Actor/Comedian Katt Williams Returns as Host for the Third Annual 'BET HIP HOP AWARDS' Premiering Thursday, October 23 at 8:00 P.M.*

Actor/Comedian Katt Williams Returns as Host for the Third Annual 'BET HIP HOP AWARDS' Premiering Thursday, October 23 at 8:00 P.M.*

NEW YORK, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The third time is a charm for BET as actor/comedian Katt Williams returns to host the third annual BET HIP HOP AWARDS. Taping on Saturday, October 18 at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center in Atlanta, this exciting primetime special will pay homage to urban music and culture, and will premiere on the network on Thursday, October 23 at 8:00 p.m.* Performers, nominees and show talent will be announced later this month.

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Known for his signature permed hair and over-the-top style, actor/comedian Williams has become a true comedic force in entertainment, and appeared on popular BET shows like COMIC VIEW, THE BLACK CARPET and 106 & PARK, as well as at events such as RIP THE RUNWAY, the BET AWARDS and THE COMEDY AWARDS. He has received an overwhelmingly positive response from critics and continues to receive stamps of approvals from the urban and mainstream community alike for his brilliance and ingenuity on screen and on stage, including being named "hottest new comedian" in Rolling Stone magazine, as well as praise from African American comedic icons such as Steve Harvey, who says, "He's one of the hottest comedians in the country." Williams recently completed his 100-city national tour, and will release his It's Pimpin Pimpin DVD on Tuesday, November 11.

This year's BET HIP HOP AWARDS returns with its Hot 16 challenge, a partnership with BET.com, uber-producer Jermaine Dupri and MySpace in which users will enter an online rap battle for a chance to win a VIP trip for four (4) to the 2008 BET HIP HOP AWARDS and an in-studio session with Dupri. Online viewers have until Monday, September 15 to vote for their favorite entries and help determine the five (5) finalists. The finalists' videos will then be posted on BET.com on Wednesday, September 17 for users to vote for their favorite before Wednesday, September 24, with Jermaine Dupri determining the grand prize winner.

Last year's BET HIP HOP AWARDS drew an impressive 2.5 rating, which translated into 3.3 million viewers and was the #1 hip hop themed telecast on TV for the second consecutive year, according to Nielsen Media Research.

This year, BET once again teams up with Cossette Productions, the famed producers of the GRAMMY Awards(R) and the seven record-setting BET AWARDS shows, to handle production of the telecast. Stephen G. Hill, BET Executive Vice President, Music and Programming, along with Lynne Harris-Taylor, BET Vice President of Specials, are executive producers of the telecast.

For more about BET, please visit http://www.bet.com/.

*All times ET/PT

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.

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Source: BET Networks

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