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Sunday Final Nationals: ‘The Walking Dead’ Delivers Its Most-Watched Telecast with Season Finale Since Season Premiere

Academy of Country Music Awards on CBS Draw Nine-Year Viewer Low

CBS was the most-watched network on Sunday night with an average of 10.79 million viewers. Leading all broadcast network entries in key demos were the “Academy of Country Music Awards” on CBS which were hosted by Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley. Nonetheless, the event marked the least-watched ACM Awards since 2007 and the lowest-rated ACM Awards among adults 18-49 on record (from 2002).

Another awards show aired directly opposite the ACM Awards that siphoned off some of its younger viewers: “iHeartRadio Music Awards” on TBS, TNT and truTV. That event drew a combined 2.122 million total viewers and 1.122 million adults 18-49 across three networks.

Of course, the more significant reason for the lower-than-normal ACM Awards viewer figures was the AMC network which dominated in key demos in prime time (3.5 adults 18-49 rating, 3.0 adults 18-34 rating, 3.8 adults 25-54 rating) as it aired an all-day marathon of the sixth season of “The Walking Dead” leading into the 93-minute season finale as well as after-show “Talking Dead”. The 9-10:33 p.m. telecast was the week’s top TV program among adults 18-49; No. 2 in total viewers (only the Mar. 31 episode of “The Big Bang Theory” drew more). It was the zombie drama’s most-watched telecast in live plus same day total viewers since its sixth season premiere from Oct. 11, 2015 (14.63 million).

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On the downside, “The Walking Dead” season finale didn’t top its midseason finale from Nov. 29 among adults 18-49 (down 1 percent; 8.778 million vs. 8.899 million) and was noticeably lower than its fifth season finale telecast from Mar. 29, 2015 — down 10 percent in total viewers (14.193 million vs. 15.784 million); down 15 percent in adults 18-49 (8.778 million vs. 10.367 million).

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Programming Insider Sunday, April 3, 2016
PROGRAM HH/Share Viewers
(000)		 Adults
18-34		 Adults
18-49		 Adults
25-54
7-11 Network Average 2.4/4 3881 0.6/3 1.0/3 1.2/3
7:00 America’s Funniest Home Videos 2.8/5 4938 0.6/3 1.0/3 1.3/4
8:00 Once Upon a Time 2.3/4 3777 0.9/4 1.1/4 1.3/4
9:00 The Family 2.0/3 3126 0.4/2 0.7/2 1.0/3
10:00 Quantico 2.4/4 3682 0.6/2 1.0/3 1.3/3
PROGRAM HH/Share Viewers
(000)		 Adults
18-34		 Adults
18-49		 Adults
25-54
7-11 Network Average 6.5/11 10785 1.3/5 2.0/7 2.7/8
7:00 60 Minutes 6.1/11 9526 0.7/3 1.1/4 1.7/6
8:00 2016 Academy of Country Music Awards (s) 6.7/11 11203 1.5/6 2.3/7 3.0/8
PROGRAM HH/Share Viewers
(000)		 Adults
18-34		 Adults
18-49		 Adults
25-54
7-11 Network Average 3.8/7 6163 0.6/3 1.1/4 1.6/4
7:00 Little Big Shots (r) 3.4/6 5408 0.5/2 0.8/3 1.2/4
8:00 Little Big Shots 6.7/11 11329 1.0/4 1.8/6 2.7/7
9:01 The Carmichael Show 2.9/5 4676 0.5/2 1.0/3 1.4/4
9:30 Crowded 2.2/4 3474 0.5/2 0.8/2 1.1/3
10:00 Dateline NBC (r) 2.5/4 3731 0.5/2 0.8/3 1.1/3
PROGRAM HH/Share Viewers
(000)		 Adults
18-34		 Adults
18-49		 Adults
25-54
7-10 Network Average 1.0/2 1746 0.7/3 0.8/3 0.8/2
7:00 Bordertown 0.6/1 997 0.3/1 0.4/2 0.5/2
7:30 Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Life 0.6/1 966 0.4/2 0.4/2 0.5/1
7:59 The Simpsons 1.4/2 2315 0.9/4 1.0/4 1.1/3
8:30 Bob’s Burgers 1.2/2 2050 0.9/4 1.0/3 1.0/3
9:00 Bob’s Burgers 1.1/2 1989 0.9/3 0.9/3 1.0/2
9:30 The Last Man on Earth 1.3/2 2111 0.7/3 0.9/3 1.0/2
PROGRAM HH/Share Viewers
(000)		 Adults
18-34		 Adults
18-49		 Adults
25-54
7-11 Network Average 1.1/2 1938 0.7/2
7:00 Aqui y Ahora 0.8/1 1282 0.4/1
8:00 Nuestra Belleza 1.3/2 2264 0.8/3
10:04 Sal y Pimienta 1.1/2 1918 0.6/2
PROGRAM HH/Share Viewers
(000)		 Adults
18-34		 Adults
18-49		 Adults
25-54
8:30 Fútbol Central (s) 0.3/0 574 0.2/1
9:20 Fútbol Mexicano Guadalajara vs. UNAM (s) (thru 11:30) 0.6/1 1327 0.6/2

