
- Hit List: Loading... - A countdown block featuring the Top 20 Soul and R&B videos of the week.
- Ascending Soul - A block which features experimental soul videos.
Former
- Speak Your Soul – A viewer-requested video block. Viewers made requests on the channel's official website. (Discontinued with rebrand to BET Soul)
- Live Soul – This show featured live performance clips by soul artists. (Discontinued)
- Top 10 Best in Soul – This show featured videos by the most popular artists in R&B and hip-hop music. The format is similar to MTV's Big 10.
- Sub Soul – This show featured videos by Underground Soul artists.
- Cuffing SZN - A short-lived weekly block of BET original programming such as American Soul and The Encore. Aired every Saturday night at 7:00pm EST.
References
- ^ Hay, Carla (August 22, 1998). "MuchMusic Readies Awards, Spinoff Channel; MTV's Suite Set". Vol. 110, no. 34. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 85. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
- ^ Chapman Jr., George (28 December 2015). "VH1 Soul to Become BET Soul The 24-hour music video channel to make big switch today". BET Networks. Retrieved 3 January 2016.