Ballerific Woman: Connie Orlando Named EVP Head of Programming at BET

BET Network has officially named Connie Orlando as the EVP Head of Programming, a role that she stepped into on an interim basis back in March.

Most recently, Orlando was the SVP of Specials, Music Programming and News until she took on her new role. Now, she will lead original programming, music programming and specials, and the BET News team that is responsible for developing content across the network. She will report to chairman and CEO, Debra L. Lee, and will work between BET’s Los Angeles and New York offices.

In the announcement, Lee stated, “Having worked with Connie for the past 10 years, I continue to be impressed and inspired by her creativity and passion for the BET brand. During her tenure at BET, Connie has played a critical role in the network’s largest expansion into original programming. She is beyond qualified and ready for this new challenge, and I am thrilled to have her in this role.”

Orlando also chimed in on the announcement stating, “BET is an iconic brand that celebrates the influence and power of black culture through its content. I am honored to lead the network’s commitment to authentic,  fresh and bold programming. We will continue to expand our reach, relevance and impact through strong original content, returning hits and specials. With our talented teams, we’re ready to take BET Networks to higher heights.”

In addition to her role as an executive producer on all BET specials, including the BET Awards, Orlando also helped develop specials on Ferguson and Baltimore while launching the BET Truth Series with documentaries such as “Katrina 10 Years Later,” “Muhammad Ali: The People’s Champ,” and “Stay Woke.”

Congratulations to Connie Orlando on her new career venture! We’re excited to see how she takes BET Networks to the next level.