The news that BET founder Robert L. Johnson and the Weinstein Company may launch a joint venture urban entertainment company sounds interesting but I’m actually more intrigued by the following:

With $15,000 in 1980, Mr. Johnson founded Black Entertainment Television, which in its early days thrived on programming music videos. The channel became a hip-hop force attracting both white and black audiences who liked the urban nature of its programming. The company was sold to Viacom two decades later for $3 billion.

Mr. Johnson’s other investments have included the Charlotte Bobcats basketball team and a music label. In 2005 he announced the formation of RLJ Companies, which he said he hoped would become a dominant black-owned financial services firm. One of his first acts was to secure the backing of the Carlyle Group to create a private equity fund. That fund is being started with Deutsche Asset Management and Urban Trust Bank, which Mr. Johnson owns.

Johnson’s story to date is one of great success, especially to be able to receive the support of the highly controversial Carlyle Group.  I haven’t been keeping up with their activities but I recognized the name from my interest in the Bush family.  Here’s a description of the Carlyle Group from a few year’s back:

The Carlyle Group, as in a secretive Washington, D.C., investment firm managing some $14 billion in assets, including stakes in a number of defense- related companies.

Carlyle counts among its chieftains former Defense Secretary (and deputy CIA Director) Frank Carlucci, former Secretary of State James Baker and, most notably, former President George Bush.

Until October [2001], the Carlyle Group also maintained financial ties with none other than the family of Osama bin Laden, but those links were severed when it was agreed that the relationship was becoming a tad embarrassing for all concerned.

Hey, I’m not accusing anybody of anything [cause I'm the new "willing to respect our differences" Clyde].  I just think it’s interesting, even if it isn’t a marketing topic.  Don’t you?

Official site: The RLJ Companies

Update: Robert L. Johnson is interviewed in the NY Times.