Ratings: Billboard Music Awards Soar to Hand ABC a Win

"Celebrity Apprentice" season finale up from last week but down from last year's finale

The Billboard Music Awards on Sunday shot up in the ratings from last year's ceremony, pushing ABC to a commanding overall win for the night, according to preliminary numbers.

ABC came in first in the advertiser-sought 18-49 demographic with a 3.6 rating/10 share and in total viewers with 8.9 million. This was due largely to the Billboard Music Awards at 8 p.m., which jumped 33 percent over last year's awards show to a 3.6/10 — the night's strongest performance in the demo. The show had 9.5 million total viewers. Sunday night's Billboard Music Awards posted the ceremony's highest performance in the demo since 2003 and its largest total viewership since 2001. "America's Funniest Home Videos" at 7 also grew, jumping 29 percent from last week for a 1.8/6 with 7 million total viewers.

Also read: 6 of the Buzziest Billboard Music Award Moments: Justin Bieber Booed, Miguel's Leg Drop and More

Fox was a distant second in ratings and fourth in total viewers with a 1.8/5 and 3.9 million. "The Cleveland Show" at 7 posted a 0.9/3 and 2.1 million total viewers, while the season finale of the show at 7:30 grew 10 percent from last week to a 1.1/4 with 2.5 million total viewers. "The Simpsons" at 8 posted a 1.8/6, down 10 percent from last week, and had 4 million total viewers. The "Simpsons" season finale at 8:30 drew a 2.1/6 — up 5 percent from last week, and even with last year's finale — with 4.4 million total viewers. "Family Guy" at 9 posted a 2.6/7 with 5.2 million total viewers, while a second episode at 9:30 had a 2.5/6 with 5.1 million total viewers.

CBS took third place in ratings and second in total viewers with a 1.3/4 and 7.8 million. A two-hour episode of "60 Minutes" at 7 had a 1.3/4 and was down 13 percent from last week — but it was the night's most-watched program with 10.4 million total viewers. "Tim McGraw's Superstar Summer Night" at 9 p.m. drew a 1.2/3 with 8.5 million total viewers.

NBC was fourth in ratings and third in total viewers with a1.1/3 and 3.9 million. Following a repeat of "The Voice" at 7, the season finale of "The Celebrity Apprentice" at 9 delivered both good and bad news for the series. The finale posted a 1.5/4, which was up 15 percent from last week but down 32 percent from last May's finale. It had 5.3 million total viewers.
 

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