106 & Park Canceled!

After three nickels on the air, BET cancels 106 & Park.

It seems things are changing in the way we watch television. Music videos for example aren't shown on MTV, VH-1 and BET as much as they used to. YouTube, VEVO, and the other social networks are dominating music and giving stans the opportunity to view music videos whenever they want.

With record sales on the decline, record executives are trying to find ways to put talent out there. That's where these music programs came into play. They gave an opportunity for a rapper to venture into the mainstream whenever they appeared on these programs. Nowadays, you can get a record deal by just putting a video on YouTube.

The networks knew that the digital world is killing it. That's why it's time for a new era in music.

BET announced that the longest running music program is coming to an end this December.

Free and AJ from 2002.

That means that Bow Wow is out of work literally. He's no longer signed to So So Def. The deal with Cash Money/Young Money fell through. He's practically running on BET to pay his child support and debts.

Since 2000, 106 & Park was the television show. It's been through eight hosts. The original pioneers of the program AJ Calloway and rapper Free. They were the draw to the program. They both got the ax after conflict with their show producer Stephen Hill.

So they replaced them with Julissa and Rap City's Big Tigger. They canceled Rap City so Tig could run the show full time. After a few years of their reign. They were given the ax and then the second most notable talents came forth.

Terrance J and Rocsi joined the show. The show then went through a major change. The show was originally produced in Harlem, New York City, and the title of the show is derived from the original studio location at East 106th Street and Park Avenue. Viacom's acquisition of BET prompted a change to the CBS Broadcast Center at 524 West 57th Street between 10th & 11th Avenues, in the Hell's Kitchen section of Midtown Manhattan. There were allegations of conflict between the two.



There were allegations of sexual harassment. Rappers who came on to the show were being dickheads towards Rocsi. Terrance J would defend their behavior. She would split after an infamous incident involving a gangsta rapper from the Baton Rouge.  Louisiana rapper Webbie was banned on 106 & Park for trying to hit on Rocsi and threatening to assault Terrence J.

Terrance J and Rocsi.

When Terrance J decided to find an acting and rapping career, they added the former child star Bow Wow to the show. Bow Wow was designated as the new host.

After a few years of guest hosting and the search, they concluded Keisha Chante, a Canadian singer and actress as their final co-host.

Entertainer Keisha Chante got served by Def Jam singer August Alsina.The most notable event was the singer and his dirty mouth towards Chante and Bow Wow.

Of course, Bow Wow didn't step up to defend her. August would later come back to the show to make up. Def Jam told him to act right or get dropped. So it was forced upon him to apologize.

Big Tigger, Julissa and comedian Martin Lawrence.

Now all the drama, the countdowns, the freestyle Fridays and the prize giveaways are coming to an end. The executives are seeing ratings dropped badly, so it's time to ax it.

It’s been a great 14-year run as America’s top music/variety show on cable. And now that very valuable brand is going to take its talents to the digital realm. The interactive brand you helped build, 106 & Park, is alive and well…and it’s moving to the space in which our audience NOW interacts with music the most: online. It’ll be very exciting to connect with the millions of people that are already engaged with 106 & Park and other BET digital and social media entities and bring content that will further evolve the 106 & Park brand — and enhance the overall BET Networks brand. As we transition to the digital space, we look to continue 106 & Park’s role as both a leader of and a mirror to youth culture. We’ll have more information to share about how that is to roll out very soon.

And 106 & Park will still have specials on BET. What’s a New Year’s Eve without 106 & Party? 106 & Park Presents: 106 & Party will be on-air to take our viewers into the beginning of the second half of this decade in a big way. And when it’s time for the BET Awards to come around, you can be sure that 106 & Park Presents: Live, Red and Ready will be ushering you into the show and that 106 & Park will be an integral part of the BET Experience.

I’m not trying to minimize it; this is a very big change. We thank all the people who have worked on the show over the years; the talented hosts, the hard-working staff, production crews, and all the incredible guests we’ve had. Most of all, we’d like to humbly thank the “livest audience”, both in studio and at home, who fueled this landmark TV show from the very beginning. Meet you in the digital domain.

Bow Wow and Keisha Chante meeting First Lady Michelle Obama.

Most recently, the show — which counts down the day’s top videos, and features interviews with rappers, actors, singers, and athletes — has been hosted by Bow Wow and Keshia Chante. Before them, hosts included A.J. Calloway and Free, who helmed the show from its 2000 launch until 2005, and Terrence J and Rocsi, who took over from 2006 through 2012. In addition to playing music videos and interviews, “106″ became known for its Freestyle Friday segments.

Despite moving off air for its daily shows, “106 & Park” will still resurface for specials — like on New Year’s Eve and prior to the BET Awards.

“I’m not trying to minimize it; this is a very big change,” Hill added. “We thank all the people who have worked on the show over the years; the talented hosts, the hard-working staff, production crews and all the incredible guests we’ve had. Most of all, we’d like to humbly thank the ‘livest audience,’ both in studio and at home, who fueled this landmark TV show from the very beginning. Meet you in the digital domain.”