Paramount is planning multiple programming initiatives across multiple platforms surrounding the 50th anniversary of hip hop music and culture to debut in 2023.

Paramount-owned services Showtime, BET, CBS and Paramount Plus will offer original content celebrating the milestone, while MTV Entertainment Studios will develop a slate of hip hop documentaries as well as new episodes of the classic music series Behind the Music. 

Showtime, which has already aired several documentaries as part of the anniversary slate, including Supreme Team; Cypress Hill: Insane in the Brain; You’re Watching Video Music Box and Ricky Powell: The Individualist, will develop a documentary feature around late hip hop legend Biz Markie. Also on the docket is a series on the power of women in hip hop and one on the rise and fall of the SoundCloud scene.

BET will celebrate the anniversary through its signature shows the BET Awards and BET Hip Hop Awards, as well as with a documentary on its iconic series Rap City.

CBS will recognize hip hop’s milestone during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards and will culminate with a historic commemoration later in 2023 with a special music event in partnership with the Recording Academy.  

On the streaming front, Paramount Plus will offer 50 of the most iconic episodes of MTV Entertainment’s original series Yo! MTV Raps alongside the rebooted series, as well as episodes from home-makeover series Hip Hop My House, according to Paramount. ■

VideoAmp, one of the companies offering the TV business an alternative to Nielsen, released a new capability that provides measurement of second-by-second tad viewing, a level of detail that provides advertisers a better understanding of how their commercials perform.

The data from the second-by-second measurement can demonstrate how reach builds throughout a program and help advertisers and media companies optimize inventory based on exact commercial viewership. 

VideoAmp will be providing data on the viewing of each individual commercial. Nielsen’s current C3 metric measures the average commercial minute with a particular program.

Also: Tony Fagan Gets Expanded Role After VideoAmp Lays Off 10 in Reorganization

BET gave the new capability a test drive during the BET Awards. 

“Access to second-by-second level data gives BET a unique opportunity to hyper-target and pinpoint content that resonates with our audiences and drives success,“ Berj Kazanjian, senior VP of ad sales research at BET, said. “Our teams utilized this transformative data to identify the most compelling program elements, such as show performances, commercials, host presentations and more. These advanced metrics allow us to enhance our content, further our reach, and deepen our engagement with our community.”

VideoAmp’s viewership data is based on commingled information from smart TV and set-top boxes in 29 million homes. The company said its capability can give advertisers and media companies measurement of impressions, frequency, average commercial audience, average program audience, advertiser reach, incremental cumulative reach and total viewers.

“Having a true breakdown of viewership during every second of a program is game-changing,“ VideoAmp chief technology officer Tony Fagan said. “Average Commercial Minute is a compromise the industry has had to make, due to a lack of fidelity in panel-based measurement. Big Data enables buyers and sellers to know exactly how every spot in a program performs — from exact-second start to exact-second stop.

“Being able to tell a unique story for each advertiser during a program and make use of the granular insights that have often been lost or overlooked, is a major step forward,” he said. ■

BET will honor Hip Hop mogul Sean ‘Diddy Combs with a Lifetime Achievement Award during the June 26 BET Awards live telecast.

The award, which honors industry giants who have not only significantly shaped culture through their extensive careers, but who have also been transformative leaders that consistently inspire generations by setting a true standard of excellence, will be given to the pioneering hip hop icon and entrepreneur during the telecast, which will be hosted by actress Taraji P. Henson. Combs founded the music and culture-themed cable network Revolt TV in 2013. 

Past Lifetime Achievement Award recipients include industry legends Whitney Houston, Prince, Queen Latifah, Anita Baker, Mary J. Blige, Samuel Jackson, Lionel Richie and New Edition.

“Diddy has always been a pioneering force in our community, breaking barriers, achieving unprecedented heights, blazing new trails, and, in so doing, raising the bar for all of us,” said BET CEO Scott Mills. “His virtuosity is matched only by his range – from music to media, culture, business, and philanthropy – Diddy has exemplified Black Excellence. We are delighted to have this opportunity to use our biggest stage to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of our friend Diddy.”

