Remember when beauty pageants were a big deal? I do. Not so much anymore. Tonight's Miss Universe pageant ratings have suffered like many other big TV "events".
We don't have viewership data for 1982 and 1987, but we do have HH rating and household data below. The date of the pageant has bounced around, and one reason for the plunge from 1986 to 1987 was a shift from mid-July to late May. Donald Trump bought the pageant in 1996 and has proved to have no magic touch. Other pageants have faced similar ratings declines, but it is quite an eye opener that those late 60's Miss America pageants were watched by about as many people as the Super Bowls of the same years.
Complete Miss Universe Pageant Ratings, 1974-2007:
| Year | Viewers (million) | Network | HH Rating | Share | Homes (million) |
| 1974 | 35.58 | CBS | 24.7 | 54 | 16.35 |
| 1975 | 32.70 | CBS | 22.4 | 50 | 15.34 |
| 1976 | 36.39 | CBS | 24.3 | 53 | 16.91 |
| 1977 | 27.31 | CBS | 19.6 | 45 | 13.96 |
| 1978 | 34.58 | CBS | 25.0 | 43 | 18.23 |
| 1979 | 32.18 | CBS | 22.7 | 42 | 16.91 |
| 1980 | 37.84 | CBS | 24.1 | 40 | 18.39 |
| 1981 | 35.17 | CBS | 25.4 | 44 | 19.76 |
| 1982 | CBS | 24.7 | 43 | 20.13 | |
| 1983 | 34.71 | CBS | 22.6 | 38 | 18.83 |
| 1984 | 34.49 | CBS | 21.2 | 36 | 17.77 |
| 1985 | 30.17 | CBS | 20.3 | 35 | 17.23 |
| 1986 | 32.53 | CBS | 21.2 | 37 | 18.21 |
| 1987 | CBS | 15.5 | 24 | 13.55 | |
| 1988 | 21.61 | CBS | 15.7 | 24 | 13.91 |
| 1989 | 13.36 | CBS | 9.6 | 15 | 8.68 |
| 1990 | 21.22 | CBS | 14.4 | 24 | 13.26 |
| 1991 | 20.66 | CBS | 13.9 | 26 | 12.94 |
| 1992 | 14.02 | CBS | 9.5 | 17 | 8.75 |
| 1993 | 14.87 | CBS | 9.9 | 18 | 9.22 |
| 1994 | 11.87 | CBS | 8.5 | 16 | 8.01 |
| 1995 | 9.17 | CBS | 6.6 | 12 | 6.30 |
| 1996 | 11.92 | CBS | 8.3 | 15 | 7.98 |
| 1997 | 13.17 | CBS | 9.8 | 18 | 9.54 |
| 1998 | 12.26 | CBS | 8.7 | 14 | 8.50 |
| 1999 | 10.96 | CBS | 8 | 13 | 7.97 |
| 2000 | 8.61 | CBS | 6.1 | 11 | 6.11 |
| 2001 | 8.27 | CBS | 5.8 | 11 | 5.91 |
| 2002 | 11.34 | CBS | 8.1 | 13 | 8.51 |
| 2003 | 12.07 | NBC | 7.9 | 13 | 8.42 |
| 2004 | 10.48 | NBC | 6.9 | 11 | 7.48 |
| 2005 | 9.19 | NBC | 6.1 | 10 | 6.72 |
| 2006 | 9.65 | NBC | 6 | 10 | 6.62 |
| 2007 | 7.23 | NBC | 4.5 | 8 | 5.01 |
2006-7 data is for Live+SD viewing, all previous years are Live viewing.
Nielsen TV Ratings Data: ©2008 Nielsen Media Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
It amazes me that they used to be so popular. Over 30 million?!!
It doesn’t suprise me. The media has inundated us with contests and tributes and award shows over the last decade, and for me, I’m just simply burnt out on them. The cash cow is dead…
We love Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss America. We are so sick of the ugliness in the world. A nice diversion a few times a year to view the most beautiful young women jumps this heart a beat or two.
We love Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss America. We are so sick of the ugliness in the world. A nice diversion a few times a year to view the most beautiful young women jumps this heart a beat or two.