2024 CMT Music Awards: A Night Of Flat Ratings Amidst Heavy Competition

Ratings for the 2024 CMT Music Awards were flat, but that has to be considered a big win for a show up against heavy competition. The awards, held on April 7, took the top spot on broadcast television, yet ranked third overall that day. This was largely overshadowed by the Women's NCAA college basketball championship, which attracted an astounding 18 million viewers on ESPN earlier that same day.

The CMT Music Awards boasted a notable audience, with 5.38 million viewers tuning in. This figure positioned it as the second-highest broadcast program on Sunday, just behind 60 Minutes. Interestingly, this year's viewership was slightly down from last year's 5.43 million, but it still managed to outperform American Idol, which saw a decline from 5.06 million viewers to 4.36 million year-over-year (according to SpoilerTV).

With the 2024 CMT Music Awards competing against such strong programming, maintaining viewership levels is commendable. The awards showcased not only country music's finest but also highlighted the rapidly growing popularity of brand partnerships in sports. As the night unfolded, it was clear that the CMT Awards had carved out a significant niche, even amid the fierce competition.