BET Executive Vice President, Specials, Music Programming, Music Strategy Connie Orlando added:  “Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is an incomparable cultural force and creative visionary whose impact has created historic paradigm shifts across music, media, fashion, and lifestyle. It’s personally gratifying to celebrate and honor a longtime partner and friend of the network who, through the decades, has laid the blueprint for Black excellence through entertainment. And it is far from over; his legacy continues to break ground, and this Lifetime Achievement Award further cements his undeniable influence on hip hop and pop culture. From his many memorable and creative appearances at our award shows to his growing businesses and philanthropic media ventures, I couldn’t be happier for Diddy. He is a dear friend, colleague, and culture revolutionary. We look forward to celebrating his incredible legacy.”

Sunday night’s BET Awards 2020 telecast drew 3.7 million viewers across several ViacomCBS networks, including CBS, according to Nielsen.

The awards, which was held without an audience and featured artist-generated performances from such artists as John Legend, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys and Megan Thee Stallion -- as well as appearances by Beyonce and Michelle Obama -- was simulcast on BET, BET Her and broadcast network CBS, which alone drew 1.9 million viewers.

"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 in a statement. "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 BET Awards 2020 will air live across various ViacomCBS networks, including BET, BET Her and CBS for the first time, June 28. The event happens 8-11 p.m. ET/PT. Drake leads the pack with six nominations. Megan Thee Stallion and Roddy Ricch have five nominations apiece.

Comedian Amanda Seales hosts. 

The event marks its 20th anniversary, celebrating “the best and most beautiful aspects of the Black experience – celebrating Black music’s present and future, and elevating the culture and being a driving force for social change,” according to CBS. 

Best female R&B/pop artist is between Beyonce, H.E.R., Jhene Aiko, Kehlani, Lizzo and Summer Walker. Best male R&B/pop artist is between Anderson .Paak, Chris Brown, Jacquees, Khalid, The Weeknd and Usher. 

Best album of the year is between Lizzo’s “Cuz I Love You,” Megan Thee Stallion’s “Fever,” Beyonce’s “Homecoming: The Live Album”, H.E.R.’s “I Used to Know Her,” Dababy’s “Kirk” and Roddy Ricch’s “Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial.”

Executive producers for the awards are Connie Orlando, executive VP of specials, music programming and music strategy at BET, and Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment. 

BET is going ahead with plans to produce its annual BET Awards event this June featuring live and taped segments.

The BET Awards, which celebrates the brightest stars across music television, film, sports and philanthropy, will feature a mixture of live and taped segments to showcase musical performances and awards presentations amid the COVID-19 pandemic, BET executive VP specials, music programming & music strategy Connie Orlando told Multichannel News. The BET Awards is perennially one of the network’s highest-rated events.

“The heart of the BET Awards will still be there and it will still be a big show with big names and performances,” Orlando said. “People may miss being in the audience for the show, but viewers will still enjoy the same big event experience.”

The network will not move ahead with its three-day BET Experience event that typically leads into the BET Awards, according to Orlando. 

Three cable-based awards shows drew huge audiences on social media last week, according to Nielsen.

BET’s annual BET Awards live telecast airing last night was the most popular entertainment-based show on social media during the week of June 18-24, generating 2.1 million combined Facebook and Twitter interactions, according to Nielsen’s weekly social media report.

MTV’s June 18 MTV Movies & TV Awards garnered 1.9 million social media interactions, while Disney Channel’s June 23 telecast of the 2018 Radio Disney Music Awards finished third with 816,000 interactions, according to the network.

MSNBC’s June 19 episode of The Rachel Maddow Show and USA Network’s June 18 Monday Night Raw episode rounded out the top five list, according to Nielsen.

Fox and Telemundo’s coverage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament scored the top five most social live sports telecasts for the week, led by the June 21 Argentina-Croatia telecast which drew 607,000 combined Facebook and Twitter interactions, according to Nielsen.

Netflix Sunday night unveiled a new spot showcasing nearly 50 African-American actors and producers associated with content airing on the streaming service, days after it fired a top level public relations executive for using the N-word.

