Hip Hop And BET Awards Show Bring In Banner Ratings For Network

NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) –BET closes 2009 with a bang! The Network had its best year ever in its 29-year history with an average of 512,000 total viewers. For all of 2009, the Network has enjoyed double-digit gains in all four quarters and in all key demographics. This year of historic ratings growth follows an aggressive strategy that included new original programming, big signature specials, key acquisitions and blockbuster movies.

BET is among the cable networks posting the biggest year-over-year gains, up double-digits over last year among total viewers (+17%) and key demographics: adults 18-49 (+19%), and adults 18-34 (+17%). Additionally, BET continues to reign as the #1 cable network among blacks year after year, and the audience continues to grow. Moreover, the fourth quarter of 2009 is the number one fourth quarter performance in BET history.

In 2009 BET scored the number one award show on cable and the number one program among blacks in cable television history with the Bet Awards '09 which drew 10.7 million total viewers; its number one hip-hop telecast in network history and television's number one hip-hop themed telecast with the 2009 Hip Hop Awards; cable's number one late night series among blacks with The Mo'nique Show. –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers