The 78th Emmy Awards telecast, held Monday at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and hosted by Mariska Hargitay, drew 6.7 million viewers on NBC, marking a 10% decline from the previous year’s audience of 5.9 million, according to Nielsen data. The viewership figure represents the third smallest audience ever recorded for the Emmys.

Despite a slight increase in ratings over the prior two years, the ceremony continues to face challenges amid a broader trend of declining broadcast award show audiences, as more viewers turn to highlights and clips on social media platforms. The 2024 Emmy telecast's drop follows similar audience decreases for other major awards shows earlier this year. The Golden Globes, which aired on CBS in January, saw a 7% decrease to 8.7 million viewers, while ABC’s Oscars broadcast in March attracted 17.9 million viewers, down 9% from 2025.

The Emmy Awards ceremony has traditionally rotated among the four major broadcast networks—ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox—but the Television Academy is reportedly exploring new options, including a potential move to a streaming platform. Talks with Amazon Prime Video are underway as the Academy considers transitioning the broadcast away from traditional networks. The Oscars have already announced a shift to YouTube for their 2029 telecast after decades of airing on ABC.

This year’s Emmys recognized standout programming, with Apple TV+’s comedy series "Widow’s Bay" winning outstanding comedy and securing a total of 14 awards, setting a record for a comedy series. HBO Max’s medical drama "The Pitt" received the outstanding drama award for the second consecutive year.

The ceremony featured a notable in memoriam segment, honoring industry figures who passed away, as well as tributes to singer Dolly Parton, director Rob Reiner, and actor Catherine O’Hara. Michael J. Fox was presented with the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award, acknowledging his enduring activism and strength in living with Parkinson’s disease, despite now using a wheelchair.