BET Offers a Fresh Lineup of HIV-Related Programming to Coincide With National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

BET Offers a Fresh Lineup of HIV-Related Programming to Coincide With National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Network Debuts Winning Short Films and Ground-Breaking News Special That Tackles HIV/AIDS Issues

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- In the lead up to National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (February 7), BET Networks today announced a roll out of fresh HIV-themed programming that features two new films and a youth-focused news special, as part of its longstanding public education partnership with the Kaiser Family Foundation, the Rap-It-Up Campaign. All three unique and powerful original shows bring attention to the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS in the Black community; and tackle a host of HIV/AIDS-related issues faced by BET's young African-American audience, including stigma and homophobia, HIV testing, substance abuse, and the impact of HIV/AIDS on personal relationships and family life.

BET's lineup of special programming poignantly touches on these various issues as well as educates viewers on the impact HIV has had on the minority population. In the U.S., Blacks account for half of new AIDS cases, while representing just 12% of the population. Among Black women aged 25-34, HIV is the number one cause of death, and a leading cause of death among the Black population overall, higher compared to any other racial and ethnic groups.

"The stark disparity of HIV/AIDS among the Black community empowers BET to continually provide cutting-edge programming that educates our viewers and evokes social change," stated Kelli Lawson, Executive Vice President of BET Corporate Marketing. "Our original programming directly speaks to the harsh reality of HIV/AIDS and also provides a voice to those both affected and infected."

"As HIV/AIDS continues to disproportionately impact African Americans, stories like 'Odicie' and 'Reflections' help raise awareness and reduce stigma," said Tina Hoff, Vice President and Director, Entertainment Media Partnerships, Kaiser Family Foundation. "The films are a powerful inside look at the epidemic in African-American communities."

Kicking off this special HIV-themed lineup is REFLECTIONS, the winning short film from the first Scenarios USA/Rap-It-Up "What's the REAL DEAL on Growing Up in the Age of AIDS?" National Story and Scriptwriting Contest which debuts on BET on Sunday, February 4 at 12:00 p.m. ET/PT with encore broadcasts on Wednesday, February 7 at 11:00 p.m. and Sunday, February 18 at 12:00 p.m. REFLECTIONS, written by 17-yr old Keyana Ray of Maywood, Illinois, follows three young women and the issues they face in a community where HIV infection and drug abuse run rampant. The women learn to lean on each other as they educate themselves about HIV, realizing how the disease can affect their everyday lives. The film is directed by renowned director Gina Prince-Bythewood; while her husband Reggie Rock Bythewood, who wrote Spike Lee's "Get on the Bus," managed the script revision process.

BEHIND THE SCENES: REFLECTIONS, a half-hour documentary featuring footage from the making of short film, follows on Sunday, February 4 at 12:30 p.m. In conjunction with this Ford Foundation financially supported on-air program, a specially-tailored study guide will be distributed nationally to teachers, educators, and community groups to help expand learning opportunities from the film.

"Reflections is going to impact everyone who sees it," stated Scenarios USA Co-Founder & Co-Executive Director Kristen Joiner. "It's a beautiful and moving story, and premiering on BET means that millions of young people will be able to learn from and be inspired by it."

On National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, the cable network will premiere the BET News special, SEX, MYTHS AND THE REAL DEAL, a 30-minute show that examines common misconceptions that many young adults hold about HIV/AIDS on Wednesday, February 7 at 8:00 p.m. The Ford Foundation-funded news special features fictional reenactments combined with commentary from key stakeholders and prominent figures including: HIV advocate Marvelyn Brown, doctors and medical experts, young people, and entertainers such as MC Lyte, Bow Wow, and Magic Johnson among others. A study guide will also be distributed for teachers and community groups to help facilitate discussions about HIV/AIDS and related issues.

ODICIE, the winner of the 3rd Annual Rap-It-Up/Black AIDS Short Subject Film Competition (RIU/BASS), wraps up the special programming menu with its network debut on Sunday, February 18 at 12:30 p.m. Written by writing team: Beverly Abbott, Casey Arrillaga and Wyndle Jordan, the short film features legendary actress Sheryl Lee Ralph and details the story of 9-year-old Odicie Johnson, whose uncle died -- changing her life forever. The nature of his death is a dark family secret kept from her young ears; however, an unsatisfied Odicie embarks on a journey to find out what really happened to her beloved Uncle Leon. After discovering her uncle's struggle with AIDS, Odicie decides to mend her broken family.

