Tony Awards get a ratings bump on CBS this year

Best Tony Award ratings since 2006

NEW YORK — Tony Awards organizers can be pleased about a winning night at the television turnstiles.

Broadway’s big night was seen by 7.45 million people. Nielsen Media Research says that’s a 19 percent increase over last year’s awards show, which had 6.27 million viewers.

Elton John’s show “Billy Elliot” won the Tony Award for best musical, and the three young men who play the lead role will share the best actor prize. Neil Patrick Harris was the host of Sunday’s show, which was held at Radio City Music Hall. Angela Lansbury, Marcia Gay Harden and Geoffrey Rush also took home trophies.

Nielsen said it was the biggest audience for the Tonys in three years, the second biggest since 2003.