In 2000, he received $1.5 billion in stock when Viacom acquired BET Holdings for $3 billion.

Other companies, like Liberty Media and the Cendant Corporation, increased takeover bids for BET Holdings and American Bankers Insurance Group, respectively.

But his timing may have something to do with the rich price that Viacom paid last year for BET Holdings, the parent of Black Entertainment Television.

When BET Holdings went public last fall, the stock took off like a rocket.

Debra L. Lee, President and Chief Executive Officer of BET Holdings, Inc.

This relationship will create an independent and interactive voice for black America," said Bob Johnson, chairman and chief executive of BET Holdings, the Washington-based parent of the black-oriented cable station.

A group of big media and technology companies has agreed to back BET Holdings, which operates several black-oriented cable television stations, in establishing an elaborate Internet service aimed at black Americans.

Viacom Inc. is in talks to acquire BET Holdings, a cable television network devoted to reaching black audiences, several executives close to the negotiations said last night.

Robert Johnson, the chairman and chief executive of BET Holdings, said he was eager to join forces with Mr. Clinkscales.

IT was a wild fortnight for BET Holdings, the parent of Black Entertainment Television Network, whose shares tumbled nearly 43 percent from their Oct. 30 peak.