ODICIE will also be screened at the National Black Women & AIDS Conference in Los Angeles, CA (http://www.blackaids.org/) on Saturday, February 10 at 2:00 pm, and the National African American AIDS Conference in Philadelphia, PA on February 12. The RIU/BASS film competition is an ongoing collaboration between the Black AIDS Institute, BET Networks, and the Kaiser Family Foundation.

"AIDS is an unprecedented health catastrophe in Black America. Mobilization is the key to eradicating this deadly disease," stated Phill Wilson, Founder and Executive Director of the Black AIDS Institute. "These short films not only showcase up and coming filmmakers, but also are vital in providing our communities with unique and profound programming that realistically illustrates the need to mobilize these communities."

In addition to new on-air programming, BET and Kaiser unveil the launch of new informational and interactive resources about HIV/AIDS on http://www.rap-it-up.com/. Throughout February, BET will also air targeted public service announcements (PSAs) jointly produced with Kaiser to encourage young African Americans to learn more about HIV/AIDS, encourage dialogue among families and partners about the disease, and get regular HIV tests.

Since 1998, the BET and the Kaiser Family Foundation have partnered to operate Rap-It-Up, a premier sexual health information resource for young African Americans. To date, the campaign has aired more then 16,000 PSAs, generated an audience of over 14 million viewers for its HIV-themed specials and documentaries, managed over 1.2 million hotline calls, and organized over 50 community awareness and mobile STD testing events reaching tens of thousands of youth.

ABOUT BET NETWORKS

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom, Inc. (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:and)(NYSE:VIA.B), is the leading provider of media and entertainment for African Americans and consumers of Black culture on a global basis. The primary BET cable network reaches more than 84 million households according to Nielsen media research, and can be seen in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. BET Digital Networks - BET J, BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop - are brands that serve a broader and more diverse audience than the core network. BET.com is the number one internet destination for the target audiences. BET Mobile delivers music, gaming, and video content to the target audiences on wireless devices across virtually all service providers. BET Event Productions is a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe. Finally, BET International delivers BET content to the consumers of Black culture around the world.

ABOUT KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION

The Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit, private operating foundation dedicated to providing information and analysis on health issues to policymakers, the media, and the general public. It is not associated with Kaiser Permanente or Kaiser Industries. Information on HIV/AIDS is available at http://www.kff.org/, and a daily news summary report on developments in HIV/AIDS is available on http://www.kaisernetwork.org/, the Foundation's free health information service.

ABOUT THE BLACK AIDS INSTITUTE

The Black AIDS Institute is the only national HIV/AIDS think tank in the United States focused exclusively on Black people. The Institute's mission is to stop the AIDS pandemic in Black communities by engaging and mobilizing Black institutions and individuals in efforts to confront HIV. The Institute interprets public and private sector HIV policies, conducts trainings, offers technical assistance, disseminates information and provides advocacy from a uniquely and unapologetically Black point of view.

ABOUT SCENARIOS USA

Scenarios USA is a non-profit organization that uses writing and filmmaking to foster youth leadership, advocacy and self-expression in under-served teens. Scenarios USA asks young people to write about the issues that shape their lives for the annual "What's the REAL DEAL?" writing contest, and thousands have responded with their raw and revealing insights. The winning writers are partnered with some of Hollywood's finest filmmakers to transform their stories into award-winning short films. Fifteen million people a year watch the Scenarios USA films, at film festivals, on television and in high schools nationwide. Scenarios USA believes that by valuing youth and listening to their opinions, we can have an impact on promoting healthy relationships and lowering the rate of HIV, STDs and pregnancy among teens.

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FCMN Contact:

Source: BET Networks

CONTACT: Lyntina Townsend of BET, +1-202-608-2745,
lyntina.townsend@bet.net; or Rob Graham of KFF, +1-650-854-9400, RobG@kff.org,
for BET

Web site: http://www.bet.com/
http://www.blackaids.org/
http://www.rap-it-up.com/
http://www.kff.org/
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/

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