The widowed footballer paid tribute to Rebecca in his emotional acceptance speech at The Royal Festival Hall in London, while also thanking his 'beautiful' girlfriend Kate Wright, 26, for her support.
A tearful Rio accepted the Single Documentary Award for Rio Ferdinand: Being Mum and Dad, which aired on BBC One last June.
In the special, Rio depicted the difficulties of being a single parent to his three children following the death of his beloved wife to cancer in 2015.
Fighting back tears, the retired sports star accepted his BAFTA TV Award by saying: 'I'm normally quite used to picking up trophies.
'Thanks to BAFTA and all the other nominees, but also to BBC for believing in the project, all the guys at New Era, the management team, it's been quite a crazy whirlwind experience.
'I didn't do this for any other reason other than my three kids. The worst thing to come out of this is that I get quite emotional now. I'm not quite used to it.
You're built up as quite an indestructible athlete. All of the nans, the grandads, the younger people, the middle-aged people who come up to me in the street don't want to talk about football.
Rio gestured to his girlfriend Kate, who was looking on from the studio audience, and thanked her for her support.
He added: 'Those people lacking in character in confidence, it has encouraged to give them a voice. This documentary has given something to my three kids.
'This documentary has propelled me forward into a period of happiness where my kids are happy I've got a beautiful girlfriend. Thank you, BBC, thank you very much.'
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