CBS bested its network competition on Sunday with the 49th annual ACM Awards, despite the show being down 23 percent from last year’s particularly strong numbers.
The 2013 broadcast delivered the award show’s largest audience since 1998 and best 18-49 ratings since 2001. Last night’s telecast boasted its second-largest audience since 2009.
CBS was first in ratings with a 2.8 rating/8 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and first in viewers with an average of 13.1 million, according to preliminary numbers. At 7 p.m., “60 Minutes” had a 1.3/4 and 10 million viewers. The “ACM Awards” at 8 earned a 3.3/9 and 14.1 million viewers — both highs for the night.
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ABC was second in ratings with a 1.7/5 and in viewers with 6.3 million. “America’s Funniest Home Videos” at 7 got a 1.3/4 and 6 million viewers. “Once Upon a Time” at 8 earned a 2.2/6 and 6.7 million viewers. “Resurrection” at 9 received a 2.1/5 and 7.5 million viewers. “Revenge” at 10 had a 1.3/3 and 4.9 million viewers.
Fox was third in ratings with a 1.5/4 and in fourth viewers with 3.7 million. “Bob’s Burgers” at 7 got a 0.9/3 and 2.3 million viewers. “American Dad” at 7:30 had a 1.2/4 and 2.7 million viewers. “The Simpsons” at 8 received a 1.9/5 and 4.3 million viewers. “Family Guy” at 8:30 earned a 2.3/6 and 4.7 million viewers. “Cosmos” at 9 got a 1.5/4 and 4 million viewers.
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NBC and Univision were fourth in ratings, each with a 0.8/2. NBC was third in viewers with 3.9 million, Univision was fifth with 2.1 million.
For NBC, the NBC News special “Ann Curry Global Warming” at 7 had a 0.6/2 and 4.2 million viewers. “American Dream Builders” at 8 dipped 25 percent to a 0.6/2, and had 2.9 million viewers. “Believe” at 9 got a 1.0/2 and 4.1 million viewers. “Crisis” at 10 received a 1.0/3 and 4.4 million viewers.
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Telemundo was sixth in ratings with a 0.7/2 and 1.7 million viewers.