Very merry Wednesday for Christmas specials

Viewers were feeling the Christmas spirit last night.

Holiday specials on ABC and NBC were up compared to last year, and “Charlie Brown Christmas” even boosted ABC into a tie for first place with Fox on the night.

“Brown” averaged a 2.9 adults 18-49 rating at 8 p.m., according to Nielsen overnights, up 4 percent over a 2.8 last year and becoming the top-rated holiday special so far this season.

NBC’s “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” hit a four-year high with a 2.1 in the same hour, up 11 percent over a 1.9 last year.

And lead-out “SNL Christmas” drew a 2.7, NBC’s second-highest rating in the slot this season behind an episode of “The Voice” three weeks ago.

ABC also had the night’s highest-rated show, “Modern Family,” which drew a 4.7 at 9 p.m.

Elsewhere last night, Fox’s “The X Factor” jumped 27 percent over last week’s episode, which drew low ratings on the night before Thanksgiving.

“Factor” averaged a 2.8.

CBS’s entire lineup was also up versus last week, with veteran reality show “Survivor” up the most, 17 percent, to a 2.7.

Fox and ABC tied for first on the night with a 2.8 18-49 rating and 8 share apiece. CBS was a close third with a 2.7/7. NBC finished fourth with a 2.5/7, Univision was fifth with a 1.6/4, the CW was sixth with a 1.0/3, and Telemundo was seventh with a 0.5/1.

As a reminder, all ratings are based on live-plus-same-day DVR playback, which includes shows replayed before 3 a.m. the night before. Seven-day DVR data won't be available for several weeks. Forty-six percent of Nielsen households have DVRs.

“Charlie” won its 8 p.m. timeslot for ABC with a 2.9. “Survivor” and “Factor” tied for second with a 2.7 apiece. NBC’s “Rockefeller” was fourth with a 2.1, Univision’s “Por Ella Soy Eva” was fifth with a 1.8, the CW’s “Arrow” was sixth with a 1.2, and Telemundo’s “Rosa Diamonte” was seventh with a 0.5.

At 9 p.m. ABC led again with a 3.6 for “Family” (4.7) and “Suburgatory” (2.9). Fox’s “Factor” was second with a 3.0, CBS’s “Criminal Minds” was third with a 2.9, NBC’s “SNL” was fourth with a 2.8, Univision’s “Amores Verdaderos” was fifth with a 1.7, the CW’s “Supernatural” was sixth with a 0.9, and Telemundo’s “Corazon Valiente” was seventh with a 0.5.

CBS jumped into first at 10 p.m. with a 2.6 for “CSI.” NBC was second with a 2.5 for “SNL,” followed by ABC in third with a 1.8 for “Nashville,” even to its most recent episode. Univision’s “Amor Bravio” was fourth with a 1.4, and Telemundo was fifth with a 0.5 for "Pablo Escobar: El Patron del Mal" (0.6) and "El Rostro de la Venganza" (0.4).

Among households CBS led the night with a 7.4 rating and 12 share. NBC was second at 2.9/8, Fox third at 4.7/7, ABC fourth at 4.6/7, Univision fifth at 2.0/3, the CW sixth at 1.8/3 and Telemundo seventh at 0.7/1.
 

Tags: abc, cbs, charlie brown christmas, christmas at rockefeller center, christmas specials, cw, dvr, holiday, nbc, overnight ratings, overnights, ratings, snl, wednesday overnights