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Billion Dollar Bet: Robert Johnson and the Inside Story Of Black Entertainment Television
Praise for The Billion Dollar BET
"In a gripping narrative that is both inspirational and cautionary, Brett Pulley tells us how Robert Johnson built Black Entertainment Television into a billion-dollar media empire. In a remarkable feat of reporting, without Johnson's cooperation, Pulley shows what it really takes to get ahead in America today, and in doing so provides as valuable a cultural as business history."
--James B. Stewart Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author of DisneyWar, Den of Thieves, and Heart of a Soldier
"Like or dislike? Agree or disagree? Bob Johnson's richly varied and fascinating life presses you against the window that Brett Pulley opens widely."
--Bernard Shaw retired CNN anchor
"Through his BET network, Bob Johnson reached the pinnacle of capitalism, the billionaire boys club, in the spirit of legions of driven, American moguls . . . Veteran business journalist Brett Pulley peels back the layers of this fascinating and complex entrepreneur."
--Teri Agins Senior Special Writer, the Wall Street Journal, and author of The End of Fashion: How Marketing Changed the Clothing Business Forever
"In a gripping narrative that is both inspirational and cautionary, Brett Pulley tells us how Robert Johnson built Black Entertainment Television into a billion-dollar media empire. In a remarkable feat of reporting, without Johnson's cooperation, Pulley shows what it really takes to get ahead in America today, and in doing so provides as valuable a cultural as business history."
--James B. Stewart Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author of DisneyWar, Den of Thieves, and Heart of a Soldier
"Like or dislike? Agree or disagree? Bob Johnson's richly varied and fascinating life presses you against the window that Brett Pulley opens widely."
--Bernard Shaw retired CNN anchor
"Through his BET network, Bob Johnson reached the pinnacle of capitalism, the billionaire boys club, in the spirit of legions of driven, American moguls . . . Veteran business journalist Brett Pulley peels back the layers of this fascinating and complex entrepreneur."
--Teri Agins Senior Special Writer, the Wall Street Journal, and author of The End of Fashion: How Marketing Changed the Clothing Business Forever
248 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
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February 19, 2024yeah fkn read this shit again
February 14, 2013
This is a great story on how Bob Johnson built B.E.T. into the network behemoth that it is today. This isn't your typical fluff biography about a businessman that walked into an enchanted forest one day and got a grand idea to start a company. Bob Johnson had one goal in starting B.E.T. and that was to make money for himself and his shareholders, and if that meant putting on content which could possibly be seen as "objectionable", then so be it. Most people didn't watch positive programming anyway when Johnson put it on, so it was only right to give them what they actually wanted. Billion Dollar B.E.T. details Johnson's motivations and more for starting B.E.T. along with his Humber beginnings in a house of nine siblings and days as a cable lobbyist.
May 30, 2008
Excellent book. Really sheds some light on why BET was BET.
March 27, 2013
Excellent research and insider look into the building of a media giant especially with the inclusion of how deals were done citing specific details of those deals. Thoroughly enjoyed the read!
March 24, 2015
This is a really good that tells the story of how against overwhelming odds, BET founder Robert Johnson started BET.
August 2, 2016
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May 18, 2013Great book...Mr Robert Johnson is the real deal...he made it happen
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews