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[12/26/20 - 08:05 AM]
Friday's Broadcast Ratings: NBA Christmas Day on ABC Holds Off Competition
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

Primetime Preliminary Fast National Nielsen Data
(includes all DVR playback through 3:00 am)

Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (12/25/20):

[Note: Fast affiliate ratings are inaccurate for live sports.]

ABC (3.483 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #1) was the victor on Christmas evening with its primetime portion of "NBA on ABC: NBA Christmas Day: Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Lakers" (3.742 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.1, #1) plus a repeat "Black-ish" (2.188 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3).

A close second was FOX (3.335 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #2) with its NFL-fueled installment of "WWE SmackDown" (3.335 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #2).

Next up was NBC (1.979 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) with its telecast of the "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (2.299 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4) special and the "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (1.915 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4) movie.

Meanwhile, CBS (3.256 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) offered up repeats of "MacGyver" (2.921 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T6), "Magnum P.I." (3.288 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T6) and "Blue Bloods" (3.561 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T6).

And finally, the finale to "The Christmas Caroler Challenge" (0.453 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.1, #9) on The CW (0.453 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.1, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+80.00% - WWE SmackDown (vs. 12/11/20)
0.00% - The Christmas Caroler Challenge

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+28.57% - WWE SmackDown
0.00% - The Christmas Caroler Challenge (vs. Various)


Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/27/19):

FOX (2.438 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #1) continued its Friday reign thanks to "WWE SmackDown" (2.438 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #1).

CBS (4.675 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) was the most-watched broadcaster with repeats from "Hawaii Five-0" (4.811 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T2), "Magnum P.I." (4.432 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T2) and "Blue Bloods" (4.781 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4).

Next up was NBC (3.429 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) with its duo of "Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love" (3.694 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4) and "Dateline NBC" (2.898 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4).

Meanwhile, ABC (2.138 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) offered up second runs of "American Housewife" (2.341 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4), "Fresh Off the Boat" (1.726 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) and "20/20" (2.190 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8).

And finally, The CW (0.452 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.1, #5) closed out the night with its specials "America Salutes You Presents 'Guitar Legends 3'" (0.594 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.1, #T10) and "Popstar's Best of 2019" (0.310 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.1, #T10).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - WWE SmackDown
-20.00% - Dateline NBC

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+40.00% - WWE SmackDown (vs. Various (Repeats))
0.00% - Popstar's Best of 2019
-33.33% - Dateline NBC
-50.00% - America Salutes You Presents 'Guitar Legends 3' (vs. Penn & Teller: Fool Us (Repeat))

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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