Hip-hop mogul Percy Miller, formerly known as Master P., announced on August 15, 2008 the formation of a new family-oriented cable television channel, Better Black Television, BBTV, which will launch in 2009.

The network will provide “positive content for a black and brown culture,” according to a company statement.

BBTV, set to launch in 2009, will be a general entertainment channel running a wide range of scripted, unscripted and news programming, including drama and comedy series, movies, animation, reality, politics, sports and entertainment news, children’s educational and teen programming, as well as “responsible hip-hop music and videos.”

BBTV advisory board members include Oscar winner Denzel Washington; Vault Load Films president Jim Finkl; NAACP executive director Vicangelo Bullock; NBA player Derek Anderson; cable industry veteran Prof. Sal Martino; hip-hop pioneer DJ Kool Herc; entrepreneur Olatokunbo Betiku; and real estate mogul Curtis Oakes.

BBTV chairman and CEO Miller said he’s had the vision for BBTV for several years.

“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,” he said.

The new channel is taking on the black-oriented cable channel BET.

Miller stressed that he has “a great relationship with BET and MTV” and that he and his son, Lil’ Romeo, “will continue to do work with them and support their networks.”

He also acknowledged BET founder Bob Johnson.

“I remember him telling me back in the day that if you wanted to know real estate, you’ve got to hang out with real estate investors. If you wanted to know sports, you’ve got to hang out with athletes. I wanted to know TV, so I hung out with Bob and learned the TV game from one of the best in the business.”

Production on BBTV’s programs has begun in California, New York, Louisiana and Florida.

The cable channel is in the process of purchasing local cable channel affiliates across the country.

Source: Percy Miller unveils new cable network

Photo credit: BBTV

Earlier this week, Percy Miller announced that he would no longer go by his rapper name, Master P., and that returning to his given name was a part of his rising prominence and influence as a  trailblazing entrepreneur and businessman.

After close to fifteen years in the game, rapper Master P has decided to officially abandon the name under which he attained success.

With over 75 million records sold worldwide, the five-time Grammy Award winner will now go by P. Miller in an effort to expand on his equally impressive achievements as a businessman.

“I’m changing my name because Master P is who I used to be,” the No Limit Entertainment CEO explains. “I call it my childhood, and P. Miller marks my manhood. There’s a lot of people out there who are afraid to grow up and change, but I’m not and P. Miller is the evolution of me, Percy Miller, the entrepreneur, the businessman.”

With a net worth valued at an estimated $500 million, Miller has achieved quite a bit of mainstream attention in recent years, most notably since appearing before the United States Congress in 2007 to address the widely publicized criticism of Hip-Hop lyrics and culture.

Soon after, he and his son Romeo launched Take A Stand Records as a profanity-free record label.

In July, Miller made history by inking a deal with retail giant Wal-Mart to distribute his affordable P. Miller Designs clothing line in stores nationwide, thus becoming the discount chain’s first African-American Hip-Hop supplier.

Source: AllHipHop.com – Former Gangster Rapper Master P Changes Name

Percy Miller, formerly Master P, Announces Better Black Television BBTV Launch