The ad, which debuted during Sunday's BET Awards telecast, features such stars as Ava DuVernay, Alfre Woodard, Laverne Cox, Lena Waithe, Russell Hornsby, Mike Culter, Spike Lee and Caleb McLaughlin, and promotes the streaming service's Strong Black Lead initiative, which highlights content starring and created by African-American talent, according to the Los Angeles Times. 

The spot comes days after the streaming service let go its top communications executive, Johanthan Friedland, after he was caught using the N-word on more than one occasion in the presence of others at the company who later reported the incident. 

Hip Hop/R&B artist Drake led all artists in nominations for the June 2016 BET Awards, network executives said Friday.

Drake drew nine BET Awards nominations including "Best Male Hip Hop Artist," "Video of the Year," and "Best Collaboration" for his hit Where Ya At with Future, said the network.

Beyoncé, Rihanna, Bryson Tiller, Chris Brown and Future were among the artists nominated for multiple awards. The BET Awards will air live on BET June 26.

“These nominees represent depth and diversity in achievement over the past year and we look forward to recognizing them next month,” said Stephen Hill, BET’s President of Programming in a statement. “This show will be innovative and special; in addition to celebrating the best in entertainment, we’ll also spend time throughout the show remembering Prince as only BET can. You can count on memorable performances and moments in honor of a true legend.”

The complete list of nominees for the 2016 BET Awards include:

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist

ADELE

ANDRA DAY

BEYONCÉ

K. MICHELLE

RIHANNA

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist

BRYSON TILLER

CHRIS BROWN

JEREMIH

THE WEEKND

TYRESE

Best Group

2 CHAINZ & LIL WAYNE

DRAKE & FUTURE

PUFF DADDY & THE FAMILY

RAE SREMMURD

THE INTERNET

Best Collaboration

BIG SEAN FT. CHRIS BROWN & TY DOLLA $IGN - PLAY NO GAMES

BIG SEAN FT. KANYE WEST & JOHN LEGEND - ONE MAN CAN CHANGE THE WORLD   

FUTURE FT. DRAKE - WHERE YA AT                                                      

NICKI MINAJ FT. BEYONCÉ - FEELING MYSELF

RIHANNA FT. DRAKE - WORK

Best Male Hip Hop Artist

DRAKE

FETTY WAP

FUTURE

J. COLE

KANYE WEST

KENDRICK LAMAR

Best Female Hip Hop Artist

DEJ LOAF

LIL KIM

MISSY ELLIOTT

NICKI MINAJ

REMY MA

Video of the Year

BEYONCÉ - FORMATION

BRYSON TILLER - DON'T                                                             

DRAKE - HOTLINE BLING

KENDRICK LAMAR - ALRIGHT                                                                

RIHANNA FT. DRAKE  - WORK

Video Director of the Year

BENNY BOOM

CHRIS BROWN

COLIN TILLEY & THE LITTLE HOMIES

DIRECTOR X

HYPE WILLIAMS

Best New Artist

ALESSIA CARA

ANDRA DAY

BRYSON TILLER

KEHLANI

TORY LANEZ

Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award

ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY

ERICA CAMPBELL

KIRK FRANKLIN

LECRAE

TAMELA MANN

TASHA COBBS

Best Actress

GABRIELLE UNION

KERRY WASHINGTON

TARAJI P. HENSON

TRACEE ELLIS ROSS

VIOLA DAVIS

Best Actor

ANTHONY ANDERSON

COURTNEY B. VANCE

IDRIS ELBA

MICHAEL B. JORDAN

O'SHEA JACKSON JR.

YoungStars Award

AMANDLA STENBERG

QUVENZHANÉ WALLIS

SILENTÓ

WILLOW SMITH

YARA SHAHIDI

Best Movie

BEASTS OF NO NATION

CONCUSSION

CREED

DOPE

STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON

Sportswoman of the Year

CHEYENNE WOODS

GABRIELLE DOUGLAS

SERENA WILLIAMS

SKYLAR DIGGINS

VENUS WILLIAMS

Sportsman of the Year

CAM NEWTON

KOBE BRYANT 

LEBRON JAMES 

ODELL BECKHAM JR.

