The 40th Annual American Music Awards slid 21 percent to an all-time low, while NBC took a predictable win on the strength of "Sunday Night Football," according to preliminary numbers.
While NBC's numbers are approximate due to the nature of live sports, the network currently holds a dominant first place in the advertiser-sought 18-49 demographic with a 4.9 rating/12 share and in total viewers with 13.3 million. Following three consecutive episodes of "Football Night in America" from 7 to 8:30 p.m., which posted a 1.9/5, 2.7/7 and 4.5/11 respectively, Sunday's game between Baltimore and Pittsburgh posted a 6.0/5 — down 14 percent from last week's "Sunday Night Football, but still the best performance of the night — and drew 15.8 million total viewers.
While CBS's numbers are also approximate due to football, the network took second place in ratings and total viewers with a 3.0/8 and 12.6 million. NFL overrun combined with "60 Minutes" from 7 to 8 posted a 5.5/15 with 18.4 million total viewers, while the continuation of "60 Minutes" and the beginning of "The Amazing Race" from 8 to 9 drew a 2.87 with 12.8 million total viewers. The following hour's conclusion of "The Amazing Race" coupled with the beginning of "The Good Wife" had a 2.2/5 with 9.6 million total viewers, while the "Good Wife" conclusion and "The Mentalist" at 10 had a 1.6/4 with 9.5 million total viewers.
ABC took third place in ratings and total viewers with a 2.9/7 and 9 million. Following "America's Funniest Home Videos" at 7 — which was up 21 percent with a 1.7/5 and took 7.5 million total viewers — the American Music Awards dropped off 21 percent for a 3.4/8, its lowest-rated telecast to date, and drew 9.5 million total viewers.
Fox came in fourth in ratings and total viewers with a 2.0/5 and 4.2 million. NFL overrun combined with a "Bob's Burgers" repeat at 7 drew a 1.3/4 with 3.4 million total viewers, while "The Cleveland Show" at 7:30 dropped 16 percent to a 1.6/4 and drew 3.3 million total viewers. "The Simpsons" at 8 drew a 2.5/6 with 5.2 million total viewers, while "Bob's Burgers" at 8:30 had a 1.8/4 with 4 million total viewers. "Family Guy" at 9 had a 2.5/6 and 5 million total viewers, while "American Dad" at 9:30 climbed 11 percent for a 2.0/5 and had 4.2 million total viewers.
