Articles

December 29, 2020
 

UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.25.2020

 

 

 

 

NETWORK FINALS:  As we noted yesterday, we’ll now be comparing preliminary ratings in tenths to final numbers in hundredths.  ABC’s NBA game was way up in finals, from an early 1.1 to a final 1.82.  With the help of a late-afternoon NFL lead-in, FOX’s WWE SMACKDOWN was also up (from 0.8 to 0.96), as was the animated HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS.

 

 

 

 

Broadcast Official Nationals Program Ratings Chart  

 

CABLE HIGHLIGHTS:  Apart from the marathon of A CHRISTMAS STORY on TNT and TBS, it was sports and more sports at the top of Christmas Day cable.  ESPN’s NBA games were at 1.26/0.75/0.44 (the latter a simulcast of the ABC game), with a COLLEGE FOOTBALL game at 0.54.  NFL Network’s “THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” game was at 0.62.  On HGTV, MY LOTTERY DREAM HOME dropped 0.04 to 0.20, and SURPRISING SANTA CLAUS was at 0.17.  Discovery only aired satellite show GOLD RUSH: THE DIRT at 0.16/0.15.  A&E’s LIVE RESCUE gained 0.03 to 0.16. 

Top 50 Original Cable Telecasts with Demographic Detail

Top 150 Original Cable Telecasts
To search for a show: type Ctrl-F and type your show title in the search box.

