The Miss America Organization had a triumphant return to Atlantic City with its ABC telecast Sunday, September 15, 2013, setting a new rating record high—the best ratings in over nine years.

"The 2014 Miss America Competition averaged a 2.0 adults ages 18-49 rating from 9 to 11 p.m., according to Nielsen overnights, its best number since 2004. That was up 19 percent over last year's telecast. The show averaged ten million total viewers in the last half hour, also its best since 2004," stated Sam Haskell, chairman and CEO of MAO.

On Sunday, during the 8 p.m. hour, 20/20's Pageant Confidential: The Road to Miss America earned strong increases with total viewers (more than 40 percent) and adults ages 18-49 (more than 50 percent) over the special's most recent airing (on January 12, 2013) leading into the competition. Opposite strong competition from NBC´s Sunday Night Football (Seattle vs. San Francisco) and CBS' NFL overrun-inflated lineup, ABC´s Sunday 9-11 p.m. broadcast of The 2014 Miss America Competition surged over its most recent telecast in total viewers (more than 21 percent) and adults ages 18-49 (more than 25 percent) to deliver the program's best numbers since 2004. 

Hosted by ABC´s Chris Harrison and Lara Spencer, Miss America recorded its fourth straight year of viewership gains. ABC was the number one non-sports network in the time period with viewers and young adults. Building steadily throughout its two-hour telecast, the numbers for The 2014 Miss America Competition grew by three million viewers and by 44 percent in young adults from its first half-hour to its final half-hour. During its final half-hour from 10:30-11 p.m., as Miss New York Nina Davuluri was crowned, The Miss America Competition drew ten million viewers and a 2.3 rating, six share with young adults. In total viewers and adults ages 18-49, ABC earned its strongest entertainment numbers in the time slot in four months since May 19, 2013. 

"We are so proud to return home, to Atlantic City and want to thank our network partner, ABC and Tall Pony Productions for this spectacular television event," said Miss America Organization President Sharon Pearce. "We are also so grateful to all of our partners in Atlantic City and our Miss America sponsors who have made this television event such a monumental success!"