Numbers from Nielsen cable data indicate that the 2015 BET Hip Hop Awards saw a disappointing drop in ratings compared to last year.
According to Nielson, 1.807 million adults from age 18 to 49 in the 8pm to 10 pm slot watched the awards show on Tuesday night. A simulcast on MTV added an additional 372,000 of total viewers. Last year’s broadcast of the awards show drew 2.937 million viewers.
This year’s awards were aired on the same night as the Democratic Presidential Debate, which drew 15.791 million viewers, and the MLB Division Playoffs, which drew 6.3 million viewers.
However, many say that the drop in viewership could have had something to do with BET’s lack of broadcasting the Justice Or Else rally in Washington, D.C. this weekend that commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March.
BET did post tweets during the event of photos and videos from the rally on its Twitter various accounts.
Activists at the rally voiced their outrage over the media’s negative images of Black Americans, including BET, with many calling for a boycott of networks.
Online campaigns also went viral urging people not to watch the awards show.