Tony Awards Post Best Ratings in Four Years, Big Bump from 2012

Neil Patrick Harris’s fourth stint hosting the Tony Awards pulled in big numbers for CBS, earning the largest audience since the 2009 telecast.

According to Neilsen’s preliminary live plus same day ratings, the June 9 ceremony was the night’s second highest-rated program in households, scoring 7.24 million viewers for the 67th annual awards show. The telecast was beat only by an NBA finals game between Miami and San Antonio (which won 11.6 million viewers).

Compared to last year’s telecast, this year’s Tonys were up 14% among adults 25-54, 20% among adults 18-49 and 21% in households (the 2012 show earned 6.01 million viewers). Sunday’s numbers are the highest for the Tony Awards since the 2009 telecast, when Billy Elliot and Hair rocked Radio City Music Hall.

The 67th annual Tony Awards earned positive buzz for Harris’ energetic hosting, as well as a slew of musical numbers and sensational speeches from the night’s big winners. Check out Broadway.com’s extensive coverage of the Tonys!