Grammys draw 28.1 million on CBS

As expected, the Grammy Awards declined from last year’s record performance, which paid tribute to the late Whitney Houston a day after her shocking death.

But last night’s ceremony still scored the second-best audience for the awards show since 1993, behind only the 2012 awards.

The ceremony averaged 28.12 million total viewers from 8 to 11:30 p.m., according to Nielsen metered-market ratings.

It averaged a 10.0 in adults 18-49 and an 11.1 in 25-54s.

Last year’s ceremony averaged 39.9 million total viewers, a 14.1 in 18-49s and a 16.0 in 25-54s.

The ceremony clearly had an impact on its competition.

ABC’s hit drama “Once Upon a Time” fell to a series-low 2.2 in 18-49s opposite the first hour of the Grammys at 8 p.m., down 8 percent from its most recent episode, while lead-out “Revenge” also dipped to a series low of 1.4 at 9 p.m., off 18 percent.

Fox’s male-skewing lineup was also down. “Family Guy” slid 17 percent from its most recent episode two weeks ago to a 2.4, finishing as the night’s No. 2 show behind the Grammys.

“The Simpsons” (down 9 percent to a 2.1), “Bob’s Burgers” (down 10 percent to a 1.8) and “American Dad” (down 9 percent to a 2.0) also declined.

CBS led the night among 18-49s with an 8.2 average overnight rating and a 20 share. Fox was second at 1.8/4, ABC third at 1.5/4, NBC and Univision tied for fourth at 0.8/2 and Telemundo sixth at 0.5/1.

As a reminder, all ratings are based on live-plus-same-day DVR playback, which includes shows replayed before 3 a.m. the night before. Seven-day DVR data won’t be available for several weeks. Forty-seven percent of Nielsen households have DVRs.

CBS was first at 7 p.m. with a 1.9 for “60 Minutes,” followed closely by ABC with a 1.8 for “America’s Funniest Home Videos.” NBC and Fox tied for third at 1.2, NBC for “Dateline” and Fox for a repeat of “Bob’s Burgers” (1.0) and a new “Cleveland Show” (1.3). Univision was fifth with a 0.8 for “Lo Que Mas Quieres” and Telemundo sixth with a 0.6 for the movie “The Lion King.”

CBS remained in first at 8 p.m. with a 9.9 for the first hour of the Grammys. ABC’s “Time” was second with a 2.2, followed by Fox in third with a 1.9 for “Simpsons” (2.1) and “Burgers” (1.8). Univision took fourth with a 0.8 for the first hour of “Lo Que Mas Quieres.” The end of “Lion” on Telemundo and start of “Iron Man 2” tied for fifth with NBC’s first hour of a repeat of “Betty White’s Second Annual 90th Birthday Special” with a 0.6 apiece.

CBS remained in first at 9 p.m. with a 10.9 for the Grammys. Fox moved up to second with a 2.2 for “Guy” (2.4) and “Dad” (2.0). ABC’s “Revenge” was third with a 1.4, followed by Univision’s second hour of “Quieres” with a 1.0 in fourth, NBC’s second hour of “White” in fifth with a 0.7, and “Iron” sixth on Telemundo with a 0.5.

At 10 p.m. CBS remained ahead with a 10.0 for the Grammys. An NBC “SNL” special tied with Univision’s “Sal y Pimienta” for second with a 0.9. ABC’s “Revenge for Real” special was fourth with a 0.8, and the conclusion of “Iron” on Telemundo was fifth with a 0.5.

Among households CBS led the night with a 14.0 rating and 21 share. ABC was second with a 3.4/5, NBC was third with a 2.3/4, Fox was fourth with a 1.9/3, Univision was fifth with a 1.3/2, and Telemundo was sixth with a 0.5/1.

Tags: abc, cbs, dvr, fox, grammy ratings, grammys, grammys ratings, Lo Que Mas Quieres, nbc, once upon a time, overnight ratings, overnights, ratings, revenge, series lows, sunday overnights, univision, viewers