New black network

New black network

NEW YORK — BET, the leading network tailored for black teens and young adults, will be joined by a new channel aimed at an older black audience.

Named Centric, it’s scheduled to debut in October.

Viacom, which owns BET, says Centric will serve black viewers in the 25-to-54-year-old range. It will premiere with an expected reach of 45 million cable homes.

‘Bulge’ director dies

LOS ANGELES — Film director Ken Annakin has died at the age of 94.

The British-born filmmaker is best known for directing the 1965 World War II epic “The Battle of the Bulge” with Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson, Robert Shaw and Telly Savalas.

Annakin’s daughter, Deborah Peters, said he died at his Beverly Hills home Wednesday night.

Today’s birthdays

Actress Shirley MacLaine is 75. Actress-singer-director Barbra Streisand is 67. Actor-comedian Cedric the Entertainer is 45. Singer Kelly Clarkson (“American Idol”) is 27. Singer-bassist Tyson Ritter of All-American Rejects is 25.