Emmy Awards Hit Record Low Ratings: 4.3 Million Viewers

The recent Emmy Awards broadcast on Fox marked a historical low in viewership, drawing in only 4.3 million viewers, continuing a longstanding trend of decreasing ratings for the event. According to Nielsen, this figure represents a decline from the previous record low of 5.9 million viewers for NBC’s telecast in 2022, the last time the Emmys were held.

Several factors contributed to this year’s low ratings. The event was postponed by four months from its usual September scheduling due to strikes by Hollywood writers and actors. Additionally, it faced stiff competition from an NFL playoff game and coverage of the Iowa caucuses in the presidential campaign.

The viewership was less than half of that for the CBS broadcast of the Golden Globes, which occurred eight days earlier and attracted 9.4 million viewers. The Golden Globes, celebrating both television and film, boasted the presence of major stars, including Taylor Swift.

The Emmys, hosted by Anthony Anderson and featuring major wins for shows like “Succession” and “The Bear,” received generally positive reviews. The show was commended for its nostalgic elements, such as reunions and set recreations from classic shows like “Cheers,” “Martin,” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” Publications like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter praised its charm and emotional resonance.

Despite this, the downward trajectory in viewership persisted. The 2020 Emmys on ABC, which had no live audience and remote nominees due to the pandemic, previously set a low with 6.1 million viewers. Although viewership slightly recovered to 7.4 million in the following year for CBS, the decline resumed in 2022.

The Emmy Awards are broadcast in rotation by the four major networks. The last time the event garnered more than 10 million viewers was in 2018, attracting 10.2 million. In comparison, the show had a viewership of 21.8 million in 2000, a number it is unlikely to achieve again.