Sunday, September 23, 2012 ratings — Those in the television industry may have been attending the Emmys but most network viewers were watching NFL games.

On CBS, the football game ran into primetime, past the 30 minute overrun that the network now builds into the schedule. It may drive some viewers crazy but the network isn’t going to turn down such big ratings. The 7pm hour drew a 7.0 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 21.3 million total viewers.

At 8pm, the combination of football and 60 Minutes measured a 3.1 in the demo with 12.9 million viewers. At 9pm, the 60 Minutes and Person of Interest (a rerun) combination garnered a 1.0 rating and 5.98 million. That was followed by the Person of Interest and Mentalist rerun with a 1.0 rating and 5.29 million.

On NBC, Football Night in America drew an estimated 3.7 rating in the demo with 9.45 million viewers. At 8:30pm, the Patriots and Ravens game took over and averaged a 8.1 rating in the demo with 19.82 million viewers.

On ABC, the Emmy’s Red Carpet Live program drew a 1.6 rating with 7.28 million viewers. It was followed by the 64th Annual Primetime Emmys at 8pm — 3.8 demo rating and 13.2 million. That was down year-to-year by 10% in the demo (vs a 4.2 rating) but up by 6% in total viewers (vs 12.47 million).

Over on FOX, the NFL game ran into an encore of American Dad and drew a 1.2 demo rating with 3.19 million viewers. That was followed by five half hours of animated reruns — The Cleveland Show (1.1 rating with 2.45 million), The Simpsons (1.5 in the demo with 3.36 million), Bob’s Burgers (1.4 rating and 3.07 million), and two Family Guy installments (1.8 rating with 4.01 million, and 1.8 rating with 4.18 million).

What do you think? Were you one of the millions watching a football game last night? Did you watch the Emmys instead? If so, what did you think of this year’s show?