The 2008 CMT Music Awards played big on TV and online.
CMT pulled in some 2.8 million viewers during country music’s only fan-voted awards show April from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., according to Nielsen Media Research data. That tally was the most on the network since the 2007 premiere of Dale, according to network officials. Included in the viewer total, were some 1.3 million persons 18 to 49.
When factoring in encore presentations and related programming, such as CMT Music Awards Red Carpet and the series premiere of competition show Can You Duet, CMT registered wit more than 11.1 million viewers Monday.
Online, CMT.com shattered all previous records with 26 million page views on Tuesday, April 15, besting the 2007 awards by 246%. Total unique visitors to the site leaped 364% to 1.6 million for the day, while streams soared 173% to more than 994,000 streams. Network officials said red carpet footage and photo galleries were the biggest traffic drivers for the day, while streaming video, including the hilarious show opener featuring all three presidential candidates, continue to garner clicks. Extensive awards show coverage at CMT.com also included a live simulcast, first ever live blogging, video collections, lyrics, song downloads, merchandise, news and message boards.
All told, fans cast a record 5 million votes online to determine the awards show’s winners.
Hosted by father and daughter combo Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Ray, who also performed, the show also featured an array of stars, including on-stage moments from Carrie Underwood, Sugarland with Little Big Town and Jake Owen, Brad Paisley with special guest, Hank Williams, Jr., Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Taylor Swift, LeAnn Rimes, Keith Urban and Brooks & Dunn.
In addition to a pair of runs yesterday, CMT will encore the awards show again April 19 at 9 p.m. and April 20 at 4:30 p.m.
