A Landmark Exit: Bob Johnson and BET

This season, we’re speaking with entrepreneurs who have successfully scaled and sold their companies with a particular focus on their exits. In this episode we sit down with Bob Johnson, the groundbreaking entrepreneur and founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET). In the late 1970s, Bob Johnson came up with what some might say was a radical idea - programming by and for African Americans. And so BET was born. Twenty years later, Bob Johnson sold the company to Viacom for almost four billion dollars, making him one of the wealthiest African Americans in the country.

We sit down for a candid conversation with Bob about how he built the company, the importance of finding investors who shared his values, and why he finally sold BET. Along the way, Bob offers some important playbook points regarding team-building and self-confidence. Finally, Bob leaves us with an analysis of the current investment landscape and provides suggestions for how underrepresented entrepreneurs can overcome obstacles that stand between them and their pursuit of capital.

Come on and join us for the ride.

The guest speakers are neither employees nor affiliated with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. (“Morgan Stanley”). The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley. The information and figures contained herein has been obtained from sources outside of Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley makes no representations or guarantees as to the accuracy or completeness of information or data from sources outside of Morgan Stanley. Morgan Stanley is not responsible for the information or data contained in this podcast.

This podcast does not provide individually tailored investment advice and is not a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell any security or other financial instrument or to participate in any trading strategy. It has been prepared without regard to the individual financial circumstances and objectives of persons who receive it.

© 2019 Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Members SIPC.