ABC's "CMA Country Christmas" Wins the 10 O'clock Hour

Info on ABC's Thursday, ahead of the regular press release.

At 8pm against the opening hour of Fox's The X Factor season closer, ABC's rebroadcast of I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown ranked #1 in its time period with Kids 2-11, beating the Fox finale by 26%. In fact, I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown stood as Thursday's top-rated broadcast program with Kids 2-11.

· The PEANUTS special surged over its telecast on the same night last year 42% in Total Viewers, by 27% in Adults 18-49 and by 33% in Kids 2-11. In addition, the special posted ABC's best Kids 2-11 rating in the hour in more than 1 year - since 12/15/11.

Starting out at 9pm opposite the second hour of Fox's The X Factor finale, CMA Country Christmas made ABC the most-watched network in its second hour from 10-11pm and the #1 broadcaster in Adults 18-49.

· ABC's CMA Country Christmas concert topped CBS' Grammy Nominations Concert earlier in the month (on 12/5/12) by 1.9 million viewers.

Quick Take for Thursday, December 20, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC's Rebroadcast of "I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown" is the Night's Top Show in Kids 2-11 and Surges Over its Telecast on the Same Thursday Last Year

"CMA Country Christmas" Makes ABC No. 1 in the 10 O'clock Hour

ABC's "CMA Country Christmas" Outdraws CBS' "Grammy Nominations Concert"

"I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)

At 8:00 p.m. against the opening hour of Fox's "The X Factor" season closer, ABC's rebroadcast of "I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown" ranked No. 1 in its time period with Kids 2-11, beating the Fox finale by 26% (2.4/8 vs. 1.9/6). In fact, "I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown" stood as Thursday's top-rated broadcast program with Kids 2-11.

· The PEANUTS holiday special surged over its telecast on the same Thursday last year (12/22/11) by 42% in Total Viewers (5.1 million vs. 3.6 million), by 27% in Adults 18-49 (1.4/4 vs. 1.1/3) and by 33% in Kids 2-11 (2.4/8 vs. 1.8/6). In addition, the special posted ABC's best Kids 2-11 rating in the hour in more than 1 year - since 12/15/11.

"CMA Country Christmas" (9:00-11:00 p.m.)

Starting out at 9:00 p.m. opposite the second hour of Fox's "The X Factor" finale, "CMA Country Christmas" made ABC the most-watched network (7.0 million) in its second hour from 10:00-11:00 p.m. and the No 1. broadcaster in Adults 18-49 (1.4/4).

· ABC's "CMA Country Christmas" concert topped CBS' "Grammy Nominations Concert" earlier in the month (on 12/5/12) by 1.9 million viewers (7.3 million vs. 5.4 million).

A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating comparisons based on the Live + Same Day data stream are distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has jumped up to 46% currently, from 43% at the same point in 2011. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which may not be reflected in the overnight next-day numbers. The only truly valid year-to-year comparison would be one based on the Live + 7 Day metric, once those stats are released by Nielsen.

Source: The Nielsen Company, Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings, 12/20/12.