Country music a hit for CBS

The Academy of Country Music Awards drew its largest audience since 1998, helping CBS sweep the top four spots in the weekly prime-time ratings and giving the network its eighth consecutive weekly victory.

Sunday’s three-hour, 24minute broadcast of the Academy of Country Music Awards averaged 15.98 million viewers, the most among prime-time programs broadcast between April 13 and Sunday, according to live-plus-same day figures released by Nielsen on Tuesday.

“NCIS” (15.84 million), “The Big Bang Theory” (14.82 million) and “NCIS: New Orleans” (14.4 million) completed CBS’ sweep of the top four.

CBS also finished first among viewers ages 18-49, the group targeted by ABC, Fox and NBC and coveted by advertisers because it watches less television and is harder to reach.

CBS averaged 2.29 million viewers among the group, ABC 1.82 million, NBC 1.44 million and Fox 1.34 million.

“The Big Bang Theory” was the most-watched broadcast program among the group, averaging 4.94 million viewers, followed by the Academy of Country Music Awards (4.63 million); the Monday episode of “The Voice” (3.68 million); the Tuesday episode of “The Voice” (3.15 million); and the ABC drama “Scandal” (3.08 million). Cable figures were not available.

HBO’s fantasy drama “Game of Thrones” was the most-watched cable program for the second consecutive week, averaging 6.81 million viewers, 26th among the week’s primetime broadcast and cable shows. Viewership for “Game of Thrones” was 14.88% lower than the 8 million average for its season premiere a week earlier.