The BET Awards stands as one of the most significant annual celebrations of Black culture, honoring achievements in music, sports, film, and philanthropy. For viewers who have cut the cord or simply prefer watching on mobile devices and smart TVs, the primary question is whether the official BET app supports live streaming of the ceremony. The answer is a definitive yes. The BET app, often referred to as BET NOW, includes a robust Live TV feature that mirrors the broadcast feed of the linear channel. This means that as long as the event is airing live on cable, you can watch it simultaneously through the application on your preferred device.
Accessing this live stream requires a few specific steps because the BET app is an authenticated "TV Everywhere" service. This classification means that while the app download is free, unlocking the live feed generally requires an active subscription to a participating cable or satellite TV provider. When you first launch the application on devices like Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, or a smartphone, you will typically see a selection of free clips and unlocked episodes. However, navigating to the "Live TV" tab to watch the awards ceremony will trigger a prompt asking you to verify your subscription status.
To begin the verification process, you will need to link your device to your provider account. On your TV screen, the app will generate a unique activation code. You must then take a secondary device, such as a smartphone or laptop, and navigate to the activation page. This is where you will use the specific URL bet.com/activate to proceed. Once you land on the page, you will be asked to enter the alphanumeric code displayed on your television screen. After submitting the code, you will be redirected to a login page where you enter the username and password for your TV service provider, such as Xfinity, DirecTV, or Spectrum.
Once your credentials are successfully verified, the screen on your television will refresh automatically, granting you full access to the live broadcast. You can then navigate back to the "Live TV" section of the app to watch the Red Carpet pre-show and the main BET Awards ceremony in real time. It is important to ensure you have a stable internet connection, as live streaming high-definition events requires significant bandwidth. If you encounter any buffering or login issues, restarting the app or re-entering your code at bet.com/activate can often resolve the problem, ensuring you don't miss any of the night's memorable performances and acceptance speeches.