or


[12/16/22 - 04:00 PM]
Academy Award-Nominated and Grammy Award-Winning Artist, Actor, Producer and Entrepreneur Mary J. Blige's Production Company Blue Butterfly Signs First Look Deal in Non-Scripted with BET
"The Wine Down" is the first unscripted project being developed under the first look deal.

[via press release from BET]

ACADEMY AWARD-NOMINATED AND GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING ARTIST, ACTOR, PRODUCER AND ENTREPRENEUR MARY J. BLIGE'S PRODUCTION COMPANY BLUE BUTTERFLY SIGNS FIRST LOOK DEAL IN NON-SCRIPTED WITH BET

The Partnership Will Additionally Include a Second Look Deal in Scripted Content

New York, NY - December 16, 2022 - BET, a unit of Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARAA; PARA; PARAP), strikes first look deal in non-scripted and second look deal in scripted with Mary J. Blige's production company, Blue Butterfly.

"As we strive to provide our audience with the best in biopics and documentaries, we are poised to remain at the forefront in offering high-quality, authentic on-screen portrayals of the lives of the culture's most significant Black talent; and we are proud to supercharge the portfolio of content through our collaboration with Mary J. Blige's production company, Blue Butterfly," says Connie Orlando, EVP of Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy, BET. "Throughout her legendary career, Mary has blazed trails to become a global superstar. With Blue Butterfly, Mary develops awe-inspiring stories of the Black experience while uniquely using music to set the foundation. Mary has been a vital part of the BET family and we are eager to see our partnership flourish through this partnership."

"THE WINE DOWN" is the first unscripted project being developed under the first look deal. "THE WINE DOWN," an innovative unscripted series hosted by Blige, will bring together the hottest, most outspoken, highly sought-after people in entertainment, sports, social media, and politics to uncork a bottle to take a sip and have raw, provocative, insightful and real conversations. Academy Award(R)-nominated and Golden Globe(R)-winning actor, writer, director, producer, and philanthropist Taraji P. Henson and chart-topping rapper Yung Miami will be among the first guests with more talent to be announced at a later date.

"BET has been one of my biggest supporters throughout my career," said Mary J. Blige. "Being able to now create together, for them to be so supportive of my vision for the type of content I will create, is something I am grateful and excited for. We already have multiple projects in the works and there is much more to come."

Blue Butterfly Productions is a film, television and digital content company founded in 2019 by Blige. In addition to the partnership with BET, Blue Butterfly has a first look scripted television deal with Lionsgate Television. Through Blue Butterfly, Blige is expanding her already iconic career of telling stories through music, to creating diverse stories and narratives for all audiences on film. Blige, along with partners Ashaunna Ayars and Nicole Jackson, recently executive produced her deeply personal and celebrated documentary with Amazon Studios, Mary J. Blige's My Life. They launched the inaugural sold out "Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit" this past May in Atlanta and are in development on various television and film projects including the film Real Love with Lifetime and Sony Pictures Television, andseries includingThe Wine Down with BET.

Blige has taken 2022 by storm. She was nominated for six Grammys including Album of the Year and Record of the Year. She co-headlined the now Emmy-winning Super Bowl LVI Half Time show alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Kendrick Lamar. She dropped her 15th studio album, Good Morning Gorgeous, in February, with a deluxe version dropping that May. That same month, she received the 2022 Billboard Icon Award and launched her own festival. In June, she was recognized as a Time 100 2022 honoree. Blige is currently starring in the hit show Power Book II: Ghost, for which she recently earned her second consecutive NAACP nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Monet, after winning the award in 2021. It was just announced that the Starz show's third season is premiering in March of 2023. Blige just wrapped her highly anticipated Good Morning Gorgeous Tour, with special guests Ella Mai & Queen Naija.

Blige is represented by The Ayars Agency, APA, The Lede Company, and Granderson Des Rochers.

###

About BET

BET, a subsidiary of Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARAA; PARA; PARAP), is the leading provider of premium entertainment, music, news, digital and public affairs content for Black audiences worldwide. BET linear is in 125 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, Brazil, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, sub-Saharan Africa, and France. BET is one of the most well-known Black consumer brands worldwide, with multi-platform business extensions including BET Studios, an unprecedented studio venture that offers equity ownership for Black content creators; BET+, the preeminent streaming service for the Black audience; BET Digital, including BET's wide reaching social platforms and BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks - BET Jams, BET Soul, and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET's events and experience business; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.

