With its scripted fare already off for the summer, ABC brought home another Sunday win last night with the Billboard Music Awards. Though down three tenths of a point in its demo rating from last year, tying it with the 2006 low, fast affiliate numbers give the three-hour broadcast a the night's strongest adults 18-49 performance with a 2.7 rating and 7.4 million viewers. With a lead-in from the America's Funniest Home Videos finale, down one tenth of a point from last year (and last week) with a 1.5 adults rating, the network earned a 2.4 rating with adults 18-49 and 6.98 million viewers.
PHOTOS: Billboard Music Awards 2012 Winner and Nominees
Fox saw some growth with finales during the animation block. After an encore of The Simpsons, an original episode of the veteran series rose 11 percent for a 2.1 rating among adults 18-49. An hour-long Family Guy also grew one tenth of a point for a 2.5 rating in the demo. The Cleveland Show was steady with a 1.3 among 18-49-ers, while Bob's Burgers slipped just one tenth for a 1.7. The network averaged a 1.9 adults rating for the night and 4.1 million viewers.
Encores of America's Got Talent led into the two-hour Celebrity Apprentice Finale on NBC. The series managed to grow nearly half a point with its adults 18-49 rating from the previous week, but it was also down 27 percent from the previous season's 3.0, making it the lowest finale for the franchise. NBC earned a 1.6 rating among adults 18-49 overall, with 5.6 million viewers.
PHOTOS: Billboard Music Awards 2012 Red Carpet Arrivals
CBS aired Tom Selleck's latest entry in the Jesse Stone TV movie series. After a boosted 60 Minutes (1.4 rating among adults 18-49), the flick brought in a 1.2 in the demo. The network averaged a 1.3 rating with 18-49-ers for the night and 11.3 million viewers.