Top 150 Original Cable Telecasts: Friday December 25, 2020 P18-49 P2+
Rank Program Net Start Mins Rating (000s)
1 NBA REGULAR SEASON     L: NEW ORLEANS/MIAMI ESPN 12:10 PM 161 1.26 3,495
2 24 HOURS OF A XMAS STORY: CHRISTMAS STORY, A TBS NETWORK 10:00 AM 120 0.80 2,130
3 NBA REGULAR SEASON     L: LA CLIPPERS/DENVER ESPN 10:36 PM 155 0.75 2,056
4 24 HOURS OF A XMAS STORY: CHRISTMAS STORY, A TBS NETWORK 12:00 PM 120 0.67 1,940
5 NFLN THU NT FOOTBALL: 2020 WK 16 MIN VS. NO NFL NETWORK 4:38 PM 189 0.62 2,174
6 24 HOURS OF A XMAS STORY: CHRISTMAS STORY, A TBS NETWORK 8:00 AM 120 0.61 1,648
7 24 HOURS OF A XMAS STORY: CHRISTMAS STORY, A TBS NETWORK 2:00 PM 120 0.58 1,686
8 NBA COURTSIDE  L ESPN 12:00 PM 10 0.56 1,545
9 COLL FTBL BOWL GAME L: MARSHALL/BUFFALO ESPN 2:51 PM 175 0.54 2,108
10 24 HOURS OF A XMAS STORY: CHRISTMAS STORY, A TURNER NETWORK TELEVISION 9:00 AM 120 0.52 1,612
11 24 HOURS OF A XMAS STORY: CHRISTMAS STORY, A TURNER NETWORK TELEVISION 11:00 AM 120 0.51 1,514
12 24 HOURS OF A XMAS STORY: CHRISTMAS STORY, A TBS NETWORK 4:00 PM 120 0.46 1,348
13 NBA REGULAR SEASON     L: DALLAS/LA LAKERS ESPN 7:57 PM 159 0.44 1,299
14 24 HOURS OF A XMAS STORY: CHRISTMAS STORY, A TURNER NETWORK TELEVISION 1:00 PM 120 0.43 1,347
15 24 HOURS OF A XMAS STORY: CHRISTMAS STORY, A TURNER NETWORK TELEVISION 3:00 PM 120 0.40 1,127
16 24 HOURS OF A XMAS STORY TBS NETWORK 6:00 PM 60 0.37 1,044
17 SPORTSCENTER 1AM        L ESPN 1:11 AM 61 0.36 1,005
18 FROSTY THE SNOWMAN FREEFORM 4:30 PM 30 0.36 1,074
19 RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REI FREEFORM 5:00 PM 60 0.35 1,155
20 24 HOURS OF A XMAS STORY: CHRISTMAS STORY, A TURNER NETWORK TELEVISION 7:00 PM 120 0.35 1,065
21 24 HOURS OF A XMAS STORY: CHRISTMAS STORY, A TURNER NETWORK TELEVISION 5:00 PM 120 0.33 917
22 NFLN THU NT POST-GAME NFL NETWORK 7:51 PM 39 0.32 1,061
23 24 HOURS OF A XMAS STORY: CHRISTMAS STORY, A TURNER NETWORK TELEVISION 7:00 AM 120 0.29 805
24 CNN NEWSROOM SPCL CNN 2:00 PM 60 0.28 2,135
25 CNN NEWSROOM SPCL CNN 3:00 PM 60 0.25 2,014
26 CNN NEWSROOM SPCL CNN 12:00 PM 60 0.24 2,111
27 COMEDY CENTRAL STAND-UP COMEDY CENTRAL 8:00 PM 60 0.24 1,107
28 CNN NEWSROOM SPCL CNN 1:00 PM 60 0.23 2,291
29 WONDER: WONDER TBS NETWORK 8:00 PM 150 0.23 792
30 CNN NEWSROOM SPCL CNN 4:00 PM 60 0.22 1,797
31 CNN NEWSROOM SPCL CNN 11:00 AM 60 0.22 1,766
32 AMERICAS NEWS HQ FOX NEWS CHANNEL 1:00 PM 60 0.21 1,935
33 CNN NEWSROOM SPCL CNN 5:00 PM 60 0.20 1,676
34 NFLN THU NT PREGAME NFL NETWORK 4:00 PM 29 0.20 707
35 MY LOTTERY DREAM HOME HOME AND GARDEN TV 8:00 PM 35 0.20 1,251
36 FIRST TAKE   L: N/A ESPN 10:00 AM 120 0.20 559
37 CNN NEWSROOM SPCL CNN 6:00 PM 60 0.20 1,659
38 CNN NEWSROOM SPCL CNN 10:00 AM 60 0.19 1,557
39 AMERICAS NEWS HQ FOX NEWS CHANNEL 2:00 PM 60 0.17 1,589
40 SURPRISING SANTA CLAUS HOME AND GARDEN TV 9:00 PM 91 0.17 956
41 AMERICAS NEWSROOM FOX NEWS CHANNEL 12:00 PM 60 0.16 1,705
42 AMERICAS NEWSROOM FOX NEWS CHANNEL 11:00 AM 60 0.16 1,779
43 GOLD RUSH: THE DIRT DISCOVERY CHANNEL 8:00 PM 65 0.16 985
44 LIVE RESCUE SPECIALS: TOP 20 MOMENTS OF 2020 A&E NETWORK 9:00 PM 120 0.16 670
45 GOLD RUSH: THE DIRT DISCOVERY CHANNEL 9:05 PM 61 0.15 778
46 COMEDY CENTRAL STAND-UP COMEDY CENTRAL 3:00 PM 60 0.15 737
47 24 HOURS OF A XMAS STORY TURNER NETWORK TELEVISION 6:00 AM 60 0.15 407
48 COMEDY CENTRAL STAND-UP COMEDY CENTRAL 5:00 PM 60 0.15 676
49 COMEDY CENTRAL STAND-UP COMEDY CENTRAL 7:00 PM 60 0.15 697
50 NFL GAMEDAY VIEW NFL NETWORK 8:30 PM 56 0.15 540
51 COMEDY CENTRAL STAND-UP COMEDY CENTRAL 6:00 PM 60 0.14 647
