News brief: BET orders first scripted series

Viacom’s BET has ordered Being Mary Jane, its first-ever scripted series.

A follow-up to BET’s original TV movie of the same name, the series will launch in January in a 10pm slot on the US cable net. The 8x60mins show follows a successful cable news anchor, Mary Jane Paul (played by Gabrielle Union).

The movie, which was effectively a back-door pilot for the series, will be reshown ahead of the launch of the new show.