February 16, 2016 6:45am PT by Michael O'Connell

The three-plus-hour telecast is in line with the previous year's early returns.

In its move from Sunday and a coast-to-coast live telecast, the 2016 Grammys appear to have held steady in the ratings. The CBS airing averaged a 16.1 overnight rating among Nielsen's metered market households Monday night. That's just a hair off from the early numbers last year, a 16.7 overnight rating that ultimately translated to a six-year low for the music kudos.

Monday also marked the first time in a while that the CBS telecast aired live on both coasts. Falling on a national holiday, the move was obviously designed to lift numbers — especially in light of 2015's six-year low for the music awards. All told, that telecast averaged an 8.5 rating among adults 18-49 and 25.3 million viewers.

However disappointing that low, the Grammys remain a TV powerhouse — the second-highest rated award show telecast of the TV calendar, trailing only the Oscars in the power rankings. Monday's Grammys easily rank as the top-rated entertainment telecast of 2016 thus far.

More to come, including time-zone adjusted viewership for the 2016 Grammys.

February 16, 2016 6:45am PT by Michael O'Connell

The three-plus-hour telecast is in line with the previous year's early returns.

In its move from Sunday and a coast-to-coast live telecast, the 2016 Grammys appear to have held steady in the ratings. The CBS airing averaged a 16.1 overnight rating among Nielsen's metered market households Monday night. That's just a hair off from the early numbers last year, a 16.7 overnight rating that ultimately translated to a six-year low for the music kudos.

Monday also marked the first time in a while that the CBS telecast aired live on both coasts. Falling on a national holiday, the move was obviously designed to lift numbers — especially in light of 2015's six-year low for the music awards. All told, that telecast averaged an 8.5 rating among adults 18-49 and 25.3 million viewers.

However disappointing that low, the Grammys remain a TV powerhouse — the second-highest rated award show telecast of the TV calendar, trailing only the Oscars in the power rankings. Monday's Grammys easily rank as the top-rated entertainment telecast of 2016 thus far.

More to come, including time-zone adjusted viewership for the 2016 Grammys.