New Year’s Eve Ratings: ABC’s ‘Rockin’ Eve’ Remains Dominant, CNN Tops Cable at Midnight

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As a devoted TV enthusiast with over two decades of watching New Year’s Eve specials under my belt, I must say that Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest has always been the highlight of my holiday season. The energy, the music, and the excitement are unparalleled! This year was no exception; the early primetime segment on ABC averaged 6.2 million viewers, improving to a whopping 9.5 million viewers in the 10:30-11:30 p.m. window. I couldn’t help but feel like I was right there in Times Square, surrounded by millions of other eager celebrants.

The late night segment, which averaged 17.9 million viewers, really had me on the edge of my seat! The peak of 21.5 million viewers during the midnight quarter hour was a testament to the enduring charm of this iconic event. I couldn’t help but feel like I was part of something truly special, as we collectively rang in the New Year together.

Comparatively, CBS’ New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash paled in comparison. While it averaged a decent 4.9 million viewers from 8-10 p.m., it couldn’t keep up with the energy and excitement of ABC’s offering. As for CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen, while it led all cable programming for the night, it just didn’t quite measure up to the electric atmosphere of Times Square.

Overall, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2025 was a fantastic way to kick off the new year, and I can’t wait to see what next year’s celebration will bring!

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, let me leave you with this little joke: What did one wall say to the other on New Year’s Eve? “I’ve got a feeling we’re about to be party walls!

Approximately 32 million people tuned in live on ABC, CBS, and CNN as the year 2025 began at midnight. Nielsen Media Research data showed that ABC led as the most-watched network for the ball drop, featuring Ryan Seacrest and Rita Ora hosting from Times Square. This was followed by a special event on CBS hosted in Nashville by Rachel Smith and Kith Urban, and CNN’s annual event with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen.

Once again, I found myself glued to Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest in 2025 on ABC. It was the standout special of the night, as evidenced by the viewership figures from Nielsen. The early segments, airing from 8-11:30 p.m., and the late-night segment, broadcast from 11:30 p.m.-12:29 a.m, were the most-watched programs of the evening.

During the late night hours, the program consistently attracted an average of 17.9 million viewers, with a peak of 21.5 million during the 12:00 am quarter hour – matching the viewership from last year. The early primetime segment saw an average of 6.2 million viewers between 8:00 and 10:00 pm, rising to 9.5 million viewers in the later window of 10:30 to 11:30 pm. This means that viewership increased during the latter part of the primetime segment.

During the specified time frames, both parts surpassed the competition in live broadcasts, particularly CBS’s New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash, which drew 4.9 million viewers from 8 to 10 p.m., 5.7 million from 10:30 to 11:30 p.m., and a peak of 6.9 million viewers between 11:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. The CBS special had outperformed ABC the previous year, partly due to an NFL game as a lead-in. However, without that advantage, it saw a decline in viewership compared to the previous year.

Once more, CNN entrusted Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen to host their live broadcasts, as their New Year’s Eve special, Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen’s Live Countdown to New Year, outperformed all cable shows during the night when the ball in Times Square fell at midnight.

According to Nielsen, CNN had approximately 3.7 million viewers between 12:00 a.m. and 12:30 a.m., 3 million viewers from 11:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., and an average of around 1.9 million viewers throughout the night from 8:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. These numbers represent a decrease compared to last year.

CNN reported that their Max streaming service saw its fourth-highest day ever in viewership, following only the 2024 election night and the two presidential debate nights.

The production of New Year’s Rockin’ Eve is a joint venture between Dick Clark Productions and The Hollywood Reporter.

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2025-01-03 02:25