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December 28, 2020
 

UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.24.2020

 

 

 

NETWORK FINALS:  A holiday gift for our readers:  we are now able to provide final broadcast network ratings to the hundredths of a point.  We’ll alter the way we report adjustments from morning numbers (still in tenths) by noting that a show is “up” if its final number would round up to the next tenth, and “down” if it would round down.  So on Christmas night, IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, THE GREATEST SHOWMAN, and the reruns of YOUNG SHELDON and MOM were all up from their initial numbers.

 

 

 

 

Broadcast Official Nationals Program Ratings Chart  

CABLE HIGHLIGHTS:  The Christmas Day cable ratings were led by runs of holiday classics like A CHRISTMAS STORY, FROSTY THE SNOWMAN and RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER.  The top-rated original was ESPN’s COLLEGE FOOTBALL bowl game at 0.43, with a HEISMAN TROPHY PREVIEW special at 0.28.  Discovery’s off-night BATTLEBOTS was at 0.21.  CNN topped the holiday news day with ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT at 0.19/0.26/1.3M, and with Fox News’s THE FIVE at 0.15/0.24/2.1M and MSNBC’s RACHEL MADDOW SHOW at 0.11/0.16/1.9M.  On USA, what may or may not have been a new CHRISLEY KNOWS BEST was at 0.12, and a preview of SHE’S THE BOSS was at 0.11. 

