Featuring its broadcast of The 51st Annual CMA Awards, ABC finished a dominant No. 1 on Wednesday night (Nov 9th), winning all six half-hours of prime in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. During primetime, ABC more than doubled its closest competition, leading CBS by 7.8 million viewers (+120% – 14.3 million vs. 6.5 million) and Fox by 113% in Adults 18-49 (3.2/12 vs. 1.5/6). In fact, among Adults 18-49, ABC delivered the highest rating for any network on any night this season with entertainment programming.
ABC’s CMA Awards qualified as Wednesday’s definitive No. 1 TV program, outdistancing runners-up CBS’ Survivor by 86% with viewers (14.3 million vs. 7.7 million from 8-9 pm) and Fox’s Empire by 78% with young adults (3.2/12 vs. 1.8/7 from 8-9 pm).
The CMA Awards grew by double digits year over year with Total Viewers (+14% -14.3 million vs. 12.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (+10% – 3.2/12 vs. 2.9/9), drawing its biggest audience in three years – since 2014.
In viewers and young adults, ABC built to Wednesday season highs with its largest overall audience on the night in three years and its top Adult 18-49 rating with entertainment programming in two years – since 11/5/14 and 11/4/15, respectively.
During the three-hour live broadcast, #CMAawards trended No. 1 nationally on Twitter. Social listening impressions reached a staggering 4.56 billion. There was heavy conversation around the evening’s festivities as Facebook and Twitter interactions increased more than 600% from last year to over 5.2 million.
The red carpet and stage were filled with a lot of entertaining moments, to say the least. Below are some of our favorites moments and red carpet looks and performances.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BbQg0tFg0Gc/?taken-by=marenmorris
https://www.instagram.com/p/BbQcOKuhH6s/?tagged=lukebryan
https://www.instagram.com/p/BbQcOKuhH6s/?tagged=lukebryan
https://www.instagram.com/p/BbQon_JBY2W/?taken-by=_____dclynch_____
https://www.instagram.com/p/BbRn-sABCgA/?tagged=mirandalambert
https://www.instagram.com/p/BbQ36pIl61v/?taken-by=carlypearce
Performances
"Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling," Thank you, @CarrieUnderwood, for this moving tribute to the beautiful souls we've lost this year, including the 58 victims of the #LasVegas shooting. pic.twitter.com/AsE1DxHJCI
— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) November 9, 2017
Chills, chills, chills! Not surprising when it comes to a performance by power couple @TheTimMcGraw and @FaithHill! Y'all watching this on @ABCNetwork?! pic.twitter.com/zWrjNnOCia
— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) November 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/CountryMusic/status/928440761254690816
.@LittleBigTown performs Glen Campbell's "Wichita Lineman" with Jimmy Webb, and can't get enough! pic.twitter.com/hzXy0tZlz3
— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) November 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/CountryMusic/status/928437990703095808
https://twitter.com/CountryMusic/status/928453844865990656
LEGEND! @OfficialJackson
? Chasin' that neon rainbow, livin' that honky tonk dream ?@CountryMusic #CMAawards pic.twitter.com/nAGsC3tbiV
— Good Morning America (@GMA) November 9, 2017
.@LukeBryanOnline CRUSHED IT! Loving this single. #CMAawards #LightItUp pic.twitter.com/dEpEib0EMZ
— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) November 9, 2017
It is confirmed, @BrothersOsborne is the ultimate dynamic duo! Congrats on winning Vocal Duo of the Year! #CMAawards pic.twitter.com/Dv5CLYWlr7
— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) November 9, 2017