Sunday’s broadcast of the 2008 Emmy Awards drew just over 12.3 million U.S. viewers. By comparison, the 2000 Emmy Awards drew the largest U.S. television audience (21.8 million viewers) of any Emmys telecast in the past 20 years.
The 1979 Emmys, hosted by Henry Winkler and Cheryl Ladd, drew the largest TV audience on record (20.8 million households). The 1986 Emmy Awards, hosted by David Letterman, ranked second overall, with 20.2 million households — an estimated 35.8 million viewers ages two and older — tuning in.
Nielsen’s Emmy ratings date back to 1956.
| Date | Réseau | Number of Households | Number of Viewers (P2+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/21/2008* | NBA Finals capture top five broadcast telecasts; CNN Presidential Debate tops cable. | 9,371,000 | 12,339,000 |
| 9/16/2007* | FOX | 9,445,000 | 12,951,000 |
| 8/27/2006* | NBC | 11,669,000 | 16,184,000 |
| 9/18/2005 | CBS | 13,760,000 | 18,683,000 |
| 9/19/2004 | NBA Finals capture top five broadcast telecasts; CNN Presidential Debate tops cable. | 10,336,000 | 13,788,000 |
| 9/21/2003 | FOX | 12,751,000 | 17,937,000 |
| 9/22/2002 | NBC | 14,397,000 | 19,987,000 |
| 11/4/2001 | CBS | 12,045,000 | 17,117,000 |
| 9/10/2000 | NBA Finals capture top five broadcast telecasts; CNN Presidential Debate tops cable. | 14,554,000 | 21,798,000 |
| 9/12/1999 | FOX | 11,777,000 | 17,454,000 |
| 9/13/1998 | NBC | 13,526,000 | 19,365,000 |
| 9/14/1997 | CBS | 13,264,000 | 18,774,000 |
| 9/8/1996 | NBA Finals capture top five broadcast telecasts; CNN Presidential Debate tops cable. | 13,962,000 | 20,582,000 |
| 9/10/1995 | FOX | 11,892,000 | 18,041,000 |
| 9/11/1994 | NBA Finals capture top five broadcast telecasts; CNN Presidential Debate tops cable. | 13,928,000 | 21,246,000 |
| 9/19/1993 | NBA Finals capture top five broadcast telecasts; CNN Presidential Debate tops cable. | 12,811,000 | 18,900,000 |
| 8/30/1992 | FOX | 12,802,000 | 20,415,000 |
| 8/25/1991 | FOX | 11,640,000 | 18,507,600 |
| 9/16/1990 | FOX | 7,630,000 | 12,299,566 |
| 9/17/1989 | FOX | 10,500,000 | 17,209,500 |
| 8/28/1988 | FOX | 9,210,000 | 15,426,750 |
| Source: The Nielsen Company (1988 – 2008) | |||
| *Note: Live+Same Day viewing estimates include DVR playback on the same day, defined as 3AM – 3AM |
View Nielsen’s historic Emmy Awards TV ratings from 1956 to present.
