Centric
Launched	September 21, 1996
Owned by	Black Entertainment Television, Inc. (1996-2001) BET Networks (a division of Viacom) (2001-present)
Picture format	480i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV)
Slogan	What's Good
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Formerly called	BET on Jazz, BET Jazz, BET J
Sister channel(s)	BET, BET Gospel, & BET Hip-Hop
Website	http://www.centrictv.com
Availability
Satellite
DirecTV	Channel 330 (SD only)
Dish Network	Channel 371 (SD/HD)
C-Band - H2H/4DTV	AMC 18 - Channel 230 (SD)
Cable
Available on most cable systems	Check local listings
Verizon FiOS	Channel 220 (SD)
IPTV
AT&T U-verse	Channel 515 (SD)

Centric (formerly BET on Jazz, BET Jazz and BET J) is a spin-off cable television channel of BET (Black Entertainment Television), created originally to showcase jazz music-related programming, especially that of black jazz musicians. It is now a general interest channel geared towards African-American adults. Centric is available in 28 million homes on DirecTV, Dish Network, Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-verse, Time Warner Cable and many other digital cable providers as part of the MTV Digital Suite. The channel is additionally an associate member of the Caribbean Cable Cooperative.^[1]

History [edit]

The BET J logo, used from March 2006 to September 2009.

BET on Jazz launched on the date of September 21, 1996^[2] as a spin-off channel to sister station BET. In 2002, it was renamed BET Jazz. On March 1, 2006, the network was re-branded as BET J and the focus shifted from a pure jazz channel to a more general interest service. While jazz music still remained the stated primary focus, programming expanded to include a block of Caribbean programs as well as some R&B, neo soul, reggaetón, and alternative hip hop. To a lesser extent, BET J also focused on go-go, electronica, and alternative rock. Programs included My Two Cents with Keith Boykin, Bryonn Bain, Crystal McCarey Anthony and Staceyann Chin, The Best Shorts hosted by Abiola Abrams, Living the Life of Marley about Ky-Mani Marley, My Model is Better Than Your Model with Eva Pigford and The Turn On hosted by Charlotte Burley.

On April 24, 2009, BET announced it would rebrand BET J as Centric, which would be programmed as a general-interest adult African-American network which would compete equally with TVOne and leave BET to exclusively target younger viewers.^[3] The rebranding was completed on September 28, 2009.^[4]

Programming [edit]

It features music, movies, reality shows and specials for adults, along with the rights for Soul Train and the associated awards show, which had moved from syndication and WGN America, whose corporate parent formerly distributed Soul Train.

Original programs [edit]

• Keeping Up With The Joneses
• Model City
• Leading Women/Men
• Urban Livin
• Lyric Cafe
• Lens on Talent
• Soul Sessions
• Splash
• Centric Hits
• Retro Centric
• The Hot 10 Countdown
• The First Family
• Mr. Box Office [1]

Syndicated Programs [edit]

Current [edit]

• 227
• The A-Team
• The Bernie Mac Show
• The Brian McKnight Show
• The Cosby Show
• Daddy's Girls
• Girlfriends
• In Living Color
• The Jamie Foxx Show
• Luther (2 Weeks Only)
• Malcolm & Eddie
• Miami Vice
• Moesha
• My Wife and Kids
• New York Undercover
• The Proud Family (only airing on weekend marathons as of March 13, 2010)
• Run's House
• Soul Train
• The Steve Harvey Show
• Sunday Best
• The Unit
• The Wayans Bros
• The Wendy Williams Show

Former [edit]

• American Gangster
• Baldwin Hills
• Fame
• Harlem Heights
• Hell Date
• Homicide: Life on the Street
• Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is
• The Salt-N-Pepa Show
• Sister, Sister
• Smart Guy

Upcoming [edit]

• Family Matters
• The Fresh Prince of Bel Air

References [edit]