Master P: Bringing Something 'Better' To TV

By Karu F. Daniels, BlackVoices.com

After finding much success with his bawdy brew of southern fried hip-hop, Percy Miller – who officially changed his name from Master P last week – is making waves in the television arena, promising something "better."

On Aug. 15, the former No Limits Records rap sensation announced the launch of Better Black Television (BBTV), described as a family friendly network that will provide positive content for a black and brown culture that will appeal to all races with a goal to bring people of color a choice when turning on their television.

According to a statement the content on the channel will contain a wide arrangement from health and fitness, animation, financial planning, reality TV, sitcoms, dramas, movies, responsible hip-hop music and videos, politics, sports and entertainment news, educational children's shows as well as teen and family programming.

"Better Black Television has been a vision of mine for some years," said Miller, who assumes the position of the channel's Chairman & CEO. "I've done a lot to promote and change the way messages are relayed to our children and our families over the last few years.""Promoting positive content and positive messages is so important to educate and preserve the next generation," he continued. "Being exposed to positive content is what changed my life. I believe that there is a market in our community for a new diverse network that provides a new brand of superior programming that caters to all aspects of television from reality to original programming."

Production has begun and will be based out of California, New York, Louisiana and Florida.

In addition, BBTV is in the process of purchasing local cable channel affiliates across the country.

The BBTV Advisory Board members consist of actors Denzel Washington and Will Smith; business executive Jim Finkl; NAACP Executive Director Vicangelo Bullock; professional basketball player Derek Anderson (Charlotte Bobcats); media professor Sal Martino; and hip-hop pioneer DJ Kool Herc, among others.

"I'm excited to be able to expose the urban community to a vast array of jobs in the entertainment community that they might not otherwise be privy to," Miller added. "With BBTV, we're spearheading the initiative to meet consumer demand for family friendly hip-hop content."