CMA Awards draw smaller, younger TV audience Options

[cbjones001]

Wednesday, 11/08/06

CMA Awards draw smaller, younger TV audience

By RYAN UNDERWOOD
Staff Writer

Initial numbers for Monday night’s CMA Awards show indicate that it had one of the smallest television audiences among total viewers in the show’s history, according to numbers released by the ABC television network.

An estimated 16.0 million people watched this year’s show, compared to 17.7 million last year.


Before Monday’s show the smallest audience on record for the show was 16.6 million in 1992, which would make this year’s the least-watched CMA Awards show ever.

This year’s number could be revised upward in the coming weeks, however, as ratings get tweaked and data from DVR viewers gets folded in.

Despite the lower total viewership, this year’s broadcast--which was the first carried by ABC--scored increases among key demographics over last year's CBS broadcast. For example, viewership among adults 18-34 was up 5%; men 18-34, up 11%; and teenagers aged 12-17 up 8%.

[countrycrazy]

Hmm...wonder if that's better that what ABC usually averages on a Monday night with Wife Swap and The Batchelor?

[Becky]

Well I guess I'm biased, and I know that ABC did alot of advertising for the CMA's, but I have to wonder, how did they decide who to mention would be on the awards this year??? I don't think the average person knew that Vince would be performing this year and I think that alot of people stopped watching the CMA's after Vince stopped hosting. I really like B&D..I've been a fan of their's for years, but they are just not 'hosting material', IMO...

[countrycrazy]

I wonder how they did decide who would be mentioned...mentioning Sheryl Crow and the ABC stars definately didn't help any...

[JBC]

I wonder why they did the show on Monday. Maybe they should have kept it on Wednesday or Thursday. Don't know if it affected the ratings but it did go up against Monday night football even if it wasn't a very good game. Some guys will watch football no matter what kind of game it is.

As I mentioned before, I hated the commercials they ran for the CMA's. They totally left Vince's name out. And by the way, when was the last time Good Morning America had Vince on? Does ABC have something against Vince? Just asking.

Joan

[Becky]

Definitely not the reason I watched, anyhow. There were only a few performances on the show that I was looking forward to, besides watching Vince perform. A few I was disappointed it, and a few of them I liked. I guess it all evens out in the end...

[Lady Gill]

Becky, I like B/D too but they are no Vince Gill. and i enjoy hearing
Vince and Amy ,Jenny, singing but they didn't say who was singing with Vince, but i loved the song they Sang. I really think so to , that a lot of people stopped watching the CMA's but at least we got to hear Vince. which he didn't get to sing there for a couple of yrs,

love ya SHIRL'
Lady Gill.

[Becky]

That's true, Shirl. You'll never catch me complaining because Vince was on tv...LOL!!! And I'm with you, Shirl...If I had to pick a favorite off of the boxed set for Vince to sing at the CMA's, it definitely was 'What You Give Away'..what a powerful message that song contains. And on a show where it's all about awards and what you achieve, Vince sent everyone in the live audience and at home a lovely & thought-provoking message...share it now because you can't take it with you....

[Mary Anne]

Shril,
Kix did say that Vince was singing with Amy, Jenny, and Sheryl- and all of the were also in the "intros" in the beginning of hte show- where they say "appearing tonight".