UPDATED, 11:00 a.m. PT: The final Nielsen numbers have come in, with the Billboard Music Awards averaging a 2.6 rating in adults 18-49 and 8.7 million viewers. Compared to last year (3.1, 9.6 million), that is a decline of approximately 16% in the key demo and 9% in total viewers.
PREVIOUSLY:
The Billboard Music Awards were down in the key demo compared to last year, according to Nielsen data.
The awards show, which aired on ABC, initially averaged a 2.3 rating and 7.7 million viewers, but ticked up to a 2.6 and 8.7 million viewers, making it easily the top-rated program of the night on broadcast. It was down 16% in the key demo and 9% in total viewers compared to last year’s ceremony (3.1 and 9.6 million).
Earlier in the night on ABC, the network aired a new episode of “America’s Funniest Home Videos” (1.1, 5.4 million), which was even with its last original airing.
NBC aired a two-hour installment of “Dateline NBC” (0.9, 4.8 million) from 7-9 p.m., followed by a new episode of “Shades of Blue” (0.7, 3.8 million) at 9 p.m., and the season finale of the Jennifer Lopez-led series at 10 (0.7, 4 million).
A new episode of “Bob’s Burgers” (0.7, 1.6 million) was down in both measures on Fox, while “The Simpsons” (0.9, 2.1 million) dipped also but slightly less so. The series finale of “Making History” (0.6, 1.3 million) was down in total viewers. Back-to-back episodes of “Family Guy” followed at 9 p.m. (1.0, 2.1 million) and 9:30 p.m. (1.0, 2.2 million).
CBS aired back-to-back episodes of “60 Minutes” at 7 p.m. (0.8, 7.9 million) and 8 p.m. (0.8, 7.5 million). The season finale of “Madam Secretary” (0.7, 7.5 million) followed at 9 p.m., followed by the season finale of “Elementary” (0.5, 4.1 million), which dipped in the demo.
ABC carried the night with a 2.0 and 7.2 million viewers. NBC and Fox tied for second in the demo with a 0.8, but NBC finished third in total viewers with 4.4 million to Fox’s fourth place with 1.8 million. CBS finished fourth in the demo with a 0.7 but second in total viewers with 6.7 million.
