ABC's 'Grinch'
special takes a tumble
Annual airing averages a 2.9 in 18-49s, off 24 percent
By Toni Fitzgerald
Dec 1, 2009
Against much tougher competition this year, ABC's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" saw its ratings fall compared to last year, though it still dominated among kids.
"Grinch" averaged a 2.9 adults 18-49 rating at 8 p.m., according to Nielsen overnights, off 24 percent from a 3.8 average last year. Its lead-out, "Shrek the Halls," averaged a 3.2 rating in its third year, down a smidge from last year's 3.3.
Those numbers may be slightly inflated, as they include ratings from ABC's Boston affiliate, which carried the "Monday Night Football" game between the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints.
There was good reason for the decline. This year "Grinch" and "Shrek" faced tougher competition.
Fox's competing "House" averaged a 4.8, more than double "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" in the same timeslot last year. And ESPN aired a highly anticipated matchup between the undefeated Saints and Patriots. That started at 8:30, but people were no doubt tuning in for the pregame.
Still, "Grinch" and "Shrek" were dominant among kids 2-11. "Grinch" averaged a 5.0 rating, more than triple No. 2 Univision's average in the hour, and "Shrek" posted a 6.0, nearly four times Univision's rating.
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Meanwhile, Fox was first for the night among 18-49s with a 3.8 average overnight rating and a 9 share. Rerun-laden CBS was second at 2.5/6, ABC third at 2.4/6, NBC fourth at 1.9/5, Univision fifth at 1.5/4 and CW sixth at 1.1/3.
As a reminder, all ratings are based on live-plus-same-day DVR playback. Seven-day DVR data won’t be available for several weeks. Thirty-one percent of Nielsen households have DVRs.
Fox was first at 8 p.m. with a 4.8 for “House,” followed by ABC with a 3.0 for “Grinch” (2.9) and “Shrek” (3.2). NBC was third with a 2.5 for “Heroes,” CBS fourth with a 1.9 for repeats of “How I Met Your Mother” and “Accidentally on Purpose,” Univision fifth with a 1.4 for “El Nombre del Amor” and CW sixth with a 1.1 for “One Tree Hill.”
At 9 p.m. CBS took the lead with a 3.2 for repeats of “Two and a Half Men” and “The Big Bang Theory,” while Fox slid to second with a 2.7 for “Lie to Me.” ABC was third with a 2.3 for “Find My Family,” Univision fourth with a 1.9 for “Sortilegio,” NBC fifth with a 1.8 for “Trauma” and CW sixth with a 1.1 for “Gossip Girl.”
CBS was first again at 10 p.m. with a 2.5 for a repeat of “CSI: Miami,” with ABC second with a 1.9 for a repeat of “Castle.” NBC was third with a 1.3 for “The Jay Leno Show” and Univision fourth with a 1.2 for “Cristina.”
Fox led the night among households with a 6.3 average overnight rating and a 9 share. CBS was second at 5.6/9, ABC third at 4.8/7, NBC fourth at 3.4/5, Univision fifth at 2.0/3 and CW sixth at 1.6/2.
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