King of the kids specials: ‘Rudolph’
The CBS classic nearly doubles the ratings of others
December 5, 2013
The holiday special that’s been airing the longest is also the one that’s most popular with kids.
The 1964 show “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” is by far the highest-rated holiday cartoon of the season on broadcast among the shows’ target audience, kids 2-11.
The CBS special, which aired last Tuesday at 9 p.m., averaged a 4.8 rating in the demo, well ahead of the other nine holiday specials that have aired so far.
That’s nearly double the rating for the second-highest-rated special, ABC’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” which notched a 2.5 in the demo Monday night at 8 p.m.
ABC also had the third- and fourth-highest-rated specials, which aired in the 8 p.m. hour last Friday. “Shrek the Halls” drew a 2.2, and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” averaged a 2.1.
ABC’s “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and CBS’s “The Flight Before Christmas” tied for fifth-highest-rated with a 1.9. apiece.
Interestingly, four of the top six shows were made at least 40 years ago. “Thanksgiving” is the most recent of the foursome, debuting in 1973.
“Rudolph,” “Charlie Brown Christmas” (1965) and “Grinch” (1966) are all at least 47 years old.
Even the newer shows in the top six, “Shrek” and “Flight,” bowed in 2007 and 2008, respectively, not exactly fresh fare.
In fact, the newest of the 10 cartoons that have aired so far, 2011’s “Hoops & Yoyo Ruin Christmas,” tied with “Grandma Got Runover By a Reindeer” as the lowest-rated program in 2-11s, drawing a mere 0.5 rating.
The lesson?
When it comes to kids’ shows, the classics really are the standard-bearers. Those 1960s shows played on the universal theme of alienation, and they’ve remained relevant for decades afterward.
***
In broadcast ratings for the week ended Dec. 1:
Among adults 18-49, NBC was first for the week with a 2.9 average rating and a 9 share, followed by CBS at 2.3/7, ABC at 1.4/4, Fox at 1.2/4, Univision at 1.0/3, CW and Telemundo at 0.5/2, ION and UniMás at 0.3/1, Estrella, Me-TV, Bounce TV at 0.1/0 and MundoFox and Azteca at 0.0/0.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (18-49s): 1. NBC’s “NFL Thursday Special” 6.9; 2. NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” 6.2; 3. CBS’s “60 Minutes” 3.9; 4. NBC’s “The Voice” 3.4; 5. CBS’s “The Big Bang Theory” 3.3.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (total viewers): 1. NBC’s “NFL Thursday Special” 21.07 million; 2. CBS’s “60 Minutes” 18.09 million; 3. NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” 17.75 million; 4. ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars-Tuesday” 14.75 million; 5. ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars-Monday” 14.61 million.
Show on the rise: NBC’s “Chicago Fire,” Tuesday, 10 p.m. The drama posted a 2.1 among 18-49s, up 11 percent from the previous week’s 1.9.
Show on the decline: Fox’s “Almost Human” Monday, 8 p.m. The new drama continues to slide, last week falling 17 percent among 18-49s from a 2.3 rating to a 1.9.
