Broadcast network ABC, led by its veteran comedy series Black-ish, secured more NAACP Image Awards than any other distributor in the television category, capping off the civil rights organization's week-long awards celebration recognizing the accomplishments of people of color over the past year.

ABC won eight NAACP awards, topping other multiple award-winning distributors including Netflix, Starz, HBO, Disney Junior, Comedy Central and the now defunct Quibi streaming service. 

ABC was led by Black-ish, which earned five NAACP Image Awards to top all shows. Starz’s Power Book II: Ghost and HBO’s Insecure also won multiple awards, including best drama and best comedy series, respectively. Netflix’s Self Made: Inspired by The Life of Madam C.J. Walker was the top choice for outstanding television movie. 

On the movie side, streaming service Netflix swept the major acting categories, including outstanding actor (Chadwick Boseman) and actress (Viola Davis) for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom; supporting actor (Boesman for Da 5 Bloods) and supporting actress (Phylicia Rashad for Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey). Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom also won for Outstanding Ensemble Cast. 

The 52nd NAACP Image Awards’ Saturday primetime telecast was hosted by Black-ish’s Anthony Anderson and aired across several ViacomCBS-owned networks, including CBS, BET and VH1. Along with television and film, the awards also honored excellence in the fields of music and literature. 

NAACP Image Awards winners in the television category -- including awards announced during the primetime telecast as well as earlier last week -- are as follows: 

Outstanding drama series

Power Book II: Ghost -- Starz 

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series

Regé-Jean Page – Bridgerton (Netflix)

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series

Viola Davis – How To Get Away With Murder (ABC)

Outstanding supporting actor in a drama series

Clifford “Method Man” Smith - Power Book II: Ghost (Starz)

Outstanding supporting actress in a drama series

Mary J. Blige - Power Book II: Ghost (Starz)

Outstanding writing in a drama series

Attica Locke - Little Fires Everywhere - Ep. 104 “The Spider Web”  (Hulu)

Outstanding directing in a drama series

Hanelle Culpepper - Star Trek: Picard - Ep. 101 "Remembrance" (CBS All Access)

Outstanding comedy series

Insecure (HBO)

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series

Issa Rae – Insecure (HBO)

Outstanding actor in a comedy series

Anthony Anderson - black-ish (ABC) 

Outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series

Deon Cole - black-ish (ABC)

Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series

Marsai Martin - black-ish (ABC) 

Outstanding writing in a comedy series

Michaela Coel - I May Destroy You - Ep. 112 “Ego Death” (HBO)

Outstanding directing in a comedy series

Anya Adams - black-ish - Ep. 611 “Hair Day” (ABC) 

Outstanding television movie, limited-series or dramatic special

Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker (Netflix)

Outstanding actor in a television movie, limited-series or dramatic special

Blair Underwood - Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker (Netflix)

Outstanding actress in a television movie, limited-series or dramatic special

Octavia Spencer - Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker (Netflix)

Outstanding writing in a television movie or special

Geri Cole - The Power of We: A Sesame Street Special (HBO Max)

Outstanding directing in a television movie or special

Eugene Ashe -- Sylvie’s Love (Amazon Studios) 

Outstanding talk series

Red Table Talk (Facebook Watch) 

Outstanding reality program/reality competition or game show

Celebrity Family Feud (ABC) 

Outstanding variety show (series or special)

VERZUZ (Apple Music) 

Outstanding news/information (series or special)

The New York Times Presents The Killing of Breonna Taylor (FX)

Outstanding children’s program

Family Reunion (Netflix) 

Outstanding animated series

Doc McStuffins (Disney Junior)

Outstanding performance by a youth (series, special, television movie or limited-series)

Marsai Martin - black-ish (ABC)

Outstanding short form series - comedy or drama

#FreeRayshawn (Quibi)

Outstanding performance in a short form series

Laurence Fishburne - #FreeRayshawn (Quibi)

Outstanding short form series - reality/nonfiction

“Between The Scenes” - The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central)

Outstanding documentary (television - series or special)

The Last Dance (ESPN) 

Outstanding character voice-over performance (television)

Laya DeLeon Hayes - Doc McStuffins (Disney Junior) 

Outstanding host in a talk or news/information (series or special) – individual or ensemble

Trevor Noah - The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central) 

Outstanding host in a reality/reality competition, game show or variety (series or special) – individual or ensemble

Steve Harvey - Celebrity Family Feud (ABC) 

Outstanding guest performance - comedy or drama series

Loretta Devine- P-Valley (Starz)

Outstanding breakthrough creative (television)

Raynelle Swilling - Cherish the Day (OWN) 

Outstanding directing in a documentary (television or motion picture)

Keith McQuirter - By Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of Harlem (Epix)

Outstanding writing in a documentary (television or motion picture)

Melissa Haizlip - Mr. SOUL! (Maysles Documentary Center)

Pandemic quarantines and social injustice protests around the country have led to more African-American consumers viewing TV content, and has fueled those viewers’ desire to see more content that represents and depicts them, according to Nielsen.

