Perhaps it's the age of YouTube and Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) video, which provides near-immediate access to all important televised events in case something was missed. Could have been the heavy-handed censors at News Corp.'s (NYSE: NWS) FOX Networks, who filtered out more than one relatively sterile comment. Maybe it was the lukewarm reaction to first-time host Ryan Seacrest.
Whatever the excuse, ratings for the Primetime Emmy Awards - broadcast Sunday evening on FOX - scored just 13.1 million viewers, the second-smallest audience on record (exceeded only by 1990). The audience was well below the year-ago Emmy broadcast, which brought in 16.2 million viewers for General Electric's (NYSE: GE) NBC Network.
In terms of the important adults 18-49 demographic, the 2007 Emmys posted a preliminary 4.3 rating/11 share, a 17% drop from 2006, according to Variety. What's more, the ceremony was topped in the ratings game by an early-season edition of Sunday Night Football, which pitted the New England Patriots against the San Diego Chargers on NBC.
Beth Gaston Moon is an analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-18-2007 @ 7:21PM
Sheldon L said...
Football took top 4 spots for the week and 60 minutes took the 5th.
You could get play-by-play of the results on the web without listening to the acceptance speeches, during the actual show. In some cases earlier.
9-19-2007 @ 12:29AM
Michael B.Klein said...
Perhaps the real reason for the lowest number of viewers of the Emmeys in 17 years is the silent majority's distain for the constant Hollywood population's anti -American ,anti-military, anti-Bush remarks.Thank God that this country is not only made up of Los Angeles and New York City.How unfortunate that these few think they speak for the majority of Americans. They will be the first to complain that the Republicans did not do enough to protect us should we be attacked again.It is about time they are put in their place. Thank God for Rudy ! He is not afraid to articulate what Americans have wanted to hear from their leaders for so long.It is not enough for us to merely be heard by voting . This gives the illusion that we are content to live in an atmosphere that allows misfits and pseuointellects to bash our President and rags like the New York Times to attempt to brainwash us by slanting the news as would our enemies.
9-19-2007 @ 9:01AM
Anne Ward said...
Maybe it is because most people are getting sick and tired of all the coarse and offensive comments the socalled stars are making. We are tired of these ridiculous people making the US look like a bunch of losers.
9-19-2007 @ 10:25AM
claudia said...
The Emmy's shouldn't be taped for the West coast. I check the internet to see who is winning and if I will want to watch it. If there isn't anyone I want to see win, I don't watch. Same with the Oscars. Also, I and many of my friends, do not care to hear the political opinions of the stars. Their opinions do not mean a thing to me. This is an award for acting.
9-19-2007 @ 10:22PM
Lamare said...
Since when does politics, 9/11 perceived hero Rudy Guilliani, and the New York Times have anything to do with The Emmys. Many awards shows in general score low ratings. It takes much more to capture audiences. The old media formula of doing things doesn't work. The Web drives an audience now... and when the web and traditional media converge together bland things are more interesting. The censoring of the speeches, was also quite lame. The Oscars and Grammy Awards are no different. I didn't have time to catch the Emmys, not to mention I'm not that keen on Fox Networks, and I've been wary of them ever since they bought MySpace.
10-01-2007 @ 12:04PM
Marie Specht said...
I didn't watch the show because I'm not interested in their politics. I watch a show for entertainment. I did see Sally Field comment & she made a fool of herself. I started watching Brothers & Sisters because she was on it & love the show. I don't know if I will continue watching the show though especially when the black guy from Legal Weapon will be on it as he is friends with Chavez. I think it's Danny Globber but I just can't remember his last name. He's a jerk also.