Emmys special
sees a boost in viewers
Averages 13.3 million, up from 12. 2 million
By Toni Fitzgerald
Sep 21, 2009
With a much-lauded hosting job by Neil Patrick Harris, not to mention a substantial boost from an NFL over-run lead-in, CBS’s Primetime Emmy Awards saw the first year-to-year uptick since 2005, despite airing against the highest-rated primetime football game in more than a decade.
The Emmys averaged 13.3 million total viewers, according to Nielsen overnights, which are admittedly subject to change when final ratings come out tomorrow. The numbers for live shows are approximate as fast nationals measure timeslot and not actual program data, and they also do not take time zone differences into consideration.
Still, the average was up 1.1 million versus last year’s overnights average for the ceremony on ABC, a promising sign for a long-lagging telecast.
The ceremony’s initial number was also up from 12.9 million for the 2007 telecast on Fox, though it was well off the more than 16 million who tuned into the 2006 version on NBC.
The ceremony likely got a boost from the 40-minute NFL overrun at 7 p.m. During that half hour, CBS averaged 21.7 million viewers and a 7.4 adults 18-49 rating.
The three-hour ceremony starting at 8 p.m. peaked with 15.1 million viewers in its first half hour. The entire show averaged a 4.2 in 18-49s, also up over last year’s 3.8.
That came against some serious competition on NBC, which aired a potentially record-breaking “Sunday Night Football” between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys, who were hosting their first game in their new $1.2 billion stadium.
The game averaged a 16.5 household rating and 27 share from 8:30 p.m. to 11:45 p.m., according to NBC, the best overnight rating for a primetime contest in 11 years, and significantly outdrawing the 10.0 average for the Emmys.
If the rating holds, it will be the highest-rated “SNF” ever on NBC, which took over the franchise from ESPN in 2006.
Not surprisingly, NBC led the night with a 7.1 average overnight rating and a 19 share. CBS was second at 4.5/12, Fox third at 2.1/6, ABC fourth at 1.1/3, Univision fifth at 0.7/2 and CW sixth at 0.4/1.
As a reminder, all ratings are based on live-plus-same-day DVR playback. Seven-day DVR data won’t be available for several weeks. Thirty-two percent of Nielsen households have DVRs.
At 7 p.m. CBS was first with a 5.6 for football overrun and a shortened “60 Minutes,” followed by NBC with a 3.2 for “Football Night in America.” Fox was third with a 1.6 for repeats of “American Dad” and “The Simpsons,” ABC fourth with a 0.9 for the first hour of the movie “King Kong,” Univision fifth with a 0.7 for “Hora Pico” and CW sixth with a 0.4 for the conclusion of "War Games."
NBC took the lead at 8 p.m. with a 7.9 for NFL pregame and the star of “SNF,” while CBS slipped to second with a 4.5 for “The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards.” Fox was third with a 2.4 for an hour of “Simpsons” repeats, ABC fourth with a 1.1 for more “King Kong,” Univision fifth with a 0.7 for “Vive el Sueño” and CW sixth with a 0.4 for a repeat of “The Beautiful Life.”
At 9 p.m. NBC was first with an 8.9 for more football, with CBS second with a 4.4 for the second hour of the Emmys. Fox was third with a 2.4 for repeats of “Family Guy” and “American Dad,” ABC fourth with a 1.4 for its movie, Univision fifth with a 0.8 for more “Sueño” and CW sixth with a 0.3 for a “Melrose Place” rerun.
NBC finished first again at 10 p.m. with an 8.3 for football, followed by CBS with a 3.6 for the Emmys. ABC was third with a 1.2 for the final hour of “Kong” and Univision fourth with a 0.7 for “Quien Tiene la Razon.”
NBC also led the night among households with an 11.3 average overnight rating and an 18 share. CBS was second at 9.3/15, Fox third at 2.8/5, ABC fourth at 2.4/4, Univision fifth at 1.1/2 and CW sixth at 0.7/1.
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