• by Paul Gough , March 1, 2004

The award for the most-watched entertainment program of the season went to ABC for Sunday's broadcast of the 76th Annual Academy Awards.

Based on Nielsen Media Research fast-affiliate ratings available Monday, this year's Academy Awards was the highest-rated in four years. The awards had an average audience of 43.5 million viewers and a 15.3 rating among adults ages 18-49, up by more than 10.5 million viewers. Ratings were up 24 percent in adults ages 25-54 as well.

More than 73 million people tuned into some part of the Academy Awards on Sunday night, which ran from 8:30 p.m. to 11:55 p.m. Eastern time.

ABC said the Oscars were the top-rated entertainment program in total viewers as well as adults ages 18-49. The network predicted it would win just about every demo when full-week ratings come out Tuesday.

Other award shows and their total viewing audience this year:

-- Golden Globes, 26.8 million, NBC.

-- Grammy Awards, 26.3 million, CBS.

-- CMA Awards, 20.7 million, CBS.

-- Emmy Awards, 17.9 million, Fox.

-- People's Choice Awards, 13.9 million, CBS.