Not even a collection of stage-blazing performances from the likes of Bruno Mars, Chris Brown, Future & Kendrick Lamar, and Mary J. Blige were enough to help this year’s BET Awards drum up its usual viewership figures.
For nearly the last decade Urban music’s biggest night has managed to rope in no less than a composite of 7 million viewers across the multiple VIACOM networks it’s aired across simultaneously. This year, however, the Leslie Jones-hosted affair sang a different tune.
Viewership and ratings were both down 19 percent from last year. The premiere telecast of the 2017 “BET AWARDS” drew 5.8MM Total Viewers P2+ (EDAC) , as it was simulcast live across 9 Viacom networks including MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, Logo, Spike and Centric.
Despite the drop in ratings, BET still easily snagged the title of ‘Sunday night’s most watched television program.’
Curious to see how the 2017 showing stacks up against former editions? Look below:
BET Awards Ratings
- 2008: 5.8 million
- 2009: 10.6 million
- 2010: 7.4 million
- 2011: 7.7 million
- 2012: 7.4 million
- 2013: 7.8 million
- 2014: 7.9 million
- 2015: 7.5 million
- 2016: 7.2 million
- 2017: 5.8 million