The 2012 Billboard Music Awards slipped to tie its lowest ratings performance Sunday night but still drove ABC to a ratings win, while the season finale of "Celebrity Apprentice" grew from last week, according to preliminary numbers.
ABC took first place in ratings and second in total viewers with an average 2.4 rating/7 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and 7 million total viewers. "America's Funniest Home Videos" at 7 p.m. drew a 1.5/5 in the demo and received 5.8 million total viewers. "The 2012 Billboard Music Awards" the following hour dipped 10 percent in the demo from last year's ceremony for a 2.7/7, tying 2006's low but still earning the highest performance of the night in the demo, and drew 7.4 million total viewers.
Fox came in second in ratings and fourth in total viewers with an average 1.9/6 and 4 million. Following a "Simpsons" repeat at 7, the season finale of "The Cleveland Show" at 7:30 drew even with last week for a 1.3/4 and took 3 million total viewers. "The Simpsons" season finale at 8 grew 11 percent from last week for a 2.1/7 and grabbed 4.8 million total viewers, while the "Bob's Burgers" season finale at 8:30 dipped slightly to a 1.7/5 and had 3.6 million total viewers. The "Family Guy" season finale at 9 inched up from last week for a 2.5/6 and received 5.3 million total viewers.
NBC took third place in ratings and total viewers with an average 1.6/5 and 5.5 million. Following an "America's Got Talent" repeat at 8, the season finale of "Celebrity Apprentice" grew 22 percent from last week for a 2.2/6, with 6.8 million total viewers. ("Celebrity Apprentice" was, however, down 27 percent in the demo from last year's finale.)
CBS took fourth place in ratings and first in total viewers with an average 1.3/4 in the demo and 11.3 million. "60 Minutes" at 7 grew 17 percent from last week for a 1.4/5 and received 9.6 million total viewers. A special episode of "60 Minutes" at 8 posted a 1.5/4 and drew 10.1 million total viewers. The movie "Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt" at 9 dipped from last year's "Jesse Stone" movie for a 1.2/3 and 12/8 million total viewers, the night's most-watched program.
