The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards telecast on ABC drew nearly 7 million viewers, a 54% increase from the previous January’s record low of 4.3 million, and the highest since 2021.
Sunday’s ceremony returned to its traditional mid-September slot after being delayed four months by Hollywood strikes. “Shogun,” “Hacks,” and “Baby Reindeer” were among the night’s top winners.
The previous show, which aired on Fox in January, reached an all-time low of 4.3 million viewers. ABC’s latest broadcast, hosted by Eugene and Dan Levy, faced stiff competition from NFL football.
The 2020 Emmys, held virtually during the pandemic, also struggled with viewership, drawing just 6.1 million. A rebound in 2021 brought the audience up to 7.4 million, thanks to an NFL game lead-in.
However, NBC’s 2022 broadcast saw numbers dip to 5.9 million, continuing a trend of declining viewership.
The Emmy telecast rotates among the major broadcast networks, with ABC’s recent airing showing some recovery.
The last time the Emmys garnered over 10 million viewers was in 2018, with 10.2 million tuning in. Peak viewership was in 2000, when the awards reached 21.8 million viewers.
Japan celebrated as the samurai series “Shogun” won 18 Emmys, including Outstanding Drama Series. Hiroyuki Sanada became the first Japanese actor to win Best Lead Actor in a dramatic series.
Sanada’s win, along with co-star Anna Sawai’s Best Actress award, marked a milestone for Japanese talent in Hollywood, bringing national pride and international recognition.
