BET Networks Announces Sponsors for “BET Awards” 15

BET Networks has partnered with Coca-Cola®, Sprite®, Cricket Wireless, Domino’s, Macy’s, McDonald’s, Nissan, Samsung, State Farm® and Verizon to deliver the hottest night in television, the “BET Awards” 15, which will air live on Sunday, June 28th at 8pm.* Nissan will showcase the brand new 2016 Nissan Maxima and bring glitz and glamour as the sponsor of the “BET Awards” red carpet. Nissan will also give one lucky winner the chance to win a trip to the star studded show.

“We are excited to work with such iconic and prominent brands as we celebrate the 15th anniversary of the BET Awards,” said Louis Carr, President of Broadcast and Advertising Media Sales, BET Networks. “This is the biggest and most social night in television for African Americans and we look forward to partnering with our clients to connect their brands with the most influential audience across multiple platforms.”

Coca-Cola® has been associated with the “BET Awards” since 2009; and this year they are presenting sponsor of the #BETInstaStar contest. The winner of this user generated contest, which is determined by viewers voting, will win a trip to Los Angeles to attend the “BET Awards” and present the

Coca-Cola® Viewers’ Choice Award on-air. The Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award is the only official award category where fans determine the winner. Hip Hop personality Big Tigger will be on the red carpet capturing celebrity reactions to the Sprite® Obey Your Verse Lyrical Collection - 16 limited edition cans featuring hip hop icons - Drake, Biggie, Nas, and Rakim.

State Farm returns to sponsor the Humanitarian Award. New this year, Samsung Galaxy S6 edge will sponsor the Best New Artist Award. Cricket Wireless is sponsoring the FANdemonium Award, where a winner is picked based on the level of fan loyalty and devotion, demonstrated through digital and social engagement challenges. The brand is also sponsoring the Presenter Photo Booth backstage and the live After Party Post Show. Additionally, Cricket Wireless hosted a VIP Awards Weekend Sweepstakes to give one lucky winner and their special guest an all-expense paid trip to experience the “BET Awards” show as well as the #STSA Viewer Sweepstakes which encourages viewers to share what gave them Something to Smile About during the show via Twitter. Participants will have a chance to win a Cricket Wireless smartphone and 1 year of free Cricket Wireless service.

For the first time ever, Verizon is providing a new view of the “BET Awards” red carpet with a Periscope livestream. Jacob Latimore will host the stream from 6pm -8pm*, follow @BET for all the action. Domino’s is the returning sponsor of the “BET Awards” countdown clock in the “BET AWARDS PRE-SHOW: LIVE! RED! READY!” Macy’s will sponsor a fashion segment highlighting red carpet inspired looks during the pre-show.

McDonald’s is the presenting sponsor of the Backstage Live Stream (www.bet.com/LiveStream) hosted by Chris Spencer, in addition to the I’m Lovin’ It Award, a poll where viewers vote (www.bet.com/ImLovinIt) on who has the best performance in the “BET Awards.” Winners will be announced during the After-Party Live post-show.

The “BET Awards” 15 will be hosted by Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross. It is one of the most watched shows on cable television according to the Nielsen Company. The “BET Awards” franchise remains the #1 program in cable TV history among African-Americans, and it is BET’s #1 telecast every year. It recognizes the triumphs and successes of artists, entertainers and athletes in 20 categories. The highly-anticipated event airs live, Sunday, June 28th at 8 pm*. on BET from the Microsoft Theatre L.A. Live.

A full list of the “BET Awards” 15 nominations is now available at http://www.bet.com/BETAwards

Stephen G. Hill, BET’s President of Music Programming and Specials and Lynne Harris Taylor, BET’s Vice President of Specials, will serve as Executive Producers for the “BET Awards,” along with Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment.

The “BET Awards” 2015 will premiere around the world on BET’s international network on Tuesday, June 30 at 9:00pm BST / 10:00pm CAT and will air live on MTV Australia for the very first time (check local listings).

The “BET Awards” will take place along with the BET Experience in Los Angeles from June 25-28, 2015.

BET.com/Awards is the official site for the “BET Awards” and will have all the latest news and updates about this year's show. All information about the BET Experience at L.A. LIVE presented by Coca-Cola® can be found at BETExperience.com. The BET Experience VIP Package offers the only way to purchase a “BET Awards” ticket, great seats to 3-nights of concerts at the Staples Center, and exclusive access to events at the free Fan Fest. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to BET.com/BETX.Follow the Experience on Twitter @betexperience, #BETX. @BETAwards #BETAwards

*All times are ET

ABOUT BET NETWORKS

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks - BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

ABOUT “BET AWARDS”

The “BET Awards” is one of the most watched award shows on cable television according to the Nielsen Company. The “BET Awards” franchise remains as the #1 program in cable TV history among African-Americans, and it is BET's #1 telecast every year. It recognizes the triumphs and successes of artists, entertainers, and athletes in a variety of categories.

BET EXPERIENCE AT L.A. LIVE PRESENTED BY COCA-COLA®

BET Networks, an entertainment powerhouse, and AEG, one of the leading entertainment companies in the world and developer/ operator of L.A. LIVE, have teamed up once again to create the BET EXPERIENCE AT L.A. LIVE (BETX), June 25 - 28, 2015 presented by Coca-Cola®. This three-day festival will be filled with music and comedy concerts taking place at Club Nokia and STAPLES Center; “106 & PARK”; FREE BET Fan Fest at the Los Angeles Convention Center including seminars, celebrity basketball games, celebrity meet & greets; and other special appearances. The weekend will be capped off with the “BET Awards” on Sunday, June 28, 2015 at Microsoft Theatre L.A. LIVE.

Follow us on Twitter @ BET_PR and @BETAwards

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