Photo Credit: BET Awards 2020 - Megan Thee Stallion performance. (Photo: BET)
News , Television
BET Awards Viewership Up 54 Percent With CBS Simulcast
Monique Jones
The BET Awards were simulcast on CBS for the first time, giving the awards show a bigger platform, a wider audience and higher ratings.
The ratings for the awards show managed to snag a little under 2 million viewers on CBS bumping the simulcast up to 3.8 million viewers as a whole across ViacomCBS networks also including BET and BET Her.
According to TVLine, the ratings are up 54 percent with the simulcast, making it the largest audience for the awards since 2017. The show was also the No. 1 Cable Awards Show among 18-49 demo for the 2020 broadcast season, for the sixth consecutive calendar year.
"For 20 years, the 'BET Awards' has stood as the ultimate celebration of Black Culture on television. With all that is happening in 2020, it was crucial now more-than-ever to deliver an unforgettable show filled with powerful artistry, ingenious innovation, and compelling social commentary," said Scott Mills, President of BET. "We are incredibly grateful to the amazing artists, and our extraordinary Executive Producers, Connie Orlando and Jesse Collins, who partnered to create a celebration, unlike any other, that so powerfully reflects the heart, mind, and soul of Black Culture and Black America at this critical moment in history."
The show, hosted by Amanda Seales, featured performances from Alicia Keys, Anderson .Paak Black Thought, Chloe x Halle, Chuck D, DaBaby, D Smoke, Flavor Flav, Jahi, Jay Rock, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Jonathan McReynolds, Kane Brown, Kierra, and Karen Clark Sheard of the iconic Clark Sisters, Megan Thee Stallion, Nas, Questlove, Rapsody, Roddy Ricch, SiR, Summer Walker, Usher, YG and BET Amplified Artists, Masego and Lonr.
Reruns of the show will air Wednesday, June 30 at 6 p.m. ET and Sunday, July 5 at 5 p.m. ET.
CBS Will Simulcast The BET Awards, Marking The First Time It Will Air On A Broadcast Network
Photo; Getty Images