The Emmy Awards finally have something to celebrate beyond the trophies. Sunday night’s telecast on CBS pulled in 7.42 million viewers, according to Nielsen. That’s the biggest Emmy audience since 2021 and, more importantly, the second straight year of ratings growth. For a show long considered in decline, that’s no small feat.
Back-to-Back Gains After a Decade
The 2025 Emmys didn’t just climb from last year’s numbers, they made history of sorts. With an 8 percent jump from the 2024 ceremony, this marks the first back-to-back rise in Emmy viewership since 2012 and 2013. Back then, ABC and CBS were still trading off broadcast duties, much like now.
Nate Bargatze’s Hosting Gig
Comedian Nate Bargatze took over hosting duties and, while his monologue earned a few polite laughs, the recurring gag about donating to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America drew mixed reactions. Critics weren’t kind, but in fairness, ratings suggest viewers stuck around regardless.
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Who Took Home the Gold?
The night wasn’t just about numbers. Apple TV+ scored big with The Studio winning best comedy, Netflix’s Adolescence bagged best limited series, and HBO Max’s The Pitt ruled drama. By the end of the night, HBO/HBO Max and Netflix tied with 30 wins each, while Apple TV+ celebrated its strongest showing ever at 22 awards.
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Context in Awards Season
The Emmys closed out 2025’s packed awards season, where ratings were a mixed bag. The Oscars saw a small uptick to 19.69 million viewers, while the Grammys (15.4 million) and Golden Globes (9.27 million) dipped slightly. The Tony Awards, however, surprised everyone with a 44 percent spike, drawing 5.1 million viewers.
For the Emmys though, Sunday’s numbers are the headline: after years of decline, people are tuning back in.
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