Sub-Demo Breakdowns – Sunday 4/03/16

“America’s Funniest Home Videos” (ABC)
Women 18-34: 0.7/3
Men 18-34: 0.6/3
Women 18-49: 1.1/4
Men 18-49: 1.0/4

“Once Upon a Time” (ABC)
Women 18-34: 1.2/5
Men 18-34: 0.6/3
Women 18-49: 1.4/4
Men 18-49: 0.8/3

“The Family” (ABC)
Women 18-34: 0.5/2
Men 18-34: 0.3/1
Women 18-49: 0.9/3
Men 18-49: 0.5/2

“Quantico” (ABC)
Women 18-34: 0.8/3
Men 18-34: 0.5/2
Women 18-49: 1./4
Men 18-49: 0.8/3

“60 Minutes” (CBS)
Women 18-34: 0.7/3
Men 18-34: 0.6/3
Women 18-49: 1.2/4
Men 18-49: 1.1/4

“2016 Academy of Country Music” (CBS)
Women 18-34: 1.8/7
Men 18-34: 1.2/5
Women 18-49: 2.7/8
Men 18-49: 1.8/6

“Little Big Shots” (NBC)
Women 18-34: 1.2/5
Men 18-34: 0.7/3
Women 18-49: 2.2/7
Men 18-49: 1.7/5

“The Carmichael Show” (NBC)
Women 18-34: 0.7/2
Men 18-34: 0.4/2
Women 18-49: 1.2/3
Men 18-49: 0.8/2

“Crowded” (NBC)
Women 18-34: 0.5/2
Men 18-34: 0.4/2
Women 18-49: 0.9/3
Men 18-49: 0.6/2

“Dateline NBC” (NBC)
Women 18-34: 0.5/2
Men 18-34: 0.5/2
Women 18-49: 1.0/3
Men 18-49: 0.7/2

“Bordertown” (Fox)
Women 18-34: 0.2/1
Men 18-34: 0.4/2
Women 18-49: 0.3/1
Men 18-49: 0.5/2

“Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Life” (Fox)
Women 18-34: 0.4/2
Men 18-34: 0.4/2
Women 18-49: 0.4/1
Men 18-49: 0.5/2

“The Simpsons” (Fox)
Women 18-34: 0.9/4
Men 18-34: 1.0/5
Women 18-49: 1.0/3
Men 18-49: 1.1/4

“Bob’s Burgers” (Fox)
Women 18-34: 0.8/3
Men 18-34: 1.0/4
Women 18-49: 0.9/3
Men 18-49: 1.1/4

“Family Guy” (Fox)
Women 18-34: 0.8/3
Men 18-34: 0.9/4
Women 18-49: 0.9/2
Men 18-49: 1.0/3

“The Last Man on Earth” (Fox)
Women 18-34: 0.8/3
Men 18-34: 0.7/3
Women 18-49: 0.8/2
Men 18-49: 0.9/3

“The Walking Dead” (AMC)
Women 18-34: 5.43
Men 18-34: 6.53
Women 18-49: 6.42
Men 18-49: 7.43

“Talking Dead” (AMC)
Women 18-34: 2.29
Men 18-34: 2.74
Women 18-49: 2.92
Men 18-49: 3.21

“Shameless” (Showtime)
Women 18-34: 0.52
Men 18-34: 0.48
Women 18-49: 0.64
Men 18-49: 0.68

“Billions” (Showtime)
Women 18-34: 0.13
Men 18-34: 0.26
Women 18-49: 0.25
Men 18-49: 0.41

“Vinyl” (HBO)
Women 18-34: 0.07
Men 18-34: 0.13
Women 18-49: 0.13
Men 18-49: 0.28

“Girls” (HBO)
Women 18-34: 0.28
Men 18-34: 0.14
Women 18-49: 0.30
Men 18-49: 0.26

“When Calls the Heart” (Hallmark)
Women 18-34: 0.13
Men 18-34: 0.09
Women 18-49: 0.39
Men 18-49: 0.12

“2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards” (TNT)
Women 18-34: 0.51
Men 18-34: 0.30
Women 18-49: 0.48
Men 18-49: 0.35

“2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards” (TBS)
Women 18-34: 0.36
Men 18-34: 0.30
Women 18-49: 0.43
Men 18-49: 0.30

Cable Rankings – Sunday 4/03/16
What follows are the top 20 most-watched shows in prime time on cable for Sunday, April 3:


  1. “The Walking Dead” (AMC, 9-10:33 p.m., 7.44 household rating): 14.193 million viewers (6.92 adults 18-49 rating)

  2. “Talking Dead” (AMC, 10:33-11:33 p.m., 3.43 household rating): 6.378 (3.07)

  3. “The Walking Dead” (AMC, 8-9 p.m.): 3.471 (1.44)