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: Thursday December 24, 2020 P18-49 P2+
Rank Program Net Start Mins Rating (000s)
1 24 HOURS OF A XMAS STORY: CHRISTMAS STORY, A TBS NETWORK 8:00 PM 120 0.82 2,478
2 24 HOURS OF A XMAS STORY TBS NETWORK 10:00 PM 117 0.63 1,812
3 FROSTY THE SNOWMAN FREEFORM 8:15 PM 35 0.45 1,401
4 RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REI FREEFORM 8:50 PM 65 0.45 1,406
5 COLL FTBL BOWL GAME L: HAWAII/HOUSTON ESPN 3:30 PM 205 0.43 1,899
6 24 HOURS OF A XMAS STORY: CHRISTMAS STORY, A TURNER NETWORK TELEVISION 11:00 PM 120 0.34 912
7 24 HOURS OF A XMAS STORY: CHRISTMAS STORY, A TBS NETWORK 12:00 AM 120 0.34 926
8 SANTA CLAUS/COMING TO TWN FREEFORM 9:55 PM 65 0.34 1,032
9 SPORTSCENTER EARLY      L ESPN 6:55 PM 30 0.33 1,258
10 24 HOURS OF A XMAS STORY: CHRISTMAS STORY, A TURNER NETWORK TELEVISION 9:00 PM 120 0.32 1,012
11 HEISMAN TROPHY PREVIEW ESPN 7:30 PM 30 0.28 952
12 24 HOURS OF A XMAS STORY: CHRISTMAS STORY, A TURNER NETWORK TELEVISION 1:00 AM 120 0.23 618
13 BATTLEBOTS: N/A DISCOVERY CHANNEL 8:00 PM 120 0.21 859
14 ERIN BURNETT OUTFRNT SPCL CNN 8:00 PM 60 0.19 1,330
15 CNN NEWSROOM SPCL CNN 11:00 AM 60 0.19 1,565
16 CNN NEWSROOM SPCL CNN 12:00 PM 60 0.19 1,513
17 SITUATION ROOM SPCL CNN 5:00 PM 60 0.18 1,858
18 CNN NEWSROOM SPCL CNN 10:00 AM 60 0.18 1,431
19 SITUATION ROOM SPCL CNN 6:00 PM 60 0.18 1,742
20 SPORTSCENTER SPECIAL ESPN 8:00 PM 60 0.18 603
21 ERIN BURNETT OUTFRNT SPCL CNN 7:00 PM 60 0.17 1,596
22 CNN NEWSROOM SPCL CNN 1:00 PM 60 0.17 1,446
23 NBA: THE JUMP L ESPN 2:30 PM 60 0.15 547
24 SPORTSCENTER AM      L ESPN 2:00 PM 30 0.15 462
25 FIRST TAKE   L: N/A ESPN 10:00 AM 120 0.15 474
26 FIVE, THE SPCL FOX NEWS CHANNEL 5:00 PM 60 0.15 2,144
27 SPORTSCENTER SPECIAL ESPN 9:00 PM 60 0.15 482
28 SPORTSCENTER AM      L ESPN 12:00 PM 60 0.14 463
29 CNN NEWSROOM SPCL CNN 9:00 AM 60 0.14 1,203
30 CNN NEWSROOM SPCL CNN 2:00 PM 60 0.14 1,452
31 LEAD W/ JAKE TAPPER SPCL CNN 4:00 PM 60 0.14 1,469
32 SPORTSCENTER AM      L ESPN 1:00 PM 60 0.14 438
33 REV SNEAK PEEK USA NETWORK 9:21 PM 23 0.13 554
34 AMERICAS NEWSROOM SPCL FOX NEWS CHANNEL 9:00 AM 60 0.13 1,436
35 NEW DAY SPECIAL CNN 8:00 AM 60 0.13 1,012
36 CNN NEWSROOM SPCL CNN 3:00 PM 60 0.13 1,349
37 SPORTSCENTER LATE       L ESPN 11:00 PM 90 0.13 389
38 LIFE BELOW ZERO FL NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 10:00 PM 13 0.12 724
39 CHRISLEY KNOWS BEST USA NETWORK 9:44 PM 21 0.12 465
40 SPORTSCENTER SPECIAL ESPN 10:00 PM 60 0.11 385
41 GET UP   L: N/A ESPN 8:00 AM 120 0.11 409
42 RACHEL MADDOW SPECIAL MSNBC 9:00 PM 60 0.11 1,898
43 MSNBC LIVE MSNBC 3:00 PM 60 0.11 1,286
44 LIFE BELOW ZERO SNAP NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 9:00 PM 60 0.11 607
45 SHES THE BOSS SNEAK PEEK USA NETWORK 10:05 PM 22 0.11 403
46 TUCKER CARLSON SPECIAL FOX NEWS CHANNEL 12:00 AM 60 0.11 715
47 NEW DAY SPECIAL CNN 7:00 AM 60 0.11 812
48 TUCKER CARLSON SPECIAL FOX NEWS CHANNEL 8:00 PM 60 0.10 1,957
49 THE A&E MOVIE: BACK TO THE FUTURE II A&E NETWORK 9:30 PM 148 0.10 299
50 FOX AND FRIENDS SPECIAL FOX NEWS CHANNEL 8:00 AM 60 0.10 1,400
51 AMERICAS NEWSROOM SPCL FOX NEWS CHANNEL 10:00 AM 60 0.10 1,329
