BET sends a SOS

BET will host S.O.S. (Saving OurSelves): The BET Relief Telethon on Friday, September 9 from 7:30 - 10 p.m. (ET/PT) to raise money for hurricane relief efforts. The telethon boasts a roster of superstar artists, many with ties to the affected areas, including Wynton Marsalis, Master P, David Banner and Juvenile along with Jamie Foxx, Russell and Kimora Lee Simmons, Morgan Freeman, Alicia Keys, Diddy, Jay Z, Kanye West, Ludacris, Mary J. Blige, Island Def Jam Music
Group Chairman Antonio "L.A." Reid, Common, Usher, Nick Cannon, Omarion, Pharrell Williams, Ciara, Keyshia Cole, Avant, Lyfe, Twista, Stevie Wonder, Brandy, Wyclef, Erykah Badu, Al and Star Jones Reynolds, Chris Rock, Sheryl Underwood, Chris Tucker, Patti LaBelle, Floetry, Cedric "The Entertainer", Nelly, Rhianna, Big Boi, D. L. Hughley, Marques Houston, Choppa, Twista, Paul Wall, Kirk Franklin, John Legend, Ice Cube, The Game, Bow Wow, Musiq, Monica,
Aaron Neville, Samuel L. Jackson, Chaka Khan, Chuck D, Shakim, Swizz Beats, Kem, Smokey Robinson and more.

The evening will begin with a special benefit edition of the popular “106 & Park” program beginning at 6 p.m. (EST) followed by the telethon from 7:30 to 10 p.m. (EST). The telethon will also be streamed simultaneously on-line at http://www.BET.com, with video clips and highlights available on the website after the event.

Queen Latifah along with comedian Steve Harvey are lending their talents as co-hosts for the evening featuring musical performances, testimonials, special presentations, pleas to the public for financial pledges to help the victims and video packages by BET News covering developments from the affected region. Throughout the telethon, viewers can call 1-888-BET-3598 or go on- line to http://www.BET.com/sos to make their donations.

Viewers will also have the option of using mobile telephone and text
messaging services as a means of making donations, with cellular carriers Cingular, Alltel, Nextel, Sprint and Verizon Wireless participating in the BET fund-raising effort starting with tomorrow night's telethon and lasting through September 30. Users can donate a minimum of $5.00 to a maximum of $25.00 by sending the text message BET to 24357 (2HELP) and following the on-
screen instructions to execute the donation.

In addition to the BET telecast, the telethon will also be radio simulcast
on XM Satellite Radio Channel 67 -- The City, Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 50 -- Hot Jamz and Inner City Broadcasting stations WBLS (107.5-FM) in New York and WWDM (101.3-FM) in Columbia, South Carolina. Radio One will promote the BET Telethon on the nationally-syndicated program The Russ Parr Morning Show and throughout the broadcast day on its radio stations in 19 urban markets across the country.