The Country Music Association Awards is expected to stay at ABC under a new deal, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation. One source says the price tag could reach more than $30 million per year in a multi-year deal that would also include the summertime CMA Music Festival and a Christmas special.
As first reported by New York Magazine's Vulture website, a three-way bidding war broke out for the property, which has been with ABC since the network snatched it from CBS in 2005.
Sources tell B&C that both CBS and NBC made serious bids, with execs traveling to pitch the Association board and NBC's Steve Burke and CBS's Leslie Moonves both getting involved.
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As Vulture noted in its story, while last year's show fell to its lowest ever ratings, it still hits a Golden Globes-like 16 million or so viewers.
