Tony Awards' Viewership Inches Lower

Tony Awards Viewership Declines for Second Year in a Row #

The Tony Awards broadcast on Sunday saw a 15% decline in viewership compared to last year, with an average of 3.5 million viewers. This is the second lowest viewership for the Tonys since records have been kept. The decline goes against the trend of other major award shows and live events, which have been experiencing ratings growth in recent years. The Tonys missed the opportunity to surpass the Emmy Awards in viewership, with the Emmys reaching just over four million viewers in January. Despite the low viewership, the event was well-received by critics and has been a longstanding prestige event for CBS, who will continue to broadcast the Tonys through 2026. Additionally, the Tonys serve as a critical marketing tool for the struggling Broadway industry. The most-watched recent Tonys was in 2016 when ‘Hamilton’ was a major hit, attracting over eight million viewers.

Tony Awards Viewership Declines for Second Year in a Row #

The Tony Awards broadcast on Sunday saw a 15% decline in viewership compared to last year, with an average of 3.5 million viewers. This is the second lowest viewership for the Tonys since records have been kept. The decline goes against the trend of other major award shows and live events, which have been experiencing ratings growth in recent years. The Tonys missed the opportunity to surpass the Emmy Awards in viewership, with the Emmys reaching just over four million viewers in January. Despite the low viewership, the event was well-received by critics and has been a longstanding prestige event for CBS, who will continue to broadcast the Tonys through 2026. Additionally, the Tonys serve as a critical marketing tool for the struggling Broadway industry. The most-watched recent Tonys was in 2016 when ‘Hamilton’ was a major hit, attracting over eight million viewers.