52 SPCL RPT W/BRET BAIER SPC FOX NEWS CHANNEL 6:00 PM 60 0.10 1,395
53 THE A&E MOVIE: BACK TO THE FUTURE A&E NETWORK 12:00 AM 148 0.10 271
54 INGRAHAM ANGLE SPECIAL FOX NEWS CHANNEL 10:00 PM 60 0.10 1,070
55 FULL GAME BROADCAST: 2020 WK 15 KC VS. NO NFL NETWORK 8:00 PM 180 0.09 624
56 ATLAS OF CURSED SNAPS NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 10:13 PM 60 0.09 392
57 COMEDY CENTRAL STAND-UP COMEDY CENTRAL 12:00 AM 60 0.09 295
58 FOOD FACTORY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 2:00 PM 30 0.09 368
59 ODDBODS: THE FESTIVE MENA DISNEY JUNIOR 2:20 PM 25 0.09 376
60 HANNITY SPECIAL FOX NEWS CHANNEL 9:00 PM 60 0.09 1,391
61 FOOD FACTORY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 2:30 PM 30 0.09 386
62 AMERICAS NEWSROOM SPCL FOX NEWS CHANNEL 11:00 AM 60 0.09 1,236
63 SPORTSCENTER AM      L ESPN 7:00 AM 60 0.09 247
64 DAILY BRIEFING SPECIAL FOX NEWS CHANNEL 2:00 PM 60 0.08 1,159
65 OUTNUMBERED SPECIAL FOX NEWS CHANNEL 12:00 PM 60 0.08 1,267
66 SPCL RPT W/BRET BAIER SPC FOX NEWS CHANNEL 11:00 PM 60 0.08 781
67 REV SNEAK PEEK USA NETWORK 12:15 AM 23 0.08 314
68 MSNBC LIVE MSNBC 2:00 PM 60 0.08 1,268
69 NEW DAY SPECIAL CNN 6:00 AM 60 0.08 690
70 DEADLINE: WH SPECIAL MSNBC 4:00 PM 60 0.08 1,613
71 FOOD FACTORY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 3:00 PM 30 0.08 376
72 MSNBC LIVE MSNBC 9:00 AM 60 0.08 1,198
73 LIFE BELOW ZERO SNAP NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 8:00 PM 60 0.08 546
74 IJ: DINNER PARTY SHOW TRUTV 10:00 PM 30 0.08 231
75 MSNBC LIVE MSNBC 11:00 AM 60 0.08 1,153
76 YULETIDE YETI TRAVEL CHANNEL 8:00 PM 60 0.07 471
77 SHES THE BOSS SNEAK PEEK USA NETWORK 12:38 AM 21 0.07 235
78 OUTNUMBERED OVERTIME SPCL FOX NEWS CHANNEL 1:00 PM 60 0.07 1,171
79 MARIA 2 12/24/20: N/A GALAVISION 2:00 PM 120 0.07 179
80 UNDISPUTED L: 1072 FOX SPORTS 1 9:30 AM 150 0.07 177
81 MSNBC LIVE MSNBC 10:00 AM 60 0.07 1,170
82 MERRY SCARY CHRISTMAS TRAVEL CHANNEL 10:00 PM 60 0.07 324
83 FOOD FACTORY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 1:30 PM 30 0.07 350
84 INCREDIBLE DR POL NAT GEO WILD 9:01 PM 60 0.07 367
85 SPOOKLEY SQUARE P & CHRIS DISNEY JUNIOR 6:30 PM 45 0.07 279
86 UNKNOWN VALOR FOX NEWS CHANNEL 7:00 PM 60 0.07 972
87 TOM & JERRY:SANTAS HELPER BOOMERANG 6:30 PM 30 0.07 165
88 YOUR WORLD W/CAVUTO SPCL FOX NEWS CHANNEL 4:00 PM 60 0.07 1,208
89 DUCK THE HALLS: MICKEY MO DISNEY CHANNEL 10:30 AM 30 0.07 268
90 TIDINGS OF TERROR TRAVEL CHANNEL 9:00 PM 60 0.07 314
91 IJ: INSIDE JOKES TRUTV 11:00 PM 30 0.07 179
92 MORNING JOE-SPC: N/A MSNBC 6:00 AM 180 0.06 1,357
93 MSNBC LIVE MSNBC 1:00 PM 60 0.06 1,166
94 HOLIDAYS UNWRAPPED DISNEY CHANNEL 11:00 AM 30 0.06 236
95 TIDINGS OF TERROR TRAVEL CHANNEL 1:00 AM 60 0.06 191
96 HANNITY SPECIAL FOX NEWS CHANNEL 1:00 AM 60 0.06 508
97 NFL LIVE                L ESPN2 4:00 PM 60 0.06 170
98 MSNBC LIVE MSNBC 12:00 PM 60 0.06 1,151
99 LIFE BELOW ZERO SNAP NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 7:00 PM 60 0.06 446
100 SCOOBY DOO! HAUNTED HOL BOOMERANG 7:00 PM 30 0.06 152
101 DISNEY HOLIDAY MAGIC QUES DISNEY CHANNEL 3:05 PM 55 0.06 204
102 BILL HEMMER REPORTS SPCL FOX NEWS CHANNEL 3:00 PM 60 0.05 1,224
