ABC’s “AMAs” set a new record low in TV ratings on Tuesday, despite Taylor Swift opening the show with a performance and closing it by clutching the evening’s top award.
The “American Music Awards” settled for a 1.8 rating this year among adults 18-49, which is the demographic most attractive to advertisers. It had a 2.4 in 2017 when the special aired on a Sunday in November. Last year’s 2.4 tied the previous record-low set by the 2016 version.
Here are the (mostly) comparable 2017 AMAs ratings. That one didn’t do great either, but its Nielsen returns were 25 percent better than last night’s.
With the ABC special’s lackluster performance, NBC was able to tie the Disney-owned broadcast net in terms of primetime ratings averages. CBS won the night among total viewers, and ABC settled for third.
NBC and ABC tied for first in ratings, both with a 1.8. NBC had an 8 share, ABC got a 7. NBC was second in total viewers with an average of 8.3 million, according to preliminary numbers.
ABC was third in total viewers with 6.5 million. The “American Music Awards” were the only show on its primetime schedule, airing from 8-11 p.m.
For NBC, “The Voice” at 8 p.m. earned a 1.8/8 and 9 million viewers. At 9, “This Is Us” scored a 2.3/9 and 8.8 million viewers. “New Amsterdam” at 10 put up a 1.4/6 and 7.1 million viewers.
CBS was third in ratings with a 1.1/5 and first in viewers with 9.7 million. “NCIS” at 8 landed a 1.4/6 and 12.2 million viewers. At 9, “FBI” had a 1.0/4 and 9.1 million viewers. “NCIS: New Orleans” at 10 got a 0.9/4 and 7.9 million viewers.
Fox was fourth in ratings with a 0.7/3 and in viewers with 2.5 million. “The Gifted” at 8 received a 0.7/3 and 2.1 million viewers. “Lethal Weapon” at 9 matched its lead-in’s rating and share and grew Fox’s audience to 3 million viewers.
The CW was fifth in ratings with a 0.6/2 and in viewers with 1.6 million. The season premiere of “The Flash” at 8 had a 0.8/3 and 2.1 million viewers. The “Black Lightning” Season 2 premiere at 9 got a 0.4/2 and 1.2 million viewers.
Tuesday marked the start of The CW’s fall season.
Univision and Telemundo tied for sixth in ratings, both with a 0.4/2. Univision was sixth in total viewers with 1.4 million, Telemundo was seventh with 1.2 million.