BET AND CBS NEWS ANNOUNCE SECOND SEASON OF PRIMETIME NEWSMAGAZINE “AMERICA IN BLACK”

“America In Black” Returns During Black History Month
  Premiering Two New Episodes With Award-Winning Roster Of Trusted Journalists

New Episodes Debut February 6 and February 20 on BET and CBS News Streaming

(Pictured From L-R: Danya Bacchus interviews President of the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League, Sandra Douglas Morgan for "America In Black") \\ Photo Credit: BET

(Pictured From L-R: Soledad O'Brien with Ava DuVernay for "America In Black") \\ Photo Credit: BET

(Pictured From L-R: Jericka Duncan with Crystal Renee Hayslett and Devale Ellis for "America In Black") \\ Photo Credit: BET

View and share the season two promo here.

New York, NY, January 29, 2024 — Today, BET and CBS News announced the renewal of AMERICA IN BLACK – the groundbreaking primetime newsmagazine featured on BET, Paramount+, and CBS News Streaming. AMERICA IN BLACK has become a vital and authentic platform for in-depth investigative reporting, compelling newsmaker interviews, engaging human interest stories, and exclusive celebrity profiles. In its first season, AMERICA IN BLACK explored Black maternal mortality with an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, reported on the war on Black history, and turned the spotlight on the amputation epidemic among African Americans. The series also presented in-depth profiles and celebrity interviews with Michael B. Jordan, LL Cool J, Taraji P. Henson, T.D. Jakes, and more. In addition AMERICA IN BLACK welcomes the return of veteran BET News anchor Ed Gordon to the network after an 18-year hiatus as special correspondent. CBS MORNINGS featured host Vladimir Duthiers and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien also join AMERICA IN BLACK this season.

The second season of AMERICA IN BLACK premieres during Black History Month with two new, original episodes airing Tuesday, February 6, and Tuesday, February 20 on BET at 10:30 PM ET/PT. Episodes are available on CBS News Streaming beginning, Sunday, February 18 at 8:00 PM, ET.

The premiere episode on February 6 will feature award-winning journalist, speaker, author, and philanthropist Soledad O’Brien’s interview and profile of Ava DuVernay, the filmmaker behind the new movie “Origin” and one of Hollywood’s most sought-after and iconic writer-directors of her generation; a profile of Sandra Douglass Morgan, on the eve of the Super Bowl CBS News correspondent Danya Bacchus profiles the first and only Black woman NFL team president; a report on Black love from CBS News’ Jericka Duncan, and more. The February 20 installment will feature  CBS MORNINGS co-host Gayle King in a sit down interview with Victoria Monét’s rising stardom and chart-topping hits; a story on the trailblazing food critic Keith Lee reported by CBS News anchor and correspondent Michelle Miller and a profile of Maryland Governor Wes Moore from CBS New York anchor Maurice DuBois. Comedian Roy Wood Jr. returns this season with his “Mic Drop” commentary segment beginning Feb. 6.

“Black storytelling is core to our mission at BET, and we are thrilled to continue expanding our Content For Change initiative with another riveting season of AMERICA IN BLACK,” said Scott Mills, President and CEO, BET Media Group. “This primetime newsmagazine illuminates pressing and untold issues that affect us all and resonate deeply within our community. The collaboration and synergy between the powerful banners of BET News and CBS News affirms our shared commitment to create awareness, propel action, and ignite change.”

“AMERICA IN BLACK gives us a unique opportunity to tell stories that are important to the Black community.  CBS News is pleased to partner with BET for a second season to continue to explore the rich narratives that define the African American experience and deliver innovative storytelling and informative reporting from our talented team of journalists,” said Alvin Patrick, Executive Producer of AMERICA IN BLACK and Executive Producer of CBS News Streaming Originals and the CBS News Race and Culture Unit.

“In its first season, AMERICA IN BLACK went beyond the headlines to illuminate and elevate the leading issues, stories, and people impacting Black America,’” said Jason Samuels, Executive Producer of AMERICA IN BLACK and Senior News and Documentaries Consultant, BET Media Group. “For season two, we remain committed to proudly presenting the most compelling stories about our community produced by our exceptional team of correspondents and producers with a distinct POV.”

AMERICA IN BLACK, now streaming on BET+ and Paramount+, featured an all-star lineup of award-winning correspondents during its inaugural season, including CBS MORNINGS co-host Gayle King; journalist and author Marc Lamont Hill; James Brown, host of THE NFL TODAY and special correspondent for CBS News; Michelle Miller, co-host of CBS SATURDAY MORNING; Jericka Duncan, CBS News national correspondent and anchor of the CBS WEEKEND NEWS; CBS News correspondents Skyler Henry and Danya Bacchus; Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Wesley Lowery, ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT co-host Nischelle Turner; MTV correspondent Dometi Pongo.

AMERICA IN BLACK is Executive Produced by Alvin Patrick and Jason Samuels.

About BET Media Group

The BET Media Group, a unit of Paramount (NASDAQ: PARAA; PARA; PARAP), is the world’s largest media company dedicated to entertaining, engaging, and empowering the Black community and championing Black culture. Connecting Black audiences through a portfolio of brands including BET, BET+, BET Gospel, BET HER, BET International, BET Jams, BET Soul, BET Studios, and VH1, the BET Media Group is a thriving media ecosystem of leading interconnected platforms across cable TV, streaming, digital, studios, live events and international.

For more information about BET, visit www.bet.com and follow @BET on social platforms. For more BET news announcements, follow us on social @BET_PR.

About CBS News and Stations:   

CBS News and Stations combines the power of CBS News, 28 owned television stations in 17 major U.S. markets, the CBS News Streaming Network, CBS News Streaming local platforms, local websites, and cbsnews.com under one umbrella. CBS News and Stations is home to the nation’s #1 news program 60 MINUTES, the CBS News Streaming Network, the first 24/7 digital streaming news network, the award-winning broadcasts CBS MORNINGS, CBS SATURDAY MORNING, the CBS EVENING NEWS WITH NORAH O’DONNELL, CBS NEWS SUNDAY MORNING, CBS WEEKEND NEWS, 48 HOURS and FACE THE NATION WITH MARGARET BRENNAN.   CBS News and Stations provides news and information for the CBS Television Network, CBSNews.com, CBS News Radio and podcasts, Paramount +, all digital platforms, and the CBS News Streaming Network, the premier 24/7 anchored streaming news service that is available free to everyone with access to the internet. The CBS News Streaming Network is the destination for breaking news, live events, original reporting and storytelling, and programs from CBS News and Stations’ top anchors and correspondents working locally, nationally, and globally. CBS News streaming services, national and local, amassed more than 1.01 billion streams in 2021. Launched in November 2014 as CBSN, the CBS News Streaming Network is available on 30 digital platforms and apps, as well as CBSNews.com and Paramount+. The service is available live in 91 countries. CBS News and Stations is dedicated to providing the highest quality journalism under standards it pioneered and continues to set in today’s digital age. CBS News earns more prestigious journalism awards than any other broadcast news division. 

Contacts:
For BET:
Luis Defrank
Luis.defrank@bet.net

Justin Brown
Justin.brown@bet.net

Johnny Cooper
Johnny.cooper@bet.net

For CBS News:             
Lance Frank
FrankL@cbsnews.com

April Andrews
April.Andrews@viacomcbs.com

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