The 2012 Primetime Emmy Awards (photo ©2012 American Broadcasting Companies Inc. All rights reserved).

One night prior to the start of the TV season, the Emmy Awards reaches an estimated 30 million unique viewers, offering ABC a broad promotional platform

Based on Nielsen's true Fast National time-zone adjusted program averages, ABC's telecast of The 64th Primetime Emmy Awards (Sunday, 8 to 11 p.m.) attracted an average audience of 13.2 million viewers and a 3.8 rating, among Adults 18-49, ranking as the No. 1 entertainment program of the night and pacing behind only NBC's high-rated "Sunday Night Football" NFL game (New England Patriots-Baltimore Ravens).

•"The Emmy Awards" was up year to year by 6 percent in viewers over its year-ago telecast on Fox (13.2 million vs. 12.4 million on 9/18/11). In addition, the annual awards show surged by nearly 1 million viewers from its last telecast on ABC four years ago (12.3 million on 9/21/08). In fact, "The 64th Primetime Emmys" outdrew three of its past five broadcasts.

•One night prior to the start of the 2012-13 TV season, the Emmy Awards offered ABC a broad promotional platform for its fall lineup. ABC research estimates that 31.0 million unique viewers tuned in to at least some portion of the telecast (viewers that watched 6 minutes or more of the show).

•In Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, The 64th Primetime Emmy Awards produced ABC's best results with entertainment programming in the three-hour time period in seven months - since the Academy Awards on Feb. 26

Quick Take for Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012 (National Live + Same Day Program Ratings) Source: Nielsen Media Research (Fast National, Live + Same Day Program Ratings), 9/23/12.