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Black Entertainment Television, B.E.T, is up for sale and Tyler Perry has communicated his interest in buying majority stake in it. He was reported saying: “I’m very, very interested in taking as much of it…as I can.”

Perry who spoke about his intention recently said: “It’s not a rumor that I want to take control of the network. I’ve been there (with BET) for four years now and had tremendous success. I wasn’t expecting this to happen, so yes–if that is possible, I’m very, very interested in taking as much of it…as I can. We can very much say that there are conversations. I am beyond interested.”

Also interested in acquiring the American basic cable channel targeting African American audiences are rapper cum businessman, Shawn “Diddy” Combs and entertainment businessman Byron Allen.

Perry who said that he is excited about the battle ahead stated that. “Part of it is–and I’ve read about Byron Allen and Puffy and everybody wanting to bid and so on and so forth, and I think it’s really great. This is what I love about it–when Bob Johnson sold it in 2000, I think there wasn’t one Black person who could buy it. So now, to see all of these Black people, men and women, who are able to be in a position to buy it? Man, that makes me feel really, really excited.”

He also said how he is ready for the network to be under Black executive control, something that went away once Johnson sold it to Viacom.

“I think there was sadness when Bob sold it, and I think there’ll be happiness when it’s Black-owned again. Viacom and Paramount have done a phenomenal job with it. They didn’t let it fall by the wayside; they didn’t let it go into dust. They nurtured it and took care of it. I think it should be returned to a Black owner.”

Paramount’s move to sell B.E.T was first announced in March.