The NAACP and BET Networks announced a broadcast partnership Monday (Nov. 25) to air the 51st NAACP Image Awards on BET for the first time ever. The two-hour awards show will be held Feb. 22, 2020, in Pasadena, Calif., and will honor the biggest achievements in black culture, from entertainment to social justice.
“We’re proud to partner with BET Networks to showcase the incredible breadth of Black excellence in television, film, music, and literature, and to bring awareness to the social justice and economic empowerment work of the NAACP,” NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said in a press release. “Through its diverse platforms, BET delivers culturally enriching and entertaining content to a wide and multigenerational audience. As we head into a critical 2020 election and Census, the collaboration with BET will be critical to reaching our shared communities.”
“The NAACP is vitally important, and BET Networks shares the organization’s commitment to our community and social impact,” added President of BET Networks Scott Mills. “With the NAACP’s half-century of history acknowledging the achievements of African Americans across entertainment and activism, this partnership allows BET to further our mission to entertain, engage and empower our viewers by delivering this cultural pillar to the communities we serve. We’re thrilled to welcome the NAACP Image Awards home to BET.”
Nominations for the 51st NAACP Image Awards will be announced Jan. 9, and online voting for the public will close Feb. 7.
The 51st NAACP Image Awards will air live exclusively on BET Saturday, Feb. 22, at 8 p.m. ET.