The Emmy Awards ratings have continued to decline. A total of 4.3 million viewers tuned in to watch the Emmys on Fox on Monday night, marking the lowest viewership on record according to preliminary Nielsen data. In 2022, the Emmys had 5.9 million viewers, which was the previous low.
These ratings have brought the Emmys close to the Tony Awards, which has historically drawn a significantly smaller audience. In June, 4.3 million people tuned into the Tonys, showing an increase from its previous ceremony. The final numbers for the Emmys, set to be released on Wednesday, are expected to improve somewhat from the preliminary figures.
The Emmys faced several challenges, including being delayed by four months due to last year’s screenwriter and actor strikes, marking the most significant postponement in over 20 years.
The competition was tough on Monday night, with the Emmys going up against a Monday night football playoff game and the Iowa caucuses. The football game, featuring the Philadelphia Eagles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, drew over 28 million viewers, while roughly 4.7 million tuned into the three big cable news networks for Iowa returns.
The Emmys also faced competition from other award shows, with all the major winners having also been honored at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards in the preceding days. The Emmys even had trouble competing against a rerun of a network television show.
While most other major award shows have seen ratings rebound recently, the Emmys faced a decline in viewership despite generally warm reviews and the hosting by Anthony Anderson. The next ceremony is scheduled for September and will be broadcast on ABC.