103 REIDOUT SPECIAL MSNBC 7:00 PM 60 0.05 1,030
104 FOOD FACTORY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 1:00 PM 30 0.05 282
105 PINEY: THE LONESOME PINE DISNEY JUNIOR 8:45 PM 30 0.05 193
106 UFC ARCHIVAL PPV: UFC 256: FIGUEIREDO/MORENO ESPN2 9:00 PM 180 0.05 241
107 ALL IN W. C HAYES SPEC MSNBC 8:00 PM 60 0.05 1,250
108 NFL TOTAL ACCESS NFL NETWORK 7:00 PM 60 0.05 211
109 COMO DICE DICHO EF 12/24 GALAVISION 6:00 PM 60 0.05 109
110 MERRY SCARY CHRISTMAS TRAVEL CHANNEL 2:00 AM 60 0.05 164
111 AUSTIN & JESSIE & ALLY NY DISNEY CHANNEL 11:00 PM 60 0.05 237
112 QUIEN DA MAS S8 UNIVERSO 4:30 PM 30 0.05 93
113 HEY DUGGEE NICK JR 8:00 AM 30 0.05 179
114 FOOD FACTORY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 4:30 PM 30 0.05 273
115 CNN NEWSROOM LIVE SPCL CNN 2:00 AM 60 0.05 366
116 QUIEN DA MAS S8 UNIVERSO 4:00 PM 30 0.05 93
117 FOOD FACTORY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 3:30 PM 30 0.05 312
118 LIFE BELOW ZERO NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 6:00 PM 60 0.05 292
119 YULETIDE YETI TRAVEL CHANNEL 12:00 AM 60 0.05 237
120 DR POL COMPILATION NAT GEO WILD 8:00 PM 61 0.05 329
121 FOX AND FRIENDS SPECIAL FOX NEWS CHANNEL 7:00 AM 60 0.05 1,050
122 MARIA 1 12/24/20: N/A GALAVISION 12:00 PM 120 0.05 108
123 INGRAHAM ANGLE SPECIAL FOX NEWS CHANNEL 2:00 AM 60 0.05 417
124 FOX AND FRIENDS SPECIAL FOX NEWS CHANNEL 6:00 AM 60 0.05 826
125 HEISMAN TROPHY PREVIEW ESPN2 12:00 AM 30 0.05 162
126 SPORTSCENTER AM      L ESPN2 9:00 AM 60 0.05 118
127 BURIED IN THE BACKYARD OXYGEN MEDIA 8:00 PM 60 0.05 363
128 TOM & JERRY:NUTCRACKER BOOMERANG 5:30 PM 60 0.05 109
129 FOOD FACTORY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 4:00 PM 30 0.05 320
130 LIFE BELOW ZERO NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 5:00 PM 60 0.05 206
131 GET UP: N/A ESPN2 10:00 AM 120 0.04 155
132 DC EPIC HOLIDAY SHOWDOWN DISNEY CHANNEL 8:00 PM 60 0.04 238
133 INCREDIBLE DR POL NAT GEO WILD 4:00 PM 60 0.04 266
134 NFL FANTASY LIVE NFL NETWORK 6:00 PM 60 0.04 180
135 BEAT W/ ARI MELBER SPEC MSNBC 6:00 PM 60 0.04 1,015
136 SNOWY DAY DISNEY JUNIOR 8:00 PM 40 0.04 176
137 NINO LLAMADO JESUS 12/24: N/A GALAVISION 4:00 PM 120 0.04 118
138 QUIEN DA MAS S4 UNIVERSO 5:00 PM 60 0.04 73
139 CLOSING BELL: N/A CNBC 12:00 PM 120 0.04 285
140 NBA: THE JUMP ESPN2 7:00 PM 60 0.04 139
141 AMERICAN AGENDA: N/A NEWSMAX TV 2:00 PM 180 0.04 270
142 FOOD FACTORY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 11:30 AM 30 0.04 222
143 SQUAWK ALLEY CNBC 11:00 AM 60 0.04 301
144 SNOWY DAY DISNEY CHANNEL 6:30 AM 39 0.04 157
145 FOOD FACTORY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 10:30 AM 30 0.03 153
146 BUILT FOR BUSINESS MOTOR TREND 6:30 PM 30 0.03 155
147 FOOD FACTORY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 11:00 AM 30 0.03 195
148 FOOD FACTORY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 12:00 PM 30 0.03 209
149 QUIEN DA MAS S8 UNIVERSO 3:00 PM 30 0.03 63
150 NFL NOW NFL NETWORK 2:00 PM 60 0.03 145

PREVIOUS THURSDAY NETWORK SCORECARDS (FAST NATIONALS)

PREVIOUS THURSDAY 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.