52 SPORTSCENTER EARLY      L ESPN 5:46 PM 74 0.14 536
53 AMERICAS NEWS HQ FOX NEWS CHANNEL 5:00 PM 60 0.14 1,507
54 B1G MENS BASKETBALL L: IOWA / MINNESOTA BIG TEN NETWORK 7:54 PM 152 0.14 563
55 AMERICAS NEWS HQ FOX NEWS CHANNEL 3:00 PM 60 0.14 1,348
56 WONDER: WONDER TBS NETWORK 10:30 PM 150 0.13 354
57 COMEDY CENTRAL STAND-UP COMEDY CENTRAL 2:00 PM 60 0.13 645
58 FOOD PARADISE FOOD NETWORK 12:00 PM 60 0.13 468
59 HOUSE HUNTERS INTL HOME AND GARDEN TV 10:31 PM 30 0.12 1,002
60 COMEDY CENTRAL STAND-UP COMEDY CENTRAL 4:00 PM 60 0.12 636
61 COMEDY CENTRAL MOVIE: KUNG FU PANDA 2 COMEDY CENTRAL 10:00 AM 120 0.12 283
62 GET UP   L: N/A ESPN 8:00 AM 120 0.12 393
63 AMERICAS NEWS HQ FOX NEWS CHANNEL 4:00 PM 60 0.12 1,277
64 SPCL RPT W/BRET BAIER SPC FOX NEWS CHANNEL 6:00 PM 60 0.12 1,453
65 NFL GAMEDAY KICKOFF NFL NETWORK 2:30 PM 90 0.12 505
66 MOVIE- ACQUIRED PREM: MY SWEET HOLIDAY LIFETIME TELEVISION 8:00 PM 123 0.11 953
67 PARANORMAL CAUGHT ON CAM TRAVEL CHANNEL 10:00 PM 60 0.11 450
68 GORDON RAMSAY: OFF MENU NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 9:00 PM 60 0.11 334
69 CNN NEWSROOM SPCL CNN 9:00 AM 60 0.11 1,105
70 GORDON RAMSAY: OFF MENU NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 10:00 PM 60 0.11 334
71 FOOD THAT BUILT AMERICA: 2 BEST SERVED COLD HISTORY 8:00 PM 125 0.11 665
72 GORDON RAMSAY: UNCHARTED NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 1:00 PM 60 0.11 299
73 FOOD THAT BUILT AMERICA HISTORY 10:05 PM 116 0.10 550
74 GORDON RAMSAY: UNCHARTED NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 4:00 PM 60 0.10 286
75 GORDON RAMSAY: UNCHARTED NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 3:00 PM 60 0.10 292
76 PINEY: THE LONESOME PINE DISNEY JUNIOR 8:30 AM 30 0.10 256
77 OSBOURNES BELIEVE REPACK: SKOA-1R2R04H TRAVEL CHANNEL 8:00 PM 120 0.10 395
78 AMERICAS NEWSROOM FOX NEWS CHANNEL 10:00 AM 60 0.10 1,482
79 SPCL RPT W/BRET BAIER SPC FOX NEWS CHANNEL 11:00 PM 60 0.09 942
80 MOVIE- ACQUIRED RPT LIFETIME TELEVISION 10:03 PM 116 0.09 730
81 GORDON RAMSAY: UNCHARTED NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 2:00 PM 60 0.09 265
82 LIVE RESCUE SPECIALS: TOP 20 MOMENTS OF 2020 A&E NETWORK 1:00 AM 120 0.09 287
83 GORDON RAMSAY: UNCHARTED NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 12:00 PM 60 0.09 255
84 SPORTSCENTER PRIME    L ESPN 7:00 PM 57 0.09 286
85 THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL R: 2020 WK 16 MIN VS. NO NFL NETWORK 9:26 PM 154 0.08 421
86 COLL FTBL BOWL GAME L ESPN2 2:30 PM 26 0.08 309
87 DATELINE: SECRETS UNCOVRD OXYGEN MEDIA 8:00 PM 60 0.08 392
88 NEW DAY SPECIAL CNN 8:00 AM 60 0.08 789
89 GORDON RAMSAY: UNCHARTED NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 7:00 PM 60 0.08 241
90 GORDON RAMSAY: UNCHARTED NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 5:00 PM 60 0.08 215
91 DR POL COMPILATION NAT GEO WILD 8:00 PM 61 0.08 418
92 SPORTSCENTER AM      L ESPN 7:00 AM 60 0.08 256
93 MSNBC BREAKING NEWS MSNBC 1:06 PM 14 0.08 517
94 DATELINE EXTRA MSNBC 9:00 PM 60 0.07 653
95 AMERICAS NEWSROOM FOX NEWS CHANNEL 9:00 AM 60 0.07 1,206
96 KRAUTHAMMER:MAK HIS POINT FOX NEWS CHANNEL 12:00 AM 60 0.07 653
97 MSNBC LIVE MSNBC 10:00 AM 60 0.07 933
98 FOX AND FRIENDS SPECIAL FOX NEWS CHANNEL 8:00 AM 60 0.06 1,063
99 COMEDY CENTRAL MOVIE COMEDY CENTRAL 9:00 AM 60 0.06 191
100 GET UP: N/A ESPN2 10:00 AM 120 0.06 188
101 FOOD THAT BUILT AMERICA: 2 BEST SERVED COLD HISTORY 12:03 AM 124 0.06 317
102 GORDON RAMSAY: OFF MENU NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 1:00 AM 60 0.06 179
