In 2004, the CMA renamed the event to the CMA Music Festival in order change negative perceptions, embrace the CMA brand, and to expand its appeal. Also in 2004, the ABC network televised the event as a two-hour special known as "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock". The first special, which aired on July 14, 2004, ranked number 16 in viewers, with an estimated 9 million people tuning in. The annual special, re-edited from the three days of events, continues to air on ABC as of the present.