The 'BET AWARDS '09' Stands as the #1 Cable Telecast of the Year, Drawing Almost 10.7 Million Total Viewers

The 'BET AWARDS '09' Stands as the #1 Cable Telecast of the Year, Drawing Almost 10.7 Million Total Viewers

The 'BET AWARDS '09' Paid Tribute to Michael Jackson and Honored the Best in Music, Sports and Entertainment, Featuring Jamie Foxx, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Lil Wayne, Maxwell, Ne-Yo, Keri Hilson, LeBron James and a Special Appearance by Janet Jackson

NEW YORK, June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The live premiere of the BET AWARDS '09 on Sunday, June 28, drew 10.65 Million Total Viewers - the #1 cable telecast year-to-date and BET's biggest audience ever (NMR, Live + Same Day, 6/28). This year's show, which aired from 8:00-11:30 p.m.*, was dedicated to Michael Jackson and featured several special tributes to the King of Pop, as well as an emotional appearance by Janet Jackson, who spoke on behalf of the family to thank fans for their love and support.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070716/BETNETWORKSLOGO )

"The number of viewers who tuned in to see the BET AWARDS '09 is a testament to Michael Jackson's far-reaching and long-lasting influence and legacy," said Debra L. Lee, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, BET Networks. "We're thankful to everyone who played a role in the show, both on stage and behind the camera, and it meant so much to all of us to be there for our audience at this emotional time. Above all, we extend our love and prayers to the Jackson family and are honored that Joe and Janet Jackson were in attendance."

The BET AWARDS '09 also stands as the #1 awards show on cable for the year to date among total viewers. In addition, the 106 & PARK pre-show drew 3.1 million total viewers, and the BET Awards '09 After-Party Fashioned by My Black Is Beautiful Post Show drew 5.2 million total viewers. The sneak peek of the new BET series TINY & TOYA drew an additional 3.8 million total viewers. All three shows set BET records, becoming the #1 pre-show, post-show and original series telecasts in BET history, respectively (NMR, Live, 6/28).

The BET AWARDS '09 caps a record-breaking second quarter for BET. Second quarter 2009 is the #1 quarter in BET history, posting a +34% gain versus a year ago. Second quarter 2009 also ranks as BET's third straight quarter of year-over-year viewership gains, and BET has enjoyed four consecutive quarters of viewership increases since the third quarter of 2008.

BET.com saw a 100% increase in its unique users versus the BET AWARDS '08 day of show, and had the best two-day total for unique users in BET.com history for the day of show and day after. June 2009 is now the #1 month all time for unique users and page views for BET.com, due to the significant interest in Michael Jackson and the strength of the BET AWARDS '09.

Additionally, BET Awards-related terms dominated the top 10 trending topics on Twitter on Sunday, June 28, and at one point during the BET AWARDS '09 premiere telecast, the BET Awards accounted for all top 10 trending topics on Twitter - an extraordinary feat.

About the BET AWARDS '09

It was a non-stop standing ovation for Michael Jackson and his legendary career at the BET AWARDS '09, as host Jamie Foxx and a legion of A-list stars paid tribute to the King of Pop with special performances, emotional testimonials about what Jackson meant to them, and a beautiful, colorful set featuring images and montages of the star. The BET AWARDS '09 celebrated Jackson and today's brightest stars in music, sports and entertainment at Los Angeles' historic Shrine Auditorium during a once-in-a-lifetime evening full of unforgettable moments on Sunday, June 28.

   Encore telecasts of the BET AWARDS '09 are set for:   --  Tuesday, June 30 from 6:30-10:00 p.m.*   --  Thursday, July 2 from 8:00-11:30 p.m.*   --  Monday, July 6 from 8:00-11:30 p.m.*    --  PLEASE NOTE: End time may change depending on final show length.   

BET once again teamed with Cossette Productions, the famed producers of the GRAMMY Awards(R) and the eight record-setting BET AWARDS shows, to handle production of the telecast. Stephen Hill, President, Music Programming and Specials, BET Networks, along with Lynne Harris-Taylor, Vice President of Specials, BET Networks, were executive producers of the telecast.

BET AWARDS '09 was sponsored by Pepsi, Procter & Gamble's Cover Girl and My Black Is Beautiful, Kmart, Lincoln, Ford, KFC Pride 360 and GREY GOOSE(R) Vodka.

For a list of winners from the BET AWARDS '09, please visit www.bet.com/pr. Visit BET.com for BET On Blast video highlights, photos and news from the BET AWARDS '09 at www.bet.com/betawards. Get up-to-the-minute reactions about the BET AWARDS '09 by following @BETAwards on Twitter (www.twitter.com).

   *All times ET/PT    About BET Networks  

BET Networks, a division of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) , is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 98 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET Digital Networks -- BET J, BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

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Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070716/BETNETWORKSLOGO
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PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: BET Networks

CONTACT: Jeanine Liburd, +1-212-205-3011, jeanine.liburd@bet.net, or
Bernadette Simpao, +1-212-205-3154, bernadette.simpao@bet.net, both of BET
Networks

Web Site: http://www.bet.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment