In a remarkable turn of events, the 2023 Primetime Emmy Awards drew in more than 7.4 million viewers on CBS, marking it as the most-watched Emmys since 2021. This increase in audience engagement is noteworthy, especially considering the overall decline in viewership for award shows in recent years.
The Emmy Awards program, hosted by the talented comedian and actor Nate Bargatze, experienced an impressive 8% increase in viewership compared to last year's broadcast on ABC. This year's ratings also included live viewership from Paramount+, the streaming app owned by CBS's parent company. Notably, streaming viewership on this platform surged by 76% when compared to 2021, highlighting the growing trend of audiences shifting towards digital platforms.
Despite an overall decline in viewership for award shows, the Emmys have fared comparatively better than many of their counterparts. In the 2010s, the Emmy Awards averaged approximately 12.4 million viewers annually. However, in the past six years, the show has seen an average of 6.2 million viewers, reflecting a decline of around 50%. In contrast, both the Oscars and Grammys, which are generally considered larger productions, have witnessed audience declines of approximately 60% during the same timeframe. The Golden Globes, which faced significant backlash and were not televised in 2022 due to controversies surrounding the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), have experienced a 45% decrease in viewership from 2020 to 2025 compared to the 2010s.
Interestingly, the last time the Emmys achieved a viewership of 7.4 million was also during a broadcast on CBS. Currently, the Emmys rotate between the four major networks, including Fox, ABC, CBS, and NBC, each year. However, it’s worth noting that the show's eight-year broadcast contract is set to expire in 2026. The lowest ratings in Emmy history occurred in 2023 when the show was postponed for five months due to Hollywood labor strikes, ultimately airing in January 2024 opposite an NFL playoff game.
The changing landscape of television is prompting more award shows to consider transitioning to streaming platforms as traditional TV viewership continues to decline. For instance, the Country Music Awards left its long-standing home on CBS to partner with Amazon in 2021, while the Screen Actors Guild Awards made a move to Netflix in 2023. There are even reports that YouTube is eyeing the rights to the Academy Awards, which are currently under contract with Disney's ABC until 2028.
