In shocking news, the ACM Awards might not be returning after losing almost half of its viewership since 2018.
After last year’s ACM Awards hit an all-time low in television ratings, CBS has declined to renew the Academy of Country Music Awards, and turned down the asking price of $22 million for the rights to air next year’s show.
CBS, which has aired the ACM Awards since 1998, declined to counter the $22 million demand to renew its deal, individuals with knowledge of the negotiations told TheWrap . According to their sources, the new price was well above the previous $20 million annual pricing.
Those sources went on to say that and that the show producer, Dick Clark Productions as well as its parent company MRC, are in talks with multiple broadcasters and streaming services, though would not say which one. However, it was made clear that deals can typically take “months and months” to complete.
After two years of filming the show in Nashville, the ACM Awards plans on returning the show to Las Vegas in 2022.
“We are in the customary and expected negotiation period between end of one contract and start of another, this is normal course and happens with all our shows when a deal expires. ACMs broadcast in April on CBS, which was the last year of the existing deal,” a spokesperson for MRC told TheWrap in a statement.
It is currently unknown if the ACM Awards will return next year.
Watch a clip below from the 29th Annual ACM Awards in 1994 – just before CBS began airing the awards show…and the same year Alan Jackson’s shirt caused quite a stir.