  4. “MLB Sunday Night Baseball: New York Mets @ Kansas City Royals” (ESPN, ‪8:27-11:53‬‪ p.m.‬, 1.76 household rating): 2.896 million viewers (0.99 adults 18-49 rating)

  5. “Real Housewives of Atlanta” (Bravo, 8-9:15 p.m.): 2.807 (1.21)

  6. “Story of God” (Nat Geo, 9-10:01 p.m.): 2.803 (0.43)

  7. “The Big Bang Theory” (TBS, 7:30-8 p.m.): 2.351 (0.81)

  8. Movie: “Tangled” (2010) (Disney Channel, 7-8:45 p.m.): 2.339 (0.57)

  9. “The Big Bang Theory” (TBS, 7-7:30 p.m.): 2.219 (0.78)

  10. “Baseball Tonight: Sunday Night Countdown” (ESPN, ‪7:57-8:27‬‪ p.m.‬, 1.25 household rating): 2.073 million viewers (0.66 adults 18-49 rating)

  11. “When Calls the Heart” (Hallmark, 9-10 p.m.): 2.072 (0.25)

  12. “Naked and Afraid” (Discovery, 10-11 p.m.): 2.035 (0.74)

  13. “Family Guy” (Adult Swim, 10:30-11 p.m.): 1.793 (0.77)

  14. “Property Brothers” (HGTV, 7-8 p.m.): 1.697 (0.44)

  15. “Caribbean Life” (HGTV, 9-9:30 p.m.): 1.650 (0.42)

  16. “Real Housewives of the Potomac” (Bravo, 9:15-10:15 p.m.): 1.643 (0.72)

  17. “Shameless” (Showtime, 9:03-9:57 p.m.): 1.633 (0.66)

  18. “Beachfront Bargain Hunt” (HGTV, 8:30-9 p.m.): 1.631 (0.45)

  19. “Family Guy” (Adult Swim, 10-10:30 p.m.): 1.628 (0.68)

  20. “NCAA Div. I Women’s Basketball Final Four: Syracuse vs. Washington” (ESPN2, ‪8:22-10:17‬‪ p.m.‬, 1.01 household rating): 1.598 million viewers (0.29 adults 18-49 rating)


  • “Beachfront Bargain Hunt” (HGTV, 8-8:30 p.m.): 1.538 (0.43)

  • “Caribbean Life” (HGTV, 9:30-10 p.m.): 1.537 (0.37)

  • “Island Life” (HGTV, 10-10:30 p.m.): 1.448 (0.32)

  • “All-Star Academy” (Food Network, 9-10 p.m.): 1.399 (0.36)

  • “Island Life” (HGTV, 10:30-11 p.m.): 1.365 (0.32)

  • “Long Lost Family” (TLC, 10-11 p.m.): 1.298 (0.27)

  • “Unusual Suspects” (ID, 9-10 p.m.): 1.180 (0.28)

  • “Billions” (Showtime, 10:00-10:57 p.m.): 1.080 (0.33)

  • “NCAA Studio Update” (ESPN2, ‪7:59-8:22‬‪ p.m.‬, 0.69 household rating): 1.069 million viewers (0.20 adults 18-49 rating)

  • “Guy’s Grocery Games” (Food Network, 8-9 p.m.): 1.031 (0.32)

  • “Thicker Than Water” (Bravo, 10:15-11:15 p.m.): 1.015 (0.46)

  • “Bar Rescue” (Spike, 9-10 p.m.): 0.990 (0.42)

  • “2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards” (TNT, ‪8:00-11:01 p.m.‬, 0.58 household rating): 0.970 million viewers (0.42 adults 18-49 rating)

  • “2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards” (TBS, ‪8:00-11:01 p.m.‬, 0.56 household rating): 0.901 million viewers (0.36 adults 18-49 rating)

  • “Cutthroat Kitchen” (Food Network, 10-11 p.m.): 0.842 (0.29)

  • “NBA Basketball: Portland Trail Blazers @ Golden State Warriors” (NBA TV, ‪8:00-10:31‬‪ p.m.‬, 0.52 household rating): 0.818 million viewers (0.28 adults 18-49 rating)

  • “Baseball Tonight” (ESPN2, ‪7:01-7:59‬‪ p.m.‬, 0.45 household rating): 0.726 million viewers (0.30 adults 18-49 rating)

  • “Hoarders” (A&E, 8-9 p.m.): 0.708 (0.25)

  • “Hollywood Medium” (E!, 10-11 p.m.): 0.639 (0.23)

  • “Fútbol Mexicano: Guadalajara vs. UNAM” (Univision Deportes, ‪9:19-11:30‬‪ p.m.‬, 0.29 household rating): 0.580 million viewers (0.27 adults 18-49 rating)

  • “Vinyl” (HBO, 9:00-9:57 p.m.): 0.567 (0.20)

  • “Girls” (HBO, 10:00-10:26 p.m.): 0.558 (0.28)

  • “I Am Cait” (E!, 9-10 p.m.): 0.533 (0.20)


Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research

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