NAACP Image Awards See Huge Ratings Increase After Move to BET

Rihanna accepts the Presidents Award onstage during the 51st NAACP Image Awards, Presented by BET, at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 22, 2020 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for BET)

Finding a new home paid off for the 51st NAACP Image Awards.

After moving from TV One to BET, the Image Awards saw massive ratings growth, with 1.8 million total viewers watching the telecast on BET and other ViacomCBS networks, including MTV, MTV2, VH1, Comedy Central, CMT, LOGO, TV Land, Pop and Smithsonian.

Those 1.8 million viewers marked a 448 percent ratings increase from a year ago, according to Nielsen. On BET alone, the show was watched by 850,000 viewers, up 149 percent from last year’s telecast.

The February 22 broadcast was also the #1 most talked about TV program on social media, with the tweet volume peaking at 9:52 p.m. ET, when Rihanna received the President’s Award. To date there have been more than 14 million total social mentions.

Related Story: NAACP Image Awards – Complete Winners List

Bryan Stevenson accepts the Outstanding Motion Picture award for "Just Mercy" onstage during the 51st NAACP Image Awards, Presented by BET, at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 22, 2020 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for BET)
Writer and criminal justice reform activist Bryan Stevenson accepts the outstanding motion picture award for “Just Mercy.” (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for BET)

Anthony Anderson hosted the telecast from Pasadena, Calif., marking his seventh consecutive year in the role.

During the awardsfest, Lizzo took home the entertainer of the year honor, and Just Mercy was named outstanding motion picture. On the TV side, Greenleaf won outstanding drama series and Black-ish picked up the comedy series honor.

“Homecoming: The Live Album” from Beyoncé was named outstanding album, and rapper Lil Nas X won the best new artist honor.

The NAACP Image Awards honor people of color in television, music, literature, and film, and also individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors.

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