ACM Awards Big Winner in TV Ratings

6/2/2008 Lisa Ann Schleipfer   The results are in. The 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards drew 11.7 million viewers on Sunday, May 18th, a 26-percent increase from last year. The show also has proven gains for Country Music artists who appeared on the program. Nielsen Soundscan results list the following sales increases: Carrie Underwood     58% Rodney Atkins          73% Miranda Lambert       52% Garth Brooks            33% Brooks & Dunn         19% Sugarland                72% Bob Romeo, Executive Director of the Academy of Country Music, sites the growing popularity of country music, and the controversial fan-voted Entertainer of the Year category as one reason for the ratings success, along with their move to Sunday night. Even the event's preshow coverage helped. GAC’s exclusive ACM Orange Carpet Live pre-show reached more than 1.1 million viewers on show day.