The 2019 CMAs on ABC drew a larger overall TV audience than it did in 2018, but the show still slipped a bit to record-low ratings among adults 18-49. Those should both be considered a *win* in the current television landscape, however — especially considering what happened to the Country Music Awards last year.
Definitely pulling a win on Wednesday was ABC, which topped primetime in both the key ratings demo and among total viewers with its annual special. Yes, Fox slipped to second in the key demo as “The Masked Singer” had some actual professional music competition on broadcast television.
Find out who was unmasked last night on “The Masked Singer” here. Fox aired back to back episodes of the goofy alternative series last week — the first one was preempted the prior Wednesday to accomadate Game 7 of the 2019 World Series.
ABC was first in ratings with a 2.0 rating/9 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and in total viewers with an average of 11.3 million, according to preliminary numbers. Those numbers are the averages from the three-hour 53rd CMA Awards.
Fox was second in ratings with a 1.1/5 and fourth in viewers with 3.6 million. “The Masked Singer” at 8 p.m. posted a 1.6/8 and 5.6 million viewers. At 9, “Almost Family” had a 0.5/2 and 1.7 million viewers.
NBC was third in ratings with a 1.0/5 and second in viewers with 7 million. “Chicago Med” at 8 got a 1.1/5 and 7.4 million viewers. At 9, “Chicago Fire” matched that 1.1/5, but lost a few hundred thousand viewers, tallying 7.1 million. “Chicago P.D.” at 10 received a 1.0/5 and 6.4 million viewers.
CBS was fourth in ratings with a 0.9/5 and third in viewers with 5 million. “Survivor” from 8 to 10 averaged a 1.1/6 and 6 million viewers. At 10, “S.W.A.T.” got a 0.5/3 and 3 million viewers.
Telemundo and Univision tied for fifth in ratings, both with a 0.5/2. Telemundo was fifth in total viewers with 1.4 million, Univision was sixth with 1.3 million.
The CW was seventh in ratings with a 0.2/1 and in viewers with 767,000. “Riverdale” at 8 had a 0.3/1 and 822,000 viewers. At 9, “Nancy Drew” received a 0.2/1 and 712,000 viewers.