Multi-Platinum Recording Artist Nelly and Sexy Newcomer Lauren London are the Matching Pair Selected to Host This Year's 'RIP THE RUNWAY' on BET

Multi-Platinum Recording Artist Nelly and Sexy Newcomer Lauren London are the Matching Pair Selected to Host This Year's 'RIP THE RUNWAY' on BET

Sean 'Diddy' Combs is Tapped to Executive Produce Network's Annual Fashion and

Music Special

Film Director Chris Robinson Returns as the Show's Director

WHAT: The fervor for fashion returns for its fourth consecutive year
with BET's RIP THE RUNWAY. Hosted by multi-platinum recording
artist Nelly and America's newest fashion darling Lauren London,
this fashion extravaganza will feature collections from today's
most eclectic designers, including Sean John, Apple Bottom and
BBC. RIP THE RUNWAY is the premier event that combines live
musical performances with the runway, all on one mega-stage.
Television's best dressed hour will also feature performances by
the one and only Snoop Dogg, among many other surprises.
(Logo:

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070716/BETNETWORKSLOGO )

Joining the ranks as executive producer is none other than Sean
"Diddy" Combs. As a trendsetter in both music and in fashion,
Diddy is set to add an "unforgivable" amount of swagger to this
year's special. RIP THE RUNWAY premieres on Tuesday, March 4 at
9:00 p.m. ET/PT -- only on BET.

WHEN: Thursday, February 21
3:00-6:00 p.m. Media Check In
6:30 p.m. Red Carpet Opens
8:00 p.m. RIP THE RUNWAY Taping Begins

WHERE: The Manhattan Center
311 West 34th Street
New York, NY 10001

PROCESS TO REQUEST MEDIA CREDENTIALS (Please Read Carefully)

-- Credentials are available only to working media members and are subject to approval by BET's Corporate Communications Team. All information provided is subject to verification. We appreciate media cooperation in keeping attending coverage staff to the absolute minimum necessary to cover RIP THE RUNWAY. Although space is limited, we will try to accommodate as many media outlets as possible for this event; however, please keep in mind that space is limited.

-- Please submit your request by Tuesday, February 19 via email to: Marcy Polanco, marcy.polanco@bet.net or Tricia N. Newell, tricia.newell@BET.net

-- IMPORTANT -- PLEASE NOTE: BET enforces a strict credentialing process and requires ALL media representatives to provide a driver's license or passport as proof of identification for each individual requesting credentials. Please be prepared to show one of the above government-issued forms of identification when submitting a credentials request. There will be no credentials request forms accepted after the application deadline.

-- Media credentials will be available for pick-up on Thursday, February 21 from 12:00-3:00 p.m. at the media check-in station located at the entrance of The Manhattan Center, 311 West 34th Street. From 3:00-6:00 p.m., media credentials will be available inside the mobile center directly outside The Manhattan Center.

-- Credentials are non-transferable and may only be picked up by the individual to which the credential is assigned. Photo identification must be shown at time of credential pick-up.

-- All media members must exhibit appropriate professional behavior at all times and comply with event coverage rules and parameters as dictated by BET. Failure to do so may result in confiscation of media credentials and expulsion from the RIP THE RUNWAY taping.

About BET Networks

BET Networks, a division of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE: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 87 million households according to Nielsen Media Research, and can be seen in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean. 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; BET Digital Networks -- BET J, BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Mobile, a service venture into the lucrative world of ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, an extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

CONTACT: Tracy McGraw, 212-846-7879
tracy.mcgraw@bet.net

Marcy Polanco, 212-975-4048
marcy.polanco@bet.net

Tricia N. Newell, 212-975-8230
tricia.newell@bet.net

PRNewswire - Feb. 12

Photo:

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070716/BETNETWORKSLOGO
AP Archive:

http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: BET Networks

Web site:

http://www.bet.com/

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