About Blue Butterfly Productions

Blue Butterfly Productions is a film, television and digital content company founded in 2019 by Grammy Award winning and Academy Award nominee Mary J. Blige. Blige is expanding her already iconic career of telling stories through music, to creating diverse stories and narratives for all audiences on film. The endeavor comes on the heels of Blige executive producing, producing and starring in a variety of film and television projects. In 2019, Blige signed a first-look scripted television deal with Lionsgate, where she will develop and produce television series under her Blue Butterfly Productions banner and create content across the company's other business platforms. Blue Butterfly also struck a first look deal in non-scripted and second look deal in scripted content with BET Studios. Most recently, Blige executive produced her deeply personal and celebrated documentary with Amazon Studios, Mary J. Blige's My Life, through her banner. Upcoming projects include the film Real Love with Lifetime and Sony Pictures Television,and series including The Wine Down and Ride or Die with BET Studios.





  [december 2022]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· WINE DOWN WITH MARY J. BLIGE, THE (BET)





[10/13/26 - 09:30 AM]
National Geographic Explorers Uncover Deep-Sea Wonders with Groundbreaking Tech as They Chase Critical Solutions to Dilemmas Facing Life Across All Five Ocean Basins in "Expedition: Saving Our Seas"
The one-hour special premieres Friday, November 13 at 9:00/8:00c on National Geographic and streams the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

[10/13/26 - 09:30 AM]
FOX Entertainment and Hartbeat Form IP Development and Global Distribution Partnership
The pipeline launches with a slate of 25 live-action titles, spanning thriller, drama, and faith-based storytelling.

[10/13/26 - 09:17 AM]
Katherine Waterston Joins the Cast of "The Best of Us" for Paramount+
Waterston will play Amy Smith, a lawyer and the soon-to-be ex-wife of Jason (Jeremy Strong).

[10/13/26 - 09:06 AM]
Great American Media Welcomes 2027 with the 138th Rose Parade Presented by Honda
From the streets of Pasadena to living rooms across America, this treasured New Year's Day tradition will come alive with extraordinary floral artistry, stirring musical performances and spectacular pageantry.

[10/13/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: NBC Debuts Official Trailers for Monday Night Comedies "St. Denis Medical" & "The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins"
Both series return Monday, November 2 starting at 8:00/7:00c.

[10/13/26 - 09:01 AM]
"The X-Files" Project Picked Up to Series by Hulu
A reimagining of the classic, the series follows two highly decorated but vastly different FBI agents who form an unlikely bond when they are assigned to a long-shuttered division devoted to cases involving unexplained phenomena.

[10/13/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: HBO Releases Official Trailer for Season Four of the Original Drama Series "The Gilded Age," Debuting November 1
The eight-episode fourth season debuts Sunday, November 1 at 9:00/8:00c on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max.

[10/13/26 - 09:01 AM]
"A Proud Family Wizmas" Holiday Special Welcomes Stellar Guest Cast, Including Anderson .Paak, Gabrielle Union, Lil Rel Howery and JB Smoove
"A Proud Family Wizmas," a song-filled, stop-motion holiday special, follows Penny Proud after she inadvertently destroys Christmas as we know it and then reluctantly agrees to make things right and save Christmas for the children of Emilyville and the world.

[10/13/26 - 09:00 AM]
OWN for the Holidays Returns for Its Eighth Year with Heartwarming Movies Celebrating Love, Community and the Magic of the Season
"The Christmas Showdown 2" premieres November 28 followed by "Tapping Into Christmas" on December 5.

[10/13/26 - 08:46 AM]
Whitney Way Thore Embraces Love, Change and the Future She's Always Imagined on an All-New Season of TLC's "My Big Fat Fabulous Life"
The series returns Tuesday, November 10 at 10:00/9:00c on TLC.

[10/13/26 - 08:10 AM]
PGA Tour's "The Farmers Insurance Skins Game" Returns to Prime Video on Black Friday at 9 a.m. ET with New Field of Competitors and Stunning Venue
The event will once again be developed and produced by Pro Shop Studios and Propagate Content, in partnership with PGA Tour Studios on broadcast production and Excel Sports Management as tournament organizer.

[10/13/26 - 08:06 AM]
BET and aTwist Drama "Church Wives," Starring and Executive Produced by Gizelle Bryant, Premieres Wednesday, November 4 at 10 P.M. ET/CT on BET
Set inside a prominent megachurch, "Church Wives" follows two ambitious women who go to war for status and power when a coveted leadership role opens up.

[10/13/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Minimum Wage" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Teens struggle to run a local pizzeria while juggling school, a manic boss and minimum wage in this series based on the hit social media shorts.

[10/13/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: Trailer Debut - Hulu's "The Land" (Premieres February 15)
After several disappointing seasons, Cleveland Browns' head coach Danny Roarke has one last chance to turn around his football team.

[10/13/26 - 08:01 AM]
HGTV Decks the Halls in New Christmas Design Competition Series "Big Bargain Holiday Showdown" Hosted by Tara Lipinski
In each of the festive six episodes, two teams of friends, family and neighbors will battle to prove who has the most holiday spirit without blowing their shoestring budget.