BET's 'Black Girls Rock!' Draws 2.1 Million Viewers

BET’s Black Girls Rock! telecast this past Sunday drew more than 2 million viewers, according to network executives.

The third annual telecast of Black Girls Rock!, which celebrates the achievements of African-American women, averaged 2.1 million viewers, making the show the network’s top weekend telecast among total viewers in 2012. The show, which featured performances from Alicia Keys, Brandy, Keyshia Cole, India.Arie, Ciara, and SWV was also the most-watched BET weekend telecast this year among women 18 to 49, said network officials.

The special, co-hosted by Tracee Ellis Ross and Regina King, honored actress Kerry Washington, Grammy Award-winning singer Dionne Warwick, singer-songwriter Alicia Keys, songstress Janelle Monae, human rights activists Dr. Hawa Abdi and former Essence Magazine editor Susan L. Taylor.

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.