CBS’ 51st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards ceremony suffered big year-to-year losses.
According to fast national data first posted by Showbuzz, Sunday’s show averaged a 2.3 adults 18-49 rating and 11.18 million total viewers from 8-11PM ET.
Last year’s show, which went comfortably into the 11-11:30PM half-hour, drew a 3.6 rating and 15.98 million total viewers. The 8-11PM portion drew a 3.7 and 16.17 million total viewers in the fast nationals.
The 2014 edition drew a 3.3 and 14.17 million total viewers.
While the iHeartRadio awards show doubtfully posted huge numbers, the fact that it was a music awards ceremony means there was an enormous likelihood of overlap. The show, which was simulcast on TBS, TNT, and TruTV, ran during the same 8-11PM timeslot.
“The Walking Dead,” meanwhile, represented mammoth, highly rated competition but only aired during the 9-10:30PM window.
Interestingly, the 9PM (2.4 adults 18-49 rating and 10PM (2.3 adults 18-49 rating) hours of the ACM Awards show fared better than the 8PM (2.0) hour. One can definitely argue that the show would have grown more substantially at 9PM had “The Walking Dead” not been in play, but the soft 8PM showing suggests “The Walking Dead” was not solely responsible for the decline.