|
WEEKLY PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK |
|||||||||
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
||||||
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
| CBS |
5.7 |
6550 |
9 |
3.2 |
9560 |
8 |
2.3 |
2920 |
7 |
| NBC |
5.6 |
6460 |
9 |
3.2 |
9520 |
8 |
2.9 |
3680 |
9 |
| ABC |
4.3 |
5040 |
7 |
2.4 |
7030 |
6 |
1.4 |
1820 |
4 |
| FOX |
2.3 |
2610 |
4 |
1.3 |
3740 |
3 |
1.2 |
1530 |
4 |
| UNI |
1.4 |
1660 |
2 |
0.9 |
2690 |
2 |
1.0 |
1230 |
3 |
| CW |
0.9 |
1020 |
1 |
0.5 |
1430 |
1 |
0.5 |
620 |
1 |
| ION |
0.8 |
910 |
1 |
0.4 |
1250 |
1 |
0.3 |
400 |
1 |
| TEL |
0.6 |
730 |
1 |
0.4 |
1240 |
1 |
0.5 |
660 |
2 |
| UMA |
0.4 |
430 |
1 |
0.2 |
720 |
1 |
0.3 |
380 |
1 |
| METV |
0.3 |
320 |
0 |
0.1 |
420 |
0 |
0.1 |
100 |
0 |
| ETV |
0.2 |
200 |
0 |
0.1 |
290 |
0 |
0.1 |
150 |
0 |
| BOUNCE |
0.1 |
160 |
0 |
0.1 |
260 |
0 |
0.1 |
110 |
0 |
| MFX |
0.1 |
80 |
0 |
0.0 |
120 |
0 |
0.0 |
60 |
0 |
| AZA |
0.1 |
70 |
0 |
0.0 |
110 |
0 |
0.0 |
60 |
0 |
| *Each rating point is equivalent to 1 percent or 1.158 million homesNote: Viewing estimates include same day (3 a.m.-3 a.m.) DVR playback.Source: Nielsen | |||||||||
|
SEASON-TO-DATE PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK |
|||||||||
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
||||||
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
| CBS |
7.5 |
8680 |
12 |
4.1 |
11970 |
10 |
2.7 |
3490 |
8 |
| NBC |
6.1 |
7030 |
10 |
3.3 |
9860 |
9 |
3.2 |
4040 |
9 |
| ABC |
5.6 |
6500 |
9 |
3.0 |
8770 |
8 |
2.5 |
3130 |
7 |
| FOX |
4.4 |
5090 |
7 |
2.4 |
7210 |
6 |
2.4 |
3070 |
7 |
| UNI |
1.7 |
2020 |
3 |
1.1 |
3300 |
3 |
1.2 |
1580 |
4 |
| CW |
1.4 |
1580 |
2 |
0.7 |
2070 |
2 |
0.9 |
1110 |
3 |
| ION |
0.8 |
900 |
1 |
0.4 |
1150 |
1 |
0.3 |
390 |
1 |
| TEL |
0.7 |
780 |
1 |
0.4 |
1280 |
1 |
0.5 |
690 |
2 |
| UMA |
0.3 |
370 |
1 |
0.2 |
580 |
1 |
0.2 |
310 |
1 |
| METV |
0.3 |
370 |
1 |
0.2 |
480 |
0 |
0.1 |
110 |
0 |
| ETV |
0.2 |
190 |
0 |
0.1 |
280 |
0 |
0.1 |
140 |
0 |
| BOUNCE |
0.1 |
120 |
0 |
0.1 |
170 |
0 |
0.1 |
70 |
0 |
| AZA |
0.1 |
80 |
0 |
0.0 |
130 |
0 |
0.1 |
60 |
0 |
| MFX |
0.0 |
50 |
0 |
0.0 |
70 |
0 |
0.0 |
40 |
0 |
| *Each rating point is equivalent to one percent or 1.158 million homesNote: Season-to-date estimates are a weighted average and Live+7 data, except for the most recent two weeks which are based Live+SD viewing. Source: Nielsen |
|||||||||
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST |
||||||||
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
||||
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|||
|
1 |
60 MINUTES | CBS |
11.1 |
17 |
12836 |
2 |
6.1 |
18091 |
|
2 |
NBC NFL TH SPECIAL(S) | NBC |
11.0 |
22 |
12692 |
1 |
7.2 |
21073 |
|
3 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL | NBC |
10.8 |
17 |
12558 |
3 |
6.0 |
17748 |
|
4 |
DANCING WITH THE STARS | ABC |
9.4 |
14 |
10837 |
5 |
5.0 |
14612 |
|
5 |
DANCING W/STARS SP-11/26(S) | ABC |
9.3 |
15 |
10762 |
5 |
5.0 |
14752 |
|
6 |
CBS NFL-THU POST GAME(S) | CBS |
