BET's '106 & PARK' Celebrates 2000th Episode and Launches New Social Community, 106 & PARK CONNECT, on Wednesday, August 20 at 6:00 P.M.*

BET's '106 & PARK' Celebrates 2000th Episode and Launches New Social Community, 106 & PARK CONNECT, on Wednesday, August 20 at 6:00 P.M.*

Milestone Episode to Feature Appearances by Jennifer Hudson, T.I., LL Cool J and Keyshia Cole

NEW YORK, Aug. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- 106 & PARK, BET's flagship music series and a leading source of entertainment, hip hop and R&B music, will commemorate its 2000th episode on Wednesday, August 20 at 6:00 P.M.* Special guests on hand to help BET celebrate 106 & PARK's phenomenal milestone include Jennifer Hudson, T.I., LL Cool J, and Keyshia Cole, along with a few other surprises. The 2000th episode will also serve as the launch of 106 & PARK CONNECT (www.bet.com/106andpark), a new social community for everyone who loves the 106 & PARK culture.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080813/NEW077-a )
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080813/NEW077-b )

To kick off the 2000th episode festivities, hosts Terrence and Rocsi will introduce 106 & PARK CONNECT. This new online destination is all about connections as it allows viewers to connect online with: (1) Terrence and Rocsi; (2) contests and competitions related to 106 & PARK; and (3) other fans who share similar interests. In addition, this site will be more deeply integrated into the show and allow Connect Members to interact with and participate in the show more than ever before. For example, members of 106 & PARK CONNECT can upload videos and responses to different elements of the show, or have their profiles highlighted during an episode. In addition, 106 & PARK CONNECT members will be able to upload video answers to political questions as an effort to educate and encourage participation in the 2008 presidential election.

"A gigantic thank you goes out to 106 & PARK viewers and fans for carrying this awesome experience, a show that debuted in the year 2000, all the way to 2,000 episodes," said Stephen G. Hill, Executive Vice President of Music, Programming and Talent for BET. "106 & PARK was designed to reflect our audience's taste in music, style, swagger and attitude. Viewers have rewarded us by keeping us the most popular daily video show in cable television for a number of years. There are too many wonderful touchtones in 2000 tune-ins to mention, but there's always space to show much appreciation to AJ, Free, Julissa, Big Tigger, Terrence and Rocsi for keeping the show fresh and intriguing."

"We're thrilled to launch 106 & PARK CONNECT in conjunction with the show's 2000th episode," said Denmark West, President of Digital Media, BET Networks. "Through this new community and in partnership with Stephen Hill and the show producers, we're providing our audience with an even deeper connection with 106 & PARK by providing them with new opportunities to be a part of the show, connect to the brand and share the lifestyle."

In addition to hosting the hottest stars on television, 106 & PARK has become home to some of the biggest moments in television history, ranging from the infamous "Clash of the Titans" between contenders 50 Cent and Kanye West, to 106 & PARK's visit to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, to Jay-Z's free mini-concert in Brooklyn, and most recently, Madonna's highly anticipated visit to the 106 & PARK studios. Even though the studio sets and co-hosts have changed over the years, 106 & PARK has maintained its position in the lives of urban music fans around the world.

Under the BET Digital Media Group, 106 & PARK made history by launching the first mobile fan club of its kind available through all domestic carriers, the 106 & Park Mobile Fan Club. In the fall of 2007, 106 & PARK went global with a one-hour branded block on MTV Japan airing a weekly "best of" 106 & PARK show in Japan.

*All times ET/PT

ABOUT 106 & PARK

Making its network premiere on September 11, 2000, the 106 & PARK urban music phenomenon launched on BET and forever changed the perspective of hip hop/R&B fans around the world. Live from New York City, the most energetic show on the planet welcomes a live studio audience, exciting show elements and superstar guests five days a week. The biggest names in the music and entertainment industry such as Jamie Foxx, Halle Berry, Jay-Z, Janet Jackson, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Tom Cruise, Queen Latifah, Bruce Willis and Diddy have all stopped by THE PARK.

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, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, an extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

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Source: BET Networks

CONTACT: Marcy Polanco, +1-212-975-3327, marcy.polanco@bet.net or Tricia
Newell, +1-212-975-8230, tricia.newell@bet.net, both of BET Networks

Web site: http://www.bet.com/
http://www.bet.com/106andpark

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