SANTA MONICA, CA (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — The Recording Academy and CBS have announced a new 10-year deal that will keep the annual Grammy Awards broadcast, on CBS through 2021.
The new agreement further extends one of the longest broadcast partnerships in television history. CBS has been the broadcast home of the Grammy Awards since 1973.
The 54th Annual Grammy Awards will take place live on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012, at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
"We are excited to be the home of the Grammys for another decade and to continue our long and mutually beneficial partnership with The Recording Academy," "The long-term structure of this deal will provide even greater continuity with marketing and sales opportunities for both organizations for an event that continues to grow in size and scope — both culturally and commercially," said Leslie Moonves, president and chief executive officer, CBS Corporation.
In addition to the annual awards telecast, the 10-year agreement also includes the continued annual broadcast of "The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night," a one-hour special that sets the stage for the annual Grammy Awards telecast with nominations in several categories and performances by past Grammy winners and/or nominees.
This year's special will be broadcast live in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011. This marks the fourth consecutive year that nominations for the annual Grammy Awards will be announced live on primetime television.
The new agreement also includes the addition of a new two-hour series of Grammy specials, details of which will be announced in the future.
The broadcast of the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards attracted 26.7 million viewers, its largest audience since 2000.
CBS Research estimated that more than 61 million viewers watched all or part of the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards.
— Crystal Lynn Huntoon
