Emmys draws record low TV audience as only 11.9m viewers tune in to watch Andy Samberg host awards show (that's almost four million less than last year)

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Emmys draws record low TV audience as 11.9 million viewers tune in (that's almost four million less than last year)
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Awards show, which aired on Fox, drew lowest ratings on record
In 2014 the Emmys hosted by Seth Meyers scored 15.6m viewers
This year's host Samberg garnered mixed reviews from critics
Rival network NBC scored 23m viewers last night for Sunday Night Football

Published: 13:43 EST, 21 September 2015 | Updated: 14:51 EST, 21 September 2015

The Emmy Awards show, television's biggest night, drew the smallest TV audience on record, despite big wins for HBO's popular medieval fantasy series Game Of Thrones.

Preliminary Nielsen ratings data on Monday showed that just 11.9 million Americans watched Sunday's Emmy Awards telecast hosted by Andy Samberg, which was broadcast live on Fox television in competition with NBC's Sunday Night Football.

The Emmys TV audience was some four million fewer than the Seth Meyers-hosted 2014 event (which attracted 15.6m viewers) and the smallest in the award show's history.

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Not the host with the most: Earlier figures show only 11.9m viewers tuned in to watch the Emmy Awards on television on Sunday night, which was hosted by Andy Samberg

The top-rated Emmys in recent years was the 2013 show, where comedies Modern Family and drama Breaking Bad won the top awards and which drew 17.76 million viewers overall.

Sunday's ceremony brought surprise best series wins for both Game Of Thrones - one of the most popular dramas on U.S. television - and HBO's satirical White House show Veep.

It also made history when Viola Davis, star of How To Get Away With Murder, became the first black woman in the 67-year history of the Emmys to take home the statuette for lead actress in a drama series.

Big win, small audience: Game Of Thrones won the top honor of the night, taking away the award for Outstanding Drama Series; from left Sophie Turner, Gwendoline Christie, Maisie Williams, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Carice van Houten, writer David Benioff, actor Peter Dinklage, Conleth Hill, writer D. B. Weiss, Lena Headey, director David Nutter and actors John Bradley-West and Alfie Allen

Critics were divided over 37-year-old Emmy-winning actor Samberg's performance as master of ceremonies, however, feedback on Twitter suggested he provided lots of laughs throughout the show.

USA Today reviewer Robert Bianco was pleased that 'the right Andy Samberg showed up', saying the host was his charming and goofy self and the timing of his gags was just right.

Variety's Brian Lowry, however, felt that Andy's approach 'didn’t wear especially well.'

Lowry was unimpressed with Andy's skits including a Mad Men finale spoof and a behind-the-scenes red carpet gag involving Tony Hale and Tatiana Maslany.

Making history: Viola Davis, star of How To Get Away With Murder, became the first black woman in the 67-year history of the Emmys to take home the statuette for lead actress in a drama series.

He concluded 'for anyone who hoped the guy behind D*** in a Box would somehow manage to shake up the Emmys, the host instead found himself pretty well boxed in.'

Andy's opening skit - which poked fun at the seemingly never-ending slew of new TV shows - appeared to go down well with many viewers who took to Twitter during the show.

User Gavin Stenhouse said: '#AndySamberg best #Emmys intro ever.' while @snapcracklewatch said 'One minute in and #AndySamberg is already making me laugh #Emmys'

Working the crowd: Samberg received mixed reviews from critics about his hosting abilities for the Emmys, which aired on Fox

Competition: Over on rival channel NBC, the National Football League game between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football drew 23 million viewers

Bravo host Andy Cohen raved about the actor's hosting effort tweeting 'Big Mazel to @AndySamberg who has been hilarious in the face of a sea of Olive Kitteridge writers'

In March, the performer warned viewers upon the announcement of his hosting duties: 'Buckle your seat belts, Emmy viewers!'

'If you're not an Emmy viewer,' he added, 'you should strongly consider becoming one this year, because I'm hosting, and it’s gonna be a wild ride.'

Meanwhile, the National Football League game between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football drew 23 million viewers.