Stephen Hill, president of programming at BET Networks, is stepping down from his role at the Viacom network, where he has worked since 1999.

Connie Orlando, senior VP for specials, music programming and news, will be interim head of programming for BET Networks.

"It has been my honor to serve this brand," Hill said. "I am thrilled to have been able to be a member of the teams that ideated and created so many spectacles, moments, memories and miracles."

Related > MCN Original Video: One-on-One in Two With BET's Stephen Hill (Jan. 24, 2017)

In a staff memo, Debra Lee, BET chairman and CEO, referred to Orlando as a “seasoned, talented and well respected industry veteran.”

Read more at broadcastingcable.com.

Cable networks believe in the power of music — or at least in the power of music stars to inspire compelling original films and miniseries based on their real-life stories.

BET, Lifetime and TV One will add to a growing list of made-for-cable movies depicting the lives of current and past pop-music icons.

And TV audiences are applauding these telefilms. For instance, Lifetime’s Jan. 23 original movie Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart, a biography of the popular R&B singer, drew 3.6 million viewers, according to Nielsen.

It was the most-watched original cable movie among adults 25-54 and women 18-49 since another Lifetime music biopic — Whitney, about the late superstar Whitney Houston — in January of 2015, Nielsen reported.

And female-targeted Lifetime said it will strike up the band again with a film based on the life of R&B singer Michel’le, who was discovered in the 1990s by members of rap group N.W.A.

Looks at musical lives aren’t new for cable networks. Documentary series, led by VH1’s iconic Behind the Music and continuing with current shows such as TV One’s Unsung, have offered a nonfiction look at popular hitmakers both past and present. Dramatizing these familiar stories in a two-hour, scripted format creates more viewer interest and appeal, network executives said.

“People like to know that the drama they’re seeing has some basis in the truth,” BET president of programming Stephen Hill said. “For viewers, it presents an accurate representation of a story, but from another point of view.”

Lifetime’s ratings success with music-themed movies follows HBO’s 2015 docufilm Bessie, which received critical acclaim for its portrayal of blues singer Bessie Smith. The movie took home four Emmy Awards this past September, including one for best television movie, and garnered Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice, Emmy and SAG awards nods for its lead actress, Queen Latifah.

BET this fall will highlight the career of 1980s R&B group New Edition in a three-part miniseries. Music is already part of the network’s DNA through major tentpole events such as the BET Awards and the Soul Train Music Awards, so New Edition: The Movie fits BET’s brand and appeals to its target African-American viewers, according to president and CEO Debra Lee.

TV One in June will premiere its first biopic, focusing on the life of R&B singer Miki Howard. It’s one of 26 original movies scheduled to air this year, according to network senior vice president of original programming D’Angela Proctor.

Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story will follow the popular singer’s rise from homeless teen-ager to R&B royalty.

TV One is also developing All This Love: The DeBarge Family Story, based on the career of R&B musical group DeBarge, and Ella & Marilyn, about the mostly unknown and unexpected friendship between legendary jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald and actress Marilyn Monroe.

Proctor said the music-themed bio films are an extension of Unsung, which chronicles the careers of R&B singers and groups. The movies will give TV One another entry point into the popular music genre, she added.

Hoops-Fueled TBS Tops April

TBS finished the month of April as the most watched network in primetime, bolstered by its coverage of the NCAA Final Four, which secured four slots among the top 10 most-watched shows during the month. AMC’s The Walking Dead continued its rampage, though, holding on to No. 1.

Date                   Show                                                            Network            Total Viewers

4/3     The Walking Dead                                                          AMC                   19.3 million

4/4     NCAA Championship: Villanova-North Carolina   TBS                   14.0 million

4/2     NCAA Final Four: North Carolina-Syracuse           TBS                   10.2 million

4/10   Fear the Walking Dead                                                 AMC                    9.4 million

4/2     Final Four Studio Show                                                TBS                     8.5 million

4/2     NCAA Final Four: Villanova-Oklahoma                   TBS                     8.3 million

4/24   Game of Thrones                                                          HBO                   7.9 million

4/17   Fear the Walking Dead                                                AMC                  7.7 million

4/3     Talking Dead                                                                 AMC                  7.6 million

4/5    The People v. O.J. Simpson                                          FX                    6.7 million

3/29   The People v. O.J Simpson                                         FX                     6.7 million

SOURCE : Nielsen. Ratings period: 3/28-4/24. Viewing Type: Live-plus-7-day blended with live-plus-3-day from 4/11-4/21 and live-plus-same day from 4/22 to 4/24.

BET Networks has tapped former Fox Searchlight Pictures executive Zola Mashariki to head up its original programming operations.

As executive vice president and head of original programming, Marshariki will oversee the network’s scripted and non-scripted programming development, said BET Networks president of programming Stephen Hill, to whom Mashariki will report.

A 15-year veteran of Fox Searchlight Pictures, Mashariki was most recently senior vice president of production where she oversaw development and production of feature films. During her tenure Mashariki worked on such films as The Last King Of Scotland and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, as well as African-American targeted films such as The Secret Life Of Bees and Notorious.

“We are excited to welcome Zola to the BET Networks family,” said Stephen Hill, President of Programming, BET Networks in a statement. “She has a passion for and knowledge of our audience and a proven track record of creating successful entertainment.”

BET veteran executive Stephen Hill has been appointed president of programming for the African-American network, BET officials said Tuesday.

Hill, who formerly served as president of music programming and specials at BET, will will be responsible for all aspects of programming and direct programming and production across BET. Hill takes over for former programming head Loretha Jones who left the network earlier this year.

Hill most recently oversaw the development of such shows as the BET Awards, BET Honors, Black Girls Rock, The Hip Hop Awards, and Celebration of Gospel Prior to that,  Hill served as executive vice president of entertainment and music Programming.

“I have worked with Stephen for over 15 years, and his passion for the BET Brand has been apparent from the very beginning.  He has grown our music shows and specials into iconic and highly-rated programs beloved by our audience,” said Debra Lee, chairman and CEO for BET Networks.  “Over the past several years, he has expanded his role into scripted programming, launching our hit series Real Husbands of Hollywood. He is well-qualified and ready for this new challenge and I am excited to have him in this new role.”