Going into the pandemic, African-Americans were watching 13 more hours of traditional television a week than white viewers during first-quarter 2020, according to Nielsen’s Total Audience Report for second quarter 2020. As Black viewers settled in and began working from home this summer, they continued to watch more television than other ethnic groups, according to Cheryl Grace, Nielsen’s senior VP of U.S. strategic community alliances and consumer engagement. 

During August, 24% if African-Americans were watching video content while working from home, compared with 16% of the overall population, Grace said at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference on Sept. 18. “Many of us have the television on without the sound,” she said. 

For the week of March 23, 60% of the top 20 shows among African-Americans age 2 and older had majority Black casts, Nielsen reported, compared to just two such shows among the general population. “What it shows is that if you build it, they will come,” Grace said. “We’ve seen an increase between 2016 and today of about 4.6% of content being reflective of African-Americans, but we still have a long way to go. We make up 14% of the population, so it’s not lost on us that we’re not yet as reflective in content as we are in the population.” 

Grace’s comments support a recent National Research Group survey, which found that more than three in four African-Americans believe media outlets perpetuate negative stereotypes of them and that more content reflective of their lives is needed.

The survey of 1,300 Americans also revealed that 92% of African-Americans and 82% of all Americans want to see more diverse stories with characters that break racial stereotypes. Three in four Americans (74%) also said content being representative of different cultures or people is a key factor when choosing what to watch. 

“The high level of consumer interest in diverse stories and voices surfaced very strongly in this research,” said Cindi Smith, VP of the diversity, equity and inclusion practice at National Research Group. “We believe our insights can inspire creators and marketers to get behind stories that offer a fresh point of view and bring to light more multifaceted identities.” 

African-Americans should continue to pressure cable networks to create more content that reflects their lives and to put more people of color both in front
of and behind the camera, UMC chief content officer Brett Dismuke said at the Congressional Black Caucus conference. African-Americans “account for 25% of box-office receipts but also account for 30% to 35% of cable viewing statistics,” Dismuke said. “We have to demand from [industry] CEOs and our networks that the decision-making rooms have to reflect their viewership.”

Stars has renewed Power spinoff Power Book II: Ghost for season two. Courtney A. Kemp is the creator and showrunner. She executive produces alongside Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. 

Power Book II: Ghost premiered Sept. 6. 

“The success of Ghost right out of the gate is a tribute to the quality of Courtney’s storytelling, the strength of the Power franchise and the loyalty of our incredible fans,” said Christina Davis, president of programming, Starz. “What Courtney, Curtis and their team have accomplished in creating the Power Universe is nothing short of extraordinary. It is a privilege to be able to continue the journey of Power with the audience and we look forward to delving deeper into this world in exciting new ways for many seasons to come.” 

More: Starz Extends 'Power' With Spinoff Series

The premiere season of Ghost is broken in two, with the mid-season finale airing Oct. 4 and five more episodes airing later this year. 

“I am incredibly humbled by and grateful for the response from our Power fans -- the best fans in the world, period,” said Kemp. “To have our fans return -- and bring new viewers to the first spinoff in the Power Universe -- is a dream come true. Back in 2012, 50, Mark [Canton] and I were warned that a premium series with leads of color would never work for a global audience. But we've proven everyone wrong -- and thanks to Starzplay, we have fans in the UK, France, Mexico, Brazil and beyond, all plugging into the Power Universe.”

Power ran for six seasons before its finale earlier this year. 

“When I had the idea to create the Power Universe I knew there were going to be many levels to its success,” said Jackson. “I am glad the fans agree. I am looking forward to releasing Power Book III: Raising Kanan and Power Book IV: Force soon.”

Kemp and Jackson executive produce along with Mark Canton, Chris Selak and Danielle De Jesus, Shana Stein and Bart Wenrich.

Starz is part of Lionsgate. 

Starz announced several new cast members for its Power spinoff series, Power Book II: Ghost.

Several cast members from Power -- which ended its six-season run Sunday with the series finale -- will join the Power Book II: Ghost cast, including Michael Rainey Jr. as Tariq St. Patrick, Shane Johnson as Cooper Saxe and Naturi Naughton as Tasha St. Patrick, according to Starz.

They will join previously announced cast members Mary J. Blige and Cliff "Method Man" Smith as part of Power Book II: Ghost, which follows Tariq as he navigates his new life, in which his desire to shed his father’s legacy comes up against the mounting pressure to save his family, according to Starz. Previews for Ghost say it is coming this summer.

Other cast members include Daniel Bellomy (The Real MVP: The Wanda DurrantStory); Paige Hurd (The Oval, Hawaii Five-O); Melanie Liburd (This is Us, Gypsy); Justin McManus (Star); Woody McClain (The Bobby Brown Story, The New Edition Story); Lovell Adams-Gray (Coroner, Slasher) and LaToya Tonodeo (The Oath).

Power Book II: Ghost is one of four Power spinoff series set for Starz: Power Book III: Raising Kanan is a prequel taking viewers to the 90s with the Kanan Stark character; Power Book IV: Influence follows Rashad Tate, played by Larenz Tate, in his pursuit of political power; and Power Book V: Force shows Tommy Egan, played by Joseph Sikora after he leaves New York.