Many people know Bob (Robert) Johnson as being the founder of BET (Black Entertainment Television), which he sold to Viacom back in the year 2001. BET was and continues to be the nation’s most popular and most profitable cable television channel that targets African American viewers, and many have labeled Johnson as a "sell out" because he sold the company to a non-black media entity.
However, since then, Johnson has launched several new companies that are also very successful and continue to be Black-owned. Here are 5 companies that he owns (under his RLJJ companies umbrella) that you probably don't know about:
#1 - RLJ Kendeja Resort & Villas: a four-star, 78-room villa style hotel located on 13 acres of oceanfront property overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The first of its kind in Liberia and all of West Africa, the resort is conveniently located 25 minutes from Roberts Field International Airport in Monrovia. The hotel provides first-class amenities that cater to both leisure and business international travelers. The RLJ Kendeja Resort & Villas opened in June 2009.
#2 - Caribbean CAGE, LLC: a route-installed gaming company headquartered in Puerto Rico that focuses on the installation, operation and management of video lottery terminals (VLTs), linked gaming systems and game content throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. CAGE has entered into several strategic alliances to install and operate VLTs in targeted Caribbean countries with the goal of enhancing local economies and employment opportunities.
#3 - Urban Movie Channel: an urban-focused subscription streaming service in North American and features quality urban content showcasing feature films, documentaries, original series, stand-up comedy, and other exclusive content for African American and urban audiences. Users can access the channel via streaming on their computers, tablets, smart phones, Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and more.
#4 - Acorn TV: a subscription streaming service that brings you the very best British entertainment - mysteries, dramas, comedies, documentaries, and more - plus quality gifts from around the globe. Subscribers get exclusive early releases from blockbuster Brit series (think Midsomer Murders and Foyle's War), plus a comprehensive assortment of titles for their home viewing library. The channel can be acccessed via streaming on their computers, tablets, smart phones, Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Samsung Smart TV, and more.
#5 - RML Automotive: a conglomerate of 35 automotive franchises and three Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealerships in eight states across the South Central, Southeast, and Midwest regions of the country. RML was ranked 19th on the Automotive News annual list of "Top 125 Dealerships in the U.S.", and is the largest African American owned automotive franchise in the country.
For more details about Bob Johnson's others companies, visit www.RLJcompanies.com