BET Draws 2.9 Million Viewers for NAACP Image Awards Telecast

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

CBS pulls in 1.5 million viewers for event simulcast

BET's NAACP Image Awards telecast
The NAACP Image Awards were simulcast by BET and 13 other Paramount Global networks, including CBS. (Image credit: BET)

BET garnered ratings honors for its live coverage of the 54th annual NAACP Image Awards, averaging nearly 3 million viewers for the event.

BET averaged 2.9 million viewers for the telecast, which was up 72% from last year’s event, according to Nielsen numbers provided by BET. The awards show also drew 1.5 million viewers for CBS, which aired a live simulcast of the event celebrating Black excellence in music, film, television and literature. 

Overall, the live NAACP Image Awards event was simulcast live across 13 Paramount Global networks including BET and CBS as well as BET Her, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV, MTV2, Paramount Network, Pop TV, Smithsonian, TV Land and VH1.

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On the social media front, the NAACP Image Awards generated more than 10.4M social interactions, an increase of more than 1,658% over last year’s event across Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, according to BET. ■

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.