8.6 |
18 |
9939 |
4 |
5.9 |
17470 |
|
7 |
NCIS: LOS ANGELES | CBS |
7.4 |
11 |
8515 |
8 |
4.2 |
12322 |
|
8 |
CASTLE | ABC |
7.3 |
12 |
8470 |
11 |
3.9 |
11410 |
|
9 |
PERSON OF INTEREST | CBS |
7.2 |
12 |
8331 |
9 |
4.0 |
11892 |
|
9 |
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK | NBC |
7.2 |
11 |
8329 |
9 |
4.0 |
11712 |
|
11 |
VOICE | NBC |
7.0 |
10 |
8054 |
11 |
3.9 |
11520 |
|
12 |
BLACKLIST | NBC |
6.8 |
11 |
7862 |
16 |
3.7 |
10964 |
|
12 |
CSI SPECIAL(S) | CBS |
6.8 |
12 |
7817 |
16 |
3.7 |
10944 |
|
14 |
CRIMINAL MINDS SPECIAL(S) | CBS |
6.7 |
11 |
7803 |
13 |
3.8 |
11099 |
|
15 |
GOOD WIFE, THE | CBS |
6.6 |
10 |
7606 |
18 |
3.5 |
10417 |
|
16 |
NBC NFL TH PRE-KICK(S) | NBC |
6.3 |
13 |
7344 |
7 |
4.3 |
12668 |
|
17 |
AMAZING RACE | CBS |
6.1 |
9 |
7105 |
18 |
3.5 |
10291 |
|
17 |
VOICE-TUE | NBC |
6.1 |
9 |
7042 |
18 |
3.5 |
10345 |
|
19 |
RUDOLPH RED-NOSE REINDEER(S) | CBS |
5.9 |
9 |
6856 |
13 |
3.8 |
11305 |
|
20 |
BIG BANG THEORY, THE SP(S) | CBS |
5.8 |
12 |
6713 |
13 |
3.8 |
11157 |
|
21 |
MARVEL AGENTS S.H.I.E.L.D | ABC |
5.7 |
9 |
6641 |
21 |
3.3 |
9687 |
|
22 |
FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3 | NBC |
5.6 |
9 |
6433 |
22 |
3.1 |
9025 |
|
23 |
GARTH BROOKS: LAS VEGAS(S) | CBS |
5.2 |
9 |
5978 |
23 |
3.0 |
8855 |
|
23 |
MIKE & MOLLY | CBS |
5.2 |
8 |
6078 |
25 |
2.9 |
8481 |
|
25 |
SURVIVOR-SPECIAL(S) | CBS |
5.1 |
9 |
5923 |
23 |
3.0 |
8812 |
| Source: Nielsen | ||||||||
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST |
||||
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
NBC NFL TH SPECIAL(S) | NBC |
6.9 |
8774 |
|
2 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL | NBC |
6.2 |
7877 |
|
3 |
CBS NFL-THU POST GAME(S) | CBS |
5.6 |
7052 |
|
4 |
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK | NBC |
4.2 |
5353 |
|
5 |
60 MINUTES | CBS |
3.9 |
4902 |
|
5 |
NBC NFL TH PRE-KICK(S) | NBC |
3.9 |
5011 |
|
7 |
VOICE | NBC |
3.4 |
4288 |
|
8 |
BIG BANG THEORY, THE SP(S) | CBS |
3.3 |
4230 |
|
9 |
FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3 | NBC |
3.2 |
4101 |
|
10 |
BLACKLIST | NBC |
3.0 |
3853 |
|
10 |
RUDOLPH RED-NOSE REINDEER(S) | CBS |
3.0 |
3839 |
|
10 |
VOICE-TUE | NBC |
3.0 |
3747 |
|
13 |
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER | CBS |
2.9 |
3626 |
|
14 |
2 BROKE GIRLS | CBS |
2.7 |
3398 |
|
15 |
MARVEL AGENTS S.H.I.E.L.D | ABC |
2.6 |
3273 |
|
16 |
MIKE & MOLLY | CBS |
2.5 |
3138 |
|
16 |
NBC NFL TH PRE-GAME(S) | NBC |
2.5 |
3233 |
|
18 |
CRIMINAL MINDS SPECIAL(S) | CBS |
2.4 |
3002 |
|
18 |
DANCING W/STARS SP-11/26(S) | ABC |
2.4 |
3064 |
|
18 |
NCIS: LOS ANGELES | CBS |
2.4 |
3017 |
|
21 |
MOM | CBS |
2.3 |
2874 |
|
22 |
DANCING WITH THE STARS | ABC |
2.2 |
2804 |
|
22 |
PERSON OF INTEREST | CBS |
2.2 |
2764 |
|
22 |
SLEEPY HOLLOW | FOX |
2.2 |
2854 |
|
22 |
SURVIVOR-SPECIAL(S) | CBS |
2.2 |
2814 |
| Source: Nielsen | ||||
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION |
||||
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+ (000) |
|
1 |
