Ratings: Emmys Down in Early Numbers as NFL Wins Night
The Emmy Awards took a dip from last year's telecast, while NBC took an overall win thanks to NFL coverage on Sunday night, according to preliminary numbers.
While NBC's numbers are approximate due to the nature of live sports, the network currently holds a commanding lead in the 18-49 demographic most important to advertisers with a 6.4 rating/7 share and in total viewers with 15.9 million. Following three consecutive episodes of "Football Night in America" from 7 p.m. to 8:30, which drew a 2.2/6, 2.9/8 and 5.9/16 respectively, the Pittsburgh Steelers/Denver Broncos game posted an 8 percent increase from last week with a 8.1/20 -- the night's best performance in the demo. It also grabbed 19.8 million total viewers.
CBS took a distant second place in the demo and total viewers with a 3.0/8 and 11.4 million total viewers. NFL overrun from 7 until slightly after 8 drew a 7.0/20 and scored the night's highest total viewership with 21.3 million total viewers. "60 Minutes" followed (with slight football overrun in the first few minutes), drawing a 3.9/11 and grabbing 14.7 million total viewers. Repeats of "Person of Interest" and "The Mentalist" followed.
ABC came in third in the demo and total viewers with a 2.9/8 and 10.5 million. "Countdown to the Emmys" at 7 posted a 1.6/5 and drew 7.3 million total viewers. Though the data for the Emmy Awards -- which aired from 8 to 11 p.m. -- is far from final due to the nature of live programming, as it currently stands the Emmys are down from last year's Emmys in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic with a 3.3 rating/9 share, compared to last year's 3.7 rating that the show pulled in preliminary numbers. The ceremony grabbed 11.6 million total viewers. More accurate numbers that include pre-primetime viewing in the Pacific and Mountain time zones will be issued later today.
Fox, which aired repeats throughout the night, took fourth in total viewers with a 1.5/4 and 3.4 million.
Related Articles:
TheWrap's Complete Coverage of the 2012 Emmys
'Homeland' Win Proves the Emmys Aren't So Bleeping Predictable
