Globes: Biggest audience in 10 years

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler host the 71st Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on Sunday, January 12. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association's annual event is often looked at as an Academy Awards predictor. It also honors the best in television. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler host the 71st Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on Sunday, January 12. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association's annual event is often looked at as an Academy Awards predictor. It also honors the best in television.
Director Steve McQueen and the cast of the film "12 Years a Slave" accept the award for best drama.Director Steve McQueen and the cast of the film "12 Years a Slave" accept the award for best drama.
Matthew McConaughey accepts the award for best actor in a drama for his performance in the film "Dallas Buyers Club."Matthew McConaughey accepts the award for best actor in a drama for his performance in the film "Dallas Buyers Club."
Actress Emma Thompson holds a martini in one hand and her shoes in the other while presenting an award.Actress Emma Thompson holds a martini in one hand and her shoes in the other while presenting an award.
Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock present the award for best supporting actress in a motion picture. Jennifer Lawrence won for her role in the movie "American Hustle."Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock present the award for best supporting actress in a motion picture. Jennifer Lawrence won for her role in the movie "American Hustle."
Lawrence accepts her award. The film also won best motion picture in the musical or comedy category.Lawrence accepts her award. The film also won best motion picture in the musical or comedy category.
Melissa McCarthy and Jimmy Fallon present the award for best actor in a miniseries or TV movie. It was won by Michael Douglas for his performance in the HBO movie "Behind the Candelabra."Melissa McCarthy and Jimmy Fallon present the award for best actor in a miniseries or TV movie. It was won by Michael Douglas for his performance in the HBO movie "Behind the Candelabra."
Jon Voight, who stars in the Showtime series "Ray Donovan," accepts the award for best supporting actor in a series, miniseries or TV movie.Jon Voight, who stars in the Showtime series "Ray Donovan," accepts the award for best supporting actor in a series, miniseries or TV movie.
Adam Clayton, Bono, The Edge and Larry Mullen Jr. of U2 accept the award for best original song. The song "Ordinary Love" was produced by Danger Mouse and is from the film "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom."Adam Clayton, Bono, The Edge and Larry Mullen Jr. of U2 accept the award for best original song. The song "Ordinary Love" was produced by Danger Mouse and is from the film "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom."
Diane Keaton accepts the Cecil B. DeMille Award on behalf of Woody Allen.Diane Keaton accepts the Cecil B. DeMille Award on behalf of Woody Allen.
Andy Samberg accepts the award for best actor in a comedy TV series. His show "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" also won best series in its category.Andy Samberg accepts the award for best actor in a comedy TV series. His show "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" also won best series in its category.
Kyra Sedgwick, left, and Kevin Bacon, third from left, are interrupted while introducing their daughter Sosie Bacon, right, as this year's Miss Golden Globe. Fey, second from left, jokes that her adult son Randy, played by Poehler, second from right, is Mr. Golden Globe "in the name of gender equality."Kyra Sedgwick, left, and Kevin Bacon, third from left, are interrupted while introducing their daughter Sosie Bacon, right, as this year's Miss Golden Globe. Fey, second from left, jokes that her adult son Randy, played by Poehler, second from right, is Mr. Golden Globe "in the name of gender equality."
Amy Adams, who starred in "American Hustle," accepts the award for best actress in a motion picture (musical or comedy).Amy Adams, who starred in "American Hustle," accepts the award for best actress in a motion picture (musical or comedy).
Vince Gilligan, left, and the cast of "Breaking Bad" accept the award for best TV series in the drama category.Vince Gilligan, left, and the cast of "Breaking Bad" accept the award for best TV series in the drama category.
Fey and Poehler take the stage with glasses of wine.Fey and Poehler take the stage with glasses of wine.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
  • The 2014 Golden Globes had its highest total audience in 10 years
  • According to Nielsen, the average total audience was 20.9 million
  • That's up from last year's 19.7 million total audience
  • There was also an uptick in ratings in the key demographic of adults 18-49

(CNN) -- More than 20 million people watched the Golden Globes on Sunday night, the highest total audience for the awards show in 10 years.

The strong ratings for the Globes were another affirmation that live awards shows are a boon to television networks in this age of increasingly time-shifted viewing.

According to Nielsen, the average total audience during the three-hour broadcast was 20.9 million, up from 19.7 million last year. The network that televised the awards, NBC, pulled a 6.5 rating in the key advertiser demographic of adults ages 18 to 49, an uptick from last year's 6.4 rating.

NBC said the total viewer number was the Globes' best since 2004, when the program drew 26.8 million viewers.

On the Internet, Nielsen SocialGuide, which measures the reach of Twitter messages, found that 2.36 million messages about the Globes reached a total of 10.4 million users on Sunday night.

Entertainment Weekly, which like CNN is owned by Time Warner, observed that "any ratings boost could be seen as another endorsement of hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, who hosted the show for the second year in a row. They are also signed to host the awards next year."

The red carpet arrivals special on NBC, hosted by the cast of the "Today" show, also performed well. It averaged more than 10 million viewers between 7 and 8 p.m. ET. The competing red carpet special on E! averaged 2.2 million viewers between 6 and 8 p.m. ET, which E! said was one of its highest-rated editions in Globes history.

Golden Globes 2014: The winners list

Complete coverage of Awards Season

CNN.com - Entertainment