The broadcast of the annual People's Choice Awards this week marked the beginning of a whole new season of so-called kudocasts, continuing with the Golden Globes next Sunday and culminating with the Academy Awards on March 7. Although the Oscars routinely trounces all comers in the ratings war, there are enough viewers left over to make self-congratulation a lucrative enterprise. Here are the top 10 rated award shows on U.S. television from 2009.
1. Academy Awards (Feb. 22): 36.3 million viewers
2. Grammy Awards (Feb. 8): 19 million viewers
3. Country Music Awards (Nov. 22): 17.2 million viewers
4. Golden Globes (Jan. 11): 14.9 million viewers
5. Academy of Country Music Awards (April 5): 14.8 million viewers
6. American Music Awards
(Nov. 22): 14.2 million viewers
7. Emmy Awards (Sept. 20): 13.5 million viewers
8. BET Awards (June 28): 10.7 million viewers
9. People's Choice Awards (Jan. 7): 9.4 million viewers
10. MTV Music Video Awards (Sept. 9): 9 million viewers
Source: Neilson Media Research