Emmy Telecast Ratings Biggest in 8 Years

(AP) NEW YORK–The Nielsen Co. says Sunday’s Emmy broadcast scored a one-third audience spike over last year.

Prelimary ratings figures indicate the 3-hour telecast on CBS averaged 17.6 million viewers, compared to 13.3 million viewers for last year’s Emmy show on ABC.

It was the largest audience for the awards show since 2005.

But Sunday’s broadcast, which aired live across the country, was undoubtedly helped by the network’s very strong lead-in: NFL football.

Neil Patrick Harris was host of the 65th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.