103 SPOOKLEY SQUARE P & CHRIS DISNEY JUNIOR 9:25 AM 45 0.06 162
104 NEW DAY SPECIAL CNN 6:00 AM 60 0.06 529
105 MSNBC LIVE MSNBC 11:00 AM 60 0.06 1,067
106 HOLIDAYS UNWRAPPED DISNEY CHANNEL 7:30 PM 30 0.06 166
107 MSNBC LIVE MSNBC 9:00 AM 60 0.06 786
108 MSNBC LIVE MSNBC 8:00 AM 60 0.06 807
109 CHRISTMAS W BBCA: SCROOGED BBC-AMERICA 9:00 PM 120 0.06 243
110 PAWN STARS SPECIALS HISTORY 8:00 AM 60 0.06 287
111 FOX NATION: PATRIOT AWDS FOX NEWS CHANNEL 7:00 PM 60 0.06 945
112 GOOD LUCK JESSIE: NYC CHR DISNEY CHANNEL 11:50 PM 58 0.06 260
113 CNN NEWSROOM LIVE SPCL CNN 2:00 AM 60 0.06 609
114 FIVE, THE SPCL FOX NEWS CHANNEL 10:00 PM 60 0.06 934
115 GORDON RAMSAY: UNCHARTED NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 11:00 AM 60 0.06 164
116 ELEAGUE TBS NETWORK 1:00 AM 60 0.05 117
117 BATTLE IN BETHLEHEM FOX NEWS CHANNEL 9:00 PM 60 0.05 905
118 FOOD THAT BUILT AMERICA: 1 LINES IN THE SAND HISTORY 6:00 PM 120 0.05 349
119 INCREDIBLE DR POL NAT GEO WILD 5:00 PM 60 0.05 265
120 NEW DAY SPECIAL CNN 7:00 AM 60 0.05 637
121 INCREDIBLE DR POL NAT GEO WILD 9:01 PM 60 0.05 338
122 DISNEY HOLIDAY MAGIC QUES DISNEY CHANNEL 8:00 PM 46 0.05 162
123 DUCK THE HALLS: MICKEY MO DISNEY CHANNEL 11:50 AM 29 0.05 215
124 COLL BSKBL:BIG 10 L: MARYLAND/PURDUE FOX SPORTS 1 2:30 PM 133 0.05 344
125 BATTLE IN BETHLEHEM FOX NEWS CHANNEL 1:00 AM 60 0.05 447
126 MSNBC LIVE MSNBC 7:00 AM 60 0.05 672
127 NFL NOW NFL NETWORK 1:00 PM 90 0.05 302
128 ODDBODS SPECIAL DISNEY XD 10:30 AM 30 0.05 126
129 KRAUTHAMMER:MAK HIS POINT FOX NEWS CHANNEL 8:00 PM 60 0.05 838
130 CASO CERRADO UNIVERSO 8:00 PM 60 0.05 141
131 SPOOKLEY SQUARE P & CHRIS DISNEY JUNIOR 5:35 PM 45 0.05 171
132 INCREDIBLE DR POL NAT GEO WILD 4:00 PM 60 0.05 260
133 INCREDIBLE DR POL NAT GEO WILD 6:00 PM 60 0.04 218
134 DATELINE EXTRA MSNBC 8:00 PM 60 0.04 554
135 B1G MENS BASKETBALL L BIG TEN NETWORK 6:00 PM 114 0.04 243
136 CASO CERRADO UNIVERSO 6:00 PM 60 0.04 101
137 NFL ON FOXD: MINNESOTA VS NEW ORLEANS FOX DEPORTES 4:26 PM 205 0.04 71
138 DC HOLIDAY HOUSE PARTY DISNEY CHANNEL 7:00 PM 30 0.04 137
139 DISNEY CHANNEL?S EPIC HOL DISNEY CHANNEL 9:32 PM 50 0.04 147
140 SPORTSCENTER AM      L ESPN2 9:00 AM 60 0.04 147
141 SNOWY DAY DISNEY CHANNEL 9:00 AM 50 0.04 177
142 SPOOKLEY SQUARE P & CHRIS DISNEY CHANNEL 7:00 AM 52 0.04 221
143 CASO CERRADO UNIVERSO 7:00 PM 60 0.04 115
144 LOVE AFTER LOCKUP WETV 9:00 PM 22 0.04 232
145 PINEY: THE LONESOME PINE DISNEY JUNIOR 6:20 PM 30 0.04 150
146 GORDON RAMSAY: UNCHARTED NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 6:00 PM 60 0.04 161
147 WORST COOKS COOKING CHANNEL 4:00 PM 60 0.04 119
148 FIVE, THE SPCL FOX NEWS CHANNEL 2:00 AM 60 0.04 397
149 WORST COOKS COOKING CHANNEL 3:00 PM 60 0.04 123
150 AMHQ THE WEATHER CHANNEL 8:00 AM 60 0.03 324

PREVIOUS FRIDAY NETWORK SCORECARDS (FAST NATIONALS)

PREVIOUS FRIDAY CABLE & BROADCAST NATIONALS

NEWS & LATE NIGHT BROADCAST RATINGS

SPORTS RATINGS

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About the Author

Mitch Metcalf
MITCH METCALF has been tracking every US film release of over 500 screens (over 2300 movies and counting) since the storied weekend of May 20, 1994, when Maverick and Beverly Hills Cop 3 inspired countless aficionados to devote their lives to the art of cinema. Prior to that, he studied Politics and Economics at Princeton in order to prepare for his dream of working in television. He has been Head of West Coast Research at ABC, then moved to NBC in 2000 and became Head of Scheduling for 11 years.