Emmy Awards viewership plunges to 6.9 million people

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Emmy Awards viewership plunges to 6.9 million people

By DAVID BAUDER
September 23, 2019

NEW YORK (AP) — The Emmy Awards plunged to a record-low viewership of 6.9 million, illustrating a collective shrug by the public for an annual program that celebrates the best of television and is designed to build excitement for a new season.

The Nielsen company said the audience for Fox’s host-less show on Sunday was down 32% from 2018, which was previously the smallest ever. It’s the first time the Emmy audience has slipped below 10 million people.

Competition from an NFL game between the Los Angeles Rams and Cleveland Browns was blamed for siphoning off some viewers. More likely, it was because of how television has changed and is less and less of a communal experience.

“The Emmys used to matter because it was all the TV you watched, pitted against each other,” tweeted Myles McNutt, a cultural critic and professor at Old Dominion University. “But now, the Emmys are more likely a place where shows regular people had no idea existed compete with shows they have a vague understanding of.”

Television’s most popular scripted show, CBS’ now-retired “The Big Bang Theory,” wasn’t nominated for best comedy. Amazon’s “Fleabag” won that Emmy. It’s not clear how many people have even seen the streamed series.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/a938e5ea694844df87e76f4f10eaf5c9

[stopbush]

1. More people typically watch a car chase than watch the Emmys.

[underpants]

2. I thought it was a really good smart show.

It may just be that these award shows are going the way of the Indie 500 or Jerry Lewis's Marathon.

I just happened upon it flipping around the channels during a commercial in a football game. I let the ladies (Mom and daughter) that the red carpet was on. It went staring to the show and the show was very well written and performed. There was no actual host.

[lpbk2713]

3. That pretty much sums it up for me ...

“But now, the Emmys are more likely a place where shows regular people had no idea existed compete with shows they have a vague understanding of.”

I hardly ever watch TV any more.

[ploppy]

4. I thought it was pretty boring.

I usually like watching awards shows - it just didn't do it for me. Even without a host is dragged on and on and on. Finally turned it off to watch and episode of City Homicide.

[Ohiogal]

5. It was on opposite Sunday Night Football.

Kind of tough competition. And I am not a football fan, but there are lots of folks out there who are.

[PSPS]

6. All TV viewership has plunged, not just the emmys

[doc03]

7. There were Emmy Awards?

[customerserviceguy]

8. If you're not spending dozens (or even hundreds) of dollars per month

for subscription TV, then you won't know much about the shows that are nominated, or win.

I just heard of "Fleabag" yesterday, when looking for a list of winners to see if I could recognize anyone on it. Too bad Kate McKinnon didn't win, she is super talented!