STEPHEN CURRY

Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award

BEYONCÉ – FORMATION

BRYSON TILLER – DON’T

CHRIS BROWN – BACK TO SLEEP

DRAKE – HOTLINE BLING

FUTURE FT. DRAKE – WHERE YA AT

RIHANNA FT. DRAKE – WORK

Centric Award

ANDRA DAY - RISE UP

BEYONCÉ – FORMATION

K. MICHELLE – NOT A LITTLE BIT

RIHANNA - BBHMM

THE INTERNET - UNDER CONTROL

Best International Act Africa

AKA (SOUTH AFRICA)

BLACK COFFEE (SOUTH AFRICA)

CASSPER NYOVEST (SOUTH AFRICA)

DIAMOND PLATNUMZ (TANZANIA)

MZVEE (Ghana)

SERGE BEYNAUD (COTE D’IVOIRE)   

WIZKID (NIGERIA)

YEMI ALADE (NIGERIA)

Best International Act UK

KANO

KREPT & KONAN

LIANNE LA HAVAS

SKEPTA

STORMZY

TINIE TEMPAH

BET will honor entertainer Janet Jackson with its “Ultimate Icon: Music Dance Visual Award” during Sunday’s BET Awards ceremony, the network announced Tuesday.

Jackson, who will launch her first studio album in seven years later this year as well as embark on a world tour this fall, will receive her honors during BET's live BET Awards telecast. Performers Ciara, Jason Derulo and Tinashe will perform a special dance tribute to the iconic entertainer, which is set to include her just released single, No Sleeep. 

“This is Janet Jackson, people!  We are excited beyond belief to present her with our inaugural 'Ultimate Icon: Music Dance Visual' award and we are thrilled that she chose the BET Awards as the first step on her new road,” said BET president of programming Stephen G. Hill in a statement.

The BET Awards, hosted by Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross, will also include performances by Chris Brown, Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill, while Michael Ealy, Sanaa Lathan, Laverne Cox, Michael B. Jordan and Zendaya, will serve as presenters for the show

Singer Chris Brown and Hip Hop artist Nicki Minaj drew the lion’s share of BET Awards nominations, BET executives said Monday.

Brown and Minaj garnered six nominations each, followed closely by Beyonce and Lil Wayne with four nominations each, according to BET. The BET Awards recognizes artists, entertainers and athletes across 20 categories.

“This year’s nominees showcase a diverse group of talent that includes longstanding entertainers, breakout performers, and outstanding athletes,” said Stephen Hill, BET’s President of Programming. “We congratulate all of the talent on their remarkable contributions to the world of entertainment and look forward to them joining us in celebrating 15 years of the BET Awards.”

The complete list of nominees for the "BET Awards"2015 are:

BEST FEMALE R&B/POP ARTIST

BEYONCÉ

CIARA

JANELLE MONÁE

JHENÉ AIKO

K. MICHELLE

RIHANNA

BEST MALE R&B/POP ARTIST

AUGUST ALSINA

CHRIS BROWN

JOHN LEGEND

THE WEEKND

TREY SONGZ

USHER

BEST GROUP

A$AP MOB

JODECI

MIGOS

RAE SREMMURD

RICH GANG

YOUNG MONEY

BEST COLLABORATION

AUGUST ALSINA F/ NICKI MINAJ – NO LOVE (REMIX)

BIG SEAN F/ E-40 - IDFWU

CHRIS BROWN F/ LIL WAYNE & TYGA - LOYAL

CHRIS BROWN F/ USHER & RICK ROSS - NEW FLAME

COMMON & JOHN LEGEND - GLORY (FROM THE MOTION PICTURE "SELMA")

MARK RONSON F/ BRUNO MARS – UPTOWN FUNK

BEST MALE HIP HOP ARTIST

BIG SEAN

COMMON

DRAKE

J. COLE

KENDRICK LAMAR

WALE

BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST

AZEALIA BANKS

DEJ LOAF

IGGY AZALEA

NICKI MINAJ

TINK

TRINA

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

BEYONCÉ - 7/11

BIG SEAN F/ E-40 - IDFWU

CHRIS BROWN F/ LIL WAYNE & TYGA - LOYAL

CHRIS BROWN F/ USHER & RICK ROSS - NEW FLAME

COMMON & JOHN LEGEND - GLORY (FROM THE MOTION PICTURE "SELMA")

