Super Model Selita Ebanks and Pooch Hall From "The Game" Set to Host "RIP THE RUNWAY 2012"

"MUSIC, FASHION, FREEDOM" REIGNS ON FEBRUARY 29TH 2012, AS MUSIC AND FASHION COLLIDE WITH MUSICAL PERFORMANCES FROM WALE, JEREMIH, DIGGY SIMMONS, B.O.B, MEEK MILL AND MORE...

NEW YORK, Feb. 21, 2012 -- Selita Ebanks and Pooch Hall are set to host this year's "RIP THE RUNWAY", BET Networks announced today. This year's show embodies the theme - "Music, Fashion, Freedom" by embracing a crop of emerging designers, influencers and tastemakers. "RIP THE RUNWAY" will tape on Wednesday, February 29th, 2012 at the historic Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City and premiere on March 21, 2012 @ 10 pm* on BET. "RIP THE RUNWAY" musical guests include Wale, Meek Mill, Jeremih, Diggy, B.o.B and more.

This year's hosts are "RIP THE RUNWAY" veterans, Selita Ebanks and Pooch Hall. The gorgeous Victoria Secret "Angel" has been featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and featured in numerous magazines. Selita will exclusively unveil her very own line of swimwear, SASS by Selita Ebanks on the "RIP THE RUNWAY" catwalk. Marion "Pooch" Hall Jr. has also graced the "RIP THE RUNWAY" stage once before when he shared hosting duties with Nicki Minaj in 2010. Pooch is perhaps best known for his role as professional football player Derwin Davis on hit-series, "The Game." He was most recently seen on the big screen in Sony Pictures' "Jumping the Broom," and recently wrapped a lead role in the indie feature "Live at the Fox's Den" with Jackson Rathbone and Elliott Gould.

Stephen Hill, President of Music Programming and Specials, BET Networks, and Lynne Harris Taylor, Vice President of Specials, BET Networks are executive producers, along with Cossette Productions. Photography opportunities are available on the "RIP THE RUNWAY" red carpet. Outlets interested in obtaining media credentials should contact mediacredentials@bet.net or call 212.205.3294 for further details.

For more information on "RIP THE RUNWAY", visit www.bet.com/riptherunway. Viewers can also find series updates on Facebook by liking the fan pages at www.facebook.com/BETstyle. Also, join the conversation about the special on Twitter by using hashtag:#RTR; follow the show for all updates & special surprises @BETstyle. For more information about this special visit www.BET.com.

* All times are ET/PT

About RIP THE RUNWAY 2012

This year's "RIP THE RUNWAY" will be broken into seven themed segments incorporating more labels and more looks. The show will also incorporate some of today's hottest fashion bloggers to give us a few tips on the best way to style your looks for spring and summer. The evolution of "RIP THE RUNWAY" places the spotlight squarely on fashion giving viewers more of what they've been asking for.

About BET Networks

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 98 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks - BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.