Image Credit: BET Networks
Its seems as though the era of music countdowns on television is slowly coming to an end as BET's 106 & Park Live announced that the program would be turning its lights out on December 19. After an impressive 14 year run, the countdown has undergo changes in everything from hosts to studios, but continued to win over the hearts of its viewers all over. In a statement released on November 14, BET's President of Music Programming and Specials, Stephen Hill, recapped on some of the countdown's most memorable moments since it's air date in September 2000 with it's original host AJ Calloway and Marie Antoinette Wright (Free) to date with Bow Wow and Keshia Chanté.
"AJ accepting Janet Jackson’s challenge to…dance. Bow Wow laying that kiss on Tyra Banks(or was it the other way around?). Free crawling around the set LIKE Catwoman WITH Catwoman Halle Berry. Julissa’s taking over Halloween as “Wonder Woman.” Keshia brilliantly bonding with First Lady Michelle Obama. Paigion flying around the world with Rihanna on a 777. Rocsi salsa dancing with Victor Cruz and putting him to shame. Shorty and Ms. Mykie’s killer rap, “The History of Justin Timberlake,” visably thrilling JT himself.Terrence beatboxing while Jamie Foxx rhymed. Tigger making Tom Cruise do the of-the-moment “motorcycle dance.'""We all have our favorite moments from the show that has put youth culture on television daily since the first year of this century. We have pride in being involved with the show that has welcomed almost every movie star, music superstar and fresh-faced talent you can name (you can even throw in a first lady). We’ve all laughed with and been entertained by the young men and women hosts that have charmed us at 6 p.m. (and more recently 5 p.m.) each weekday."
Shortly after serenading viewers with the sweet memories of 106 & Park Live , he soon shed light on how the show will transition to a digital platform - since that's were a majority of the show's audience lives when interacting with musical content now in days.
"It’s been a great 14-year run as America’s top music/variety show on cable. And now that very valuable brand is going to take its talents to the digital realm. The interactive brand you helped build, 106 & Park, is alive and well…and it’s moving to the space in which our audience NOW interacts with music the most: online. It’ll be very exciting to connect with the millions of people that are already engaged with 106 & Park and other BET digital and social media entities and bring content that will further evolve the 106 & Park brand — and enhance the overall BET Networks brand. As we transition to the digital space, we look to continue 106 & Park’s role as both a leader of and a mirror to youth culture. We’ll have more information to share about how that is to roll out very soon."
According to the statement, December 19 won't necessarily be the last time you can check 106 & Park out on the air. In addition to the digital show, the countdown will still air for it's legendary specials like the New Year's Eve show 106 & Party and the BET Awards' red carpet show Live, Red and Ready. But going forward, the livest audience will just have to turn up for the show on the weekdays from their computer/smartphone screens.
Check out the full statement released by BET here.
— Brittany C. Jackson
@_exclusivelyB
