ABC's Annual 'GRINCH' Broadcast Hits Multi-Year Highs

By: Dec. 31, 2014
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During Christmas Week (w/o 12/22/14), ABC delivered 6 of the Top 15 non-sports TV programs in Adults 18-49, including 2 of the Top 3 shows: "How the Grinch Stole Xmas-THU" - No. 2, "How the Grinch Stole Xmas-FF" - No. 3, "Great Xmas Light Fight" - No. 12, while "Toy Story That Time Forgot," "Shrek the Halls" and "20/20-Fri SP" tied at No. 15. In fact, ABC won the week in Nielsen's non-sports averages by 11% among Adults 18-49 (1.0/3 vs. 0.9/3 - CBS and NBC tied) and leads the 2014-15 season on that measure by 9% over its nearest competition (2.4/7 vs. 2.2/7-CBS).

Monday
"The Great Christmas Light Fight" (8:00-10:00 p.m. - 5.9 million and 1.3/4 in AD18-49):
For the 3rd week in a row, ABC's "The Great Christmas Light Fight" was up from its year-ago telecast (on 12/23/14) by double digits in Total Viewers (+18% - 5.9 million vs. 5.0 million), while holding steady in Adults 18-49 (1.3/4). In addition, it was up week to week in viewers (+11%) to deliver the program's 2nd-largest audience ever, behind only this year's opener (on 12/8/14).

On average during its 2014 run, "The Great Christmas Light Fight" grew from its first season run last year by 28% in Total Viewers (6.0 million vs. 4.7 million) and by 25% in Adults 18-49 (1.5/4 vs. 1.2/4).

Tuesday
With repeat animated specials and "The Year: 2014," ABC ranked No. 1 on Tuesday night in Adults 18-49 (1.2/4-tie).


"Shrek the Halls"/"Toy Story That Time Forgot" (8:00-9:00 p.m. - 5.0 million and 1.2/4 in AD18-49):
Finishing No. 1 on the major networks from 8:00-9:00 p.m., ABC's rebroadcast "Shrek the Halls" and the second airing this season of "Toy Story That Time Forgot" beat out NBC's original "One Direction: The TV Special" in THE HOUR by 71% in Adults 18-49 (1.2/4 vs. 0.7/2). The ABC SPECIALS tied as Tuesday's top-rated TV show on the major nets with young adults.

"The Year: 2014" (9:00-11:00 p.m. - 5.4 million and 1.1/4 in AD18-49):
From 9:00-11:00 p.m., ABC's "The Year: 2014" ranked No. 1 in Adults 18-49 (1.1/4) and key Women (W18-49/W25-54), beating Christmas specials on NBC. Anchored by Robin Roberts, the ABC NEWS SPECIAL featured details of all the big stories from the past year.

Thursday
On Christmas (12/25/14), ABC won Thursday's primetime in Total Viewers (5.2 million) and beat the other networks combined in Adults 18-49 (1.8/6 vs. 1.6/6 for CBS, NBC and Fox) with encore broadcasts of both the animated and live-action versions of "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas." The Net led all 6 half-hours of the night among young adults with the Top 2 highest-rated programs on Christmas night.

"Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (8:00-8:30 p.m. - 6.0 million and 1.9/7 in AD18-49):
In the 8:00 p.m. half-hour, the animated version of "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" was up sharply from its year-ago December telecast (on 12/24/13) in Total Viewers (+46% - 6.0 million vs. 4.1 million) and Adults 18-49 (+58% - 1.9/7 vs. 1.2/5), drawing the X-mas special's biggest overall December audience in 4 years and earning a 5-year high with young adults - since 2010 and 2009, respectively.

"Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (8:30-11:00 p.m. - 5.0 million and 1.8/6 in AD18-49): From 8:30-11:00 p.m., the live-action "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" movie was also up over its telecast on the same night last year in Total Viewers (+25% - 5.0 million vs. 4.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (+38% - 1.8/6 vs. 1.3/5), hitting 4-year highs - since 2010.

Friday
"20/20 SP" (10:01-11:00 p.m. - 5.3 million and 1.2/4 in AD18-49):
ABC's "20/20" was up week to week in Total Viewers (+8% - 5.3 million vs. 4.9 million), Adults 18-49 (+9% - 1.2/4 vs. 1.1/4) and Adults 25-54 (+7% - 1.6/5 vs. 1.5/5).

Saturday
"20/20-Saturday" (10:00-11:00 p.m. - 3.6 million and 0.9/3 in AD18-49):
Returning after the prior week's pre-emption, ABC's "20/20-Saturday" grew over its season premiere two weeks ago by 13% in Adults 18-49 (0.9/3 vs. 0.8/3) to hit an 8-month high - since 3/15/14.


WEEK NO. 14: ADULTS 18-49 TOTAL VIEWERS
No.1 NBC 1.6 No.1 CBS 6,172,000
No.2 FOX 1.1 No.2 NBC 5,873,000
No.3 ABC 1.0 No.3 ABC 4,117,000
No.3 CBS 1.0 No.4 FOX 3,481,000
No.5 CW 0.3 No.5 CW 1,064,000


Source: The Nielsen Company, National, Live+ Same Day Program Ratings for week of 12/22/14.



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