BET is developing a slate of original series for the first time in the 25-year history of the cable channel.

The Viacom-owned network once known as Black Entertainment Television is ramping up to introduce a new primetime series each quarter beginning this month. Upcoming projects include a hip-hop-flavored version of "The Apprentice" with mogul-in-the-making Damon Dash in the Donald Trump role. Development also is under way to create a companion for BET's afternoon powerhouse "106th & Park" series and a weekday late-night talk show.

But the new infusion of originals might create some casualties as well, with BET considering canceling its 11 p.m. newscast "BET Nightly News." The network has been criticized in recent years for curtailing its news programming.

Overseeing the expansion is Stephen Hill, who has been promoted to executive vp entertainment and music programming, and Robyn Lattaker-Johnson, vp programming development since coming over from a similar post at Sci Fi Channel two months ago.

"We realized if we're going to make our mark, it's in original programming," Hill said. "We know it's ambitious, but it's a long time coming."

Hill and Lattaker-Johnson are ushering in changes despite the cloud of uncertainty hovering over the management at BET, which is available in nearly 80 million homes. The network's founder, Robert Johnson, has hinted he intends to step down when his contract expires in December, five years after selling it to Viacom for $3 billion.

Viacom co-president and co-chief operating officer Tom Freston has identified BET as an undervalued asset, but the network functions autonomously for now under Debra Lee, president and chief operating officer. "We love the fact that Tom is excited about us doing (original programming), but this is a BET-generated move," Hill said.

BET traditionally developed and produced internally what little series programming it generated, but the network now has set up a formal development unit that has been busy taking pitches. "We didn't source the Hollywood community before," Lattaker-Johnson said. "Now the doors are wide open."

First up April 21 is the launch of "Blowin' Up!: Fatty Koo," a joint production with Sony Music that follows the grooming of a new band signed to the label. "Fatty" is not BET's first original series, just the leading edge of its first concentrated dose of such programming.

BET declined to specify the increase in its programming budget for 2005-06, but Kagan Media estimates BET will spend $83 million this year, up from $66 million in 2004.

Unscripted programming will remain the focus through the fourth quarter, when BET unveils "Ultimate Hustler," which tests the business acumen of contestants guided by the flamboyant Dash, CEO of Roc-A-Fella Records and a film producer whose titles include "The Woodsman." Rather than bellow "you're fired," Dash will snatch the Roc-A-Fella gold chain off the neck of losing contestants.

"Hustler" will be preceded by "Remixed," a makeover show in which guest stylists and life coaches aim to make people beautiful both inside and outside. "Remixed" will be executive produced by Donna Michelle Anderson, a supervising producer on "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy."

Although BET hopes to follow in the footsteps of Bravo with "Eye" by creating signature programming, that's where the comparison ends, according to Lattaker-Johnson.

"I'm not here to take proven formulas and put brown faces in them," she said. "I'm not going to do the black 'Bachelor.' If we do a dating show, it's not going to be derivative."

BET might in fact invade the dating genre for one of several projects being piloted for consideration for the time slot following "Park," television's No. 1 music-video show. Projects include a celebrity-studded dominoes competition where contestants ante up their "bling," street slang for jewelry, rather than money. The winnings go to charity.

While BET has been joined in recent years by other networks catering to black viewers like Comcast-backed TV One, the network is focusing on the 18-34 demographic. Lattaker-Johnson notes BET isn't just for black viewers, either.

"Hip-hop crosses all ethnicities," she said. "We are talking about the black community, but we all know there are a lot of urban white kids who are watching what we're doing."

In recent years, BET primarily has focused its programming dollars on syndicated series like UPN's "Girlfriends" and one-off productions including award shows. But the network was encouraged by the success of reality series "College Hill," currently in its second season in primetime.

Lattaker-Johnson also hopes to eventually bring BET its first scripted series. "We haven't been able to do it in 25 years because our economic model couldn't sustain a series," she said. "But with these verite series like (Showtime's) 'Fat Actress,' I think it can be done."

In 2002, BET kicked up controversy when it funded its syndicated acquisitions by eliminating 12% of its workforce and canceling two of its three regular news series, "BET Tonight With Ed Gordon" and "Lead Story." Now the third series, "Nightly," might shift to a different daypart or be shuttered as well, according to Hill, who said no final determination has been made.

Hill noted BET will continue to make news part of its programming mix, pointing to the recent addition of "Cousin Jeff Chronicles," a quarterly forum exploring black issues like the disconnect between the hip-hop and civil-rights generations.

As for the network's other lightning rod -- the abundance of programs featuring racy music videos -- Hill doesn't expect any cutbacks. "There were a lot of music videos in the absence of other types of programming," he said. "What we're striving to do now is deliver those other types of programming."

Still, Hill is bracing for criticism. "One thing you get used to at BET is backlash," he said. "There will be backlash regardless of what we do. But change is sometimes difficult."