VH1, BET Partner for Hip-Hop Drama Pilot

NEW YORK, February 14: Viacom subsidiaries VH1 and BET are
partnering on a one-hour pilot for the ensemble drama Wifey, set in the world of hip hop, which, if greenlit,
would premiere simultaneously on both networks.

Written and executive produced by Michael Elliot, the pilot
will be directed by Reginald Hudlin, BET’s president of entertainment. The
executive producers include Queen Latifah, Shakim Compere and Dedra Tate for
Flavor Unit, Michael Hirschorn and Maggie Malina for VH1, and Hudlin and Byron
Phillips for BET.

Wifey is centered on
the newly-widowed wife of a hip-hop mogul who must reassemble her life as she
takes over her late husband's record label. With the help of two female
friends, she takes on the male-dominated world of hip-hop.

"The premise behind Wifey has tremendous promise and fits perfectly into VH1's unique ability to
tell stories about music and pop culture," said Brian Graden, the
president of entertainment at MTV Networks and the president of LOGO.
"This pilot marks the first time that VH1 has partnered with another
network in such a way, so we're eager to explore all of the ideas and
possibilities that will develop by teaming up with Reginald Hudlin and our
friends at BET now and in the future.”

"This project represents a first on several levels,”
Hudlin added. “BET has never jointly developed or produced a program with any
other network, the premiere/revenue structure is unique, and I imagine it's the
first time that a network head has directed a pilot." Hudlin directed the
pilot of The CW’s Everybody Hates Chris
just a few months before he joined BET.