Sunday’s broadcast of the 2008 Emmy Awards drew just over 12.3 million U.S. viewers. By comparison, the 2000 Emmy Awards drew the largest U.S. television audience (21.8 million viewers) of any Emmys telecast in the past 20 years.
The 1979 Emmys, hosted by Henry Winkler and Cheryl Ladd, drew the largest TV audience on record (20.8 million households). The 1986 Emmy Awards, hosted by David Letterman, ranked second overall, with 20.2 million households — an estimated 35.8 million viewers ages two and older — tuning in.
Nielsen’s Emmy ratings date back to 1956.
Date
Network
Number of Households
Number of Viewers (P2+)
9/21/2008*
ABC
9,371,000
12,339,000
9/16/2007*
FOX
9,445,000
12,951,000
8/27/2006*
NBC
11,669,000
16,184,000
9/18/2005
CBS
13,760,000
18,683,000
9/19/2004
ABC
10,336,000
13,788,000
9/21/2003
FOX
12,751,000
17,937,000
9/22/2002
NBC
14,397,000
19,987,000
11/4/2001
CBS
12,045,000
17,117,000
9/10/2000
ABC
14,554,000
21,798,000
9/12/1999
FOX
11,777,000
17,454,000
9/13/1998
NBC
13,526,000
19,365,000
9/14/1997
CBS
13,264,000
18,774,000
9/8/1996
ABC
13,962,000
20,582,000
9/10/1995
FOX
11,892,000
18,041,000
9/11/1994
ABC
13,928,000
21,246,000
9/19/1993
ABC
12,811,000
18,900,000
8/30/1992
FOX
12,802,000
20,415,000
8/25/1991
FOX
11,640,000
18,507,600
9/16/1990
FOX
7,630,000
12,299,566
9/17/1989
FOX
10,500,000
17,209,500
8/28/1988
FOX
9,210,000
15,426,750
Source: The Nielsen Company (1988 – 2008)
*Note: Live+Same Day viewing estimates include DVR playback on the same day, defined as 3AM – 3AM
View Nielsen’s historic Emmy Awards TV ratings from 1956 to present.
