TV Ratings: Slouching CMA Awards Wins Thursday for ABC

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ABC's broadcast of the 46th annual CMA Awards earned a 3.8 rating with adults 18-49 and 13.6 million viewers Thursday, giving the network a nightly win by both measures. Still, both numbers were all-time lows for the country music event, down 21 percent among adults 18-49 and 17 percent in total viewers from last year's Wednesday outing.

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Although NFL pre-emptions in San Diego could alter CBS' showing when final numbers come in, The Big Bang Theory was up a tenth of a point for a season high of a 5.1 rating with adults 18-49. Two and a Half Men was down 3 percent to a 3.6 adults rating, while Person of Interest (3.0 adults rating) and Elementary (2.4) were up 3 and 9 percent, respectively. CBS averaged a second-place 3.2 rating with adults 18-49 and 12.7 million viewers.

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The X Factor had another two-hour episode on Fox, pulling a 2.3 rating with adults 18-49. That's even with last week's special Tuesday outing but down six-tenths of a point from the show's last Thursday episode, which also averaged 6.2 million viewers.

NBC had a special encore of The Voice from 8 to 10 p.m., subbed in to avoid original competition with the CMAs. Rock Center With Brian Williams aired at 10 p.m., rising 18 percent to a 1.3 rating with adults 18-49. The network averaged a 1.3 in the demo and 4.1 million viewers.

On The CW, The Vampire Diaries pulled its biggest numbers since the season premiere, up 15 percent to a 1.5 rating with adults 18-49. Beauty and the Beast took a steep drop at 9 p.m. for an even 0.6 in the demo. The network averaged a 1.1 adults rating and 2.4 million viewers.

Univision scored a 1.6 adults rating for the night.