NICKI MINAJ - ANACONDA

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

BENNY BOOM

BEYONCÉ, ED BURKE & TODD TOURSO

CHRIS ROBINSON

FATIMA ROBINSON

HYPE WILLIAMS

BEST NEW ARTIST

BOBBY SHMURDA

DEJ LOAF

FETTY WAP

RAE SREMMURD

SAM SMITH

TINASHE

BEST GOSPEL ARTIST

DEITRICK HADDON

ERICA CAMPBELL

FRED HAMMOND

LECRAE

MALI MUSIC

MICHELLE WILLIAMS

BEST ACTRESS

GABRIELLE UNION

KERRY WASHINGTON

TARAJI P. HENSON

TRACEE ELLIS ROSS

VIOLA DAVIS

BEST ACTOR

ANTHONY ANDERSON

IDRIS ELBA

JUSSIE SMOLLETT

KEVIN HART

TERRENCE HOWARD

YOUNGSTARS AWARD

JACOB LATIMORE

JADEN SMITH

MO'NE DAVIS

QUVENZHANÉ WALLIS

ZENDAYA

BEST MOVIE

ANNIE

BEYOND THE LIGHTS

SELMA

THINK LIKE A MAN TOO

TOP FIVE

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR

BRITTNEY GRINER

CANDACE PARKER

SERENA WILLIAMS

SKYLAR DIGGINS

VENUS WILLIAMS

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR

CHRIS PAUL

FLOYD MAYWEATHER, JR.

LEBRON JAMES

MARSHAWN LYNCH

STEPHEN CURRY

COCA-COLA VIEWERS’ CHOICE AWARD

BEYONCÉ – 7/11

DEJ LOAF – TRY ME

KENDRICK LAMAR – i

NICKI MINAJ F/ DRAKE, LIL WAYNE & CHRIS BROWN - ONLY

RAE SREMMURD F/ NICKI MINAJ & YOUNG THUG – THROW SUM MO

THE WEEKND – EARNED IT (FROM THE “FIFTY SHADES OF GREY” SOUNDTRACK)

CENTRIC AWARD

AVERY SUNSHINE – CALL MY NAME

JAZMINE SULLIVAN F/ MEEK MILL – DUMB  

MARK RONSON F/ BRUNO MARS – UPTOWN FUNK

SAM SMITH F/ MARY J. BLIGE – STAY WITH ME

THE WEEKND - EARNED IT (FROM THE “FIFTY SHADES OF GREY” SOUNDTRACK)

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT: AFRICA

AKA (SOUTH AFRICA)

FALLY IPUPA (DR CONGO)

SARKODIE (GHANA)

SAUTI SOL (KENYA)

STONEBWOY (GHANA)

THE SOIL (SOUTH AFRICA)

WIZKID (NIGERIA)

YEMI ALADE (NIGERIA)

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT: UK

FKA TWIGS

FUSE ODG

LETHAL BIZZLE

LITTLE SIMZ

MNEK

STORMZY

BET veteran executive Stephen Hill has been appointed president of programming for the African-American network, BET officials said Tuesday.

Hill, who formerly served as president of music programming and specials at BET, will will be responsible for all aspects of programming and direct programming and production across BET. Hill takes over for former programming head Loretha Jones who left the network earlier this year.

Hill most recently oversaw the development of such shows as the BET Awards, BET Honors, Black Girls Rock, The Hip Hop Awards, and Celebration of Gospel Prior to that,  Hill served as executive vice president of entertainment and music Programming.

“I have worked with Stephen for over 15 years, and his passion for the BET Brand has been apparent from the very beginning.  He has grown our music shows and specials into iconic and highly-rated programs beloved by our audience,” said Debra Lee, chairman and CEO for BET Networks.  “Over the past several years, he has expanded his role into scripted programming, launching our hit series Real Husbands of Hollywood. He is well-qualified and ready for this new challenge and I am excited to have him in this new role.”