PORQUE EL AMOR MANDA MTW…. |
UNI |
18.8 |
4884 |
|
2 |
LATIN GRAMMY 13 11/21(S)-11/21/2013 |
UNI |
18.4 |
4525 |
|
3 |
MIRA QUIEN BAILA 4 SUN |
UNI |
17.3 |
4374 |
|
4 |
CORAZON INDOMABLE MTW.F.. |
UNI |
15.5 |
3814 |
|
5 |
QUE VIDA ME ROBO MTW.F.. |
UNI |
14.6 |
3676 |
|
6 |
NOCHE DE ESTRELLAS 11/21(S)-11/21/2013 |
UNI |
14.0 |
3344 |
|
7 |
SAL Y PIMIENTA SUN |
UNI |
12.9 |
3100 |
|
8 |
AQUI Y AHORA SUN |
UNI |
10.9 |
2576 |
|
9 |
SABADO GIGANTE SAT |
UNI |
10.8 |
2354 |
|
10 |
MENTIR PARA VIVIR MTW.F.. |
UNI |
10.7 |
2512 |
|
11 |
PRIMER IMPACTO EXTR 11/19(S)-11/19/2013 |
UNI |
7.8 |
1756 |
|
12 |
C. CERRADO-ED. ESTELAR M-F |
TEL |
7.7 |
1762 |
|
13 |
REINA SUR M-F |
TEL |
6.8 |
1618 |
|
14 |
SAL Y PIMIENTA LG 11/23(S)-11/23/2013 |
UNI |
6.7 |
1371 |
|
15 |
MARIDO EN ALQUILER M-F |
TEL |
6.3 |
1460 |
|
16 |
CINE MILLONARIO SUN |
TEL |
5.7 |
1878 |
|
17 |
SANTA DIABLA M-F |
TEL |
4.9 |
1080 |
|
18 |
CINE DE IMPACTO SAT II |
TEL |
3.2 |
827 |
|
19 |
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SUN |
UMA |
2.8 |
605 |
|
20 |
CINEPLEX MT.TF.. |
UMA |
2.2 |
495 |
|
21 |
CINEPLEX (PT) SAT |
UMA |
2.0 |
539 |
|
22 |
NOTICIERO E GRATAS - M-F |
ETV |
1.9 |
395 |
|
23 |
ALARMA TV - M-F 10P |
ETV |
1.9 |
398 |
|
24 |
CINEPLEX 1 M-F |
UMA |
1.8 |
384 |
|
25 |
FLM SUN 3(S)-11/24/2013 |
AZA |
1.7 |
363 |
| Source: Nielsen | ||||
|
HISPANIC ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VIEWING |
||||
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL |
NBC |
10.7 |
2517 |
|
2 |
FOX NFL SUNDAY-NATIONAL |
FOX |
10.3 |
2360 |
|
3 |
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK |
NBC |
7.8 |
1791 |
|
4 |
AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS(S)-11/24/2013 |
ABC |
7.7 |
1680 |
|
5 |
OT, THE |
FOX |
7.0 |
1673 |
|
6 |
FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3 |
NBC |
5.1 |
1257 |
|
7 |
BIG BANG THEORY, THE |
CBS |
4.5 |
1001 |
|
8 |
DANCING WITH THE STARS |
ABC |
3.9 |
744 |
|
8 |
DAVID BLAINE: REAL/MAGIC(S)-11/19/2013 |
ABC |
3.9 |
907 |
|
10 |
VOICE |
NBC |
3.6 |
719 |
| Source: Nielsen | ||||
|
AFRICAN AMERICAN AUDIENCE ESTIMATES |
||||
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1 |
SCANDAL |
ABC |
18.3 |
3513 |
|
2 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL |
NBC |
17.3 |
3532 |
|
3 |
OT, THE |
FOX |
14.9 |
3040 |
|
4 |
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK |
NBC |
11.3 |
2257 |
|
5 |
PERSON OF INTEREST |
CBS |
8.8 |
1658 |
|
6 |
FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3 |
NBC |
8.8 |
1745 |
|
7 |
AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS |
ABC |
8.5 |
1757 |
|
8 |
NCIS: LOS ANGELES |
CBS |
8.1 |
1475 |
|
9 |
GREY’S ANATOMY |
ABC |
8.0 |
1470 |
|
10 |
DANCING WITH THE STARS |
ABC |
7.3 |
1354 |
| * Ratings based on 13.65 million African American TV homes. Source: Nielsen |
||||
Tags: broadcast recap, charlie brown, charlie brown christmas, grinch, holiday specials, rudolph, rudolph the red-nosed reindeer
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