"The 41st Annual CMA Awards" To Be Broadcast Live November 7 On The ABC Television Network

The Country Music Association and ABC Television Network have announced that “The 41st Annual CMA Awards” will air live Wednesday, Nov. 7 (8:00-11:00 PM/EST) on ABC from Nashville, Tenn.

“The CMA Awards is ‘Country Music’s Biggest Night’ and is one of the most highly anticipated events for our industry each year,” said CMA Chief Operating Officer Tammy Genovese. “It’s a night to applaud our best and brightest performers, songwriters, record producers and music video directors. And we are ready to make this the most outstanding Awards broadcast to date.”

The CMA Awards moved from September to November Sweeps in 2003 and the placement right before the important holiday retail sales season has been good for the Country Music industry. 2003 also marked the last time the Awards were held on Wednesday. In 2007, the CMA Awards moves back to Wednesday night.

“Some of our highest-rated programs have been on Wednesday and our partners at ABC support the move based on the strength of the CMA Awards and the configuration of the fall lineup,” Genovese said. “We all feel that the position at the start of Sweeps on a night that has been successful for us in the past is the right move for the Awards, the industry, and ABC.”

The 2006 CMA Awards, held in Nashville during November Sweeps (Nov. 6), ranked behind only the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes and GRAMMY Awards during the 2006-2007 season for awards shows among total viewers. With “The 40th Annual CMA Awards,” ABC won Monday evening in both total viewers (16.0 million) and adults 18-49 (5.4/13).