Shark Night

The allure of live programming was evident once again on the final Sunday of the season, as ABC’s “Billboard Music Awards” overwhelmed in key demos the finales of Fox’s “Family Guy” and “The Simpsons” as well as NBC’s “The Celebrity Apprentice.” ABC won the night in demos, according to preliminary national estimates from Nielsen, kicking... Read more »

Just like last year, the last Sunday of the broadcast season saw a schedule full of specials and finales. Unlike 2012, the specials and the finales split the difference for the top spots.  With wins by Taylor Swift and Madonna, boos from the audience directed at Justin Bieber and a closing performance from Prince, the 2013 Billboard Awards (3.6/10) was up big from last year.  On ABC for the third year in a row, the live three-hour Tracy Morgan-hosted ceremony surged up from its 2012 broadcast. The highest rated show of the night. The Billboard Awards was up 33% among adults 18-49 and up 28% in total viewers to 9.47 million watching. ABC aired the season finale of America’s Funniest Home Videos (1.8/6) before the Billboard Awards. The most watched show of the night with 9.84 million viewers, the original found footage show was up 29% from its May 12 show and up 20% from last year’s finale on May 20, 2012. ABC won the night among viewers and adults 18-49. On CBS had ACM Presents: Tim McGraw’s Superstar Summer Night (1.2/3) from 9 PM to 11 PM. The special was even with last year’s Jesse Stone movie, Benefit Of The Doubt starring Tom Selleck. The network had a double shot of 60 Minutes start off its Sunday primetime. The 7 PM (1.4/5) show dipped 7% from last week while the special 8 PM ... Read More »