‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2024’ Ratings Jump

Paul Grein
·4 min read
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Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2024, a marathon, 5-1/2 hour production which eased ABC TV viewers into the new year, saw ratings increases in all four time quadrants measured, from the start of prime-time until late-late hours.

The show, which Dick Clark originated in 1972, has ballooned over the years in hours of programming, just as the title of the show has expanded. Clark’s name remains in the title nearly a dozen years after his death, a unique and rare show of respect from a network for a long-time network star.

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Ryan Seacrest, 49, is six years older than Clark was when the show launched. Seacrest shared hosting duties this year with Rita Ora and Jeannie Mai.

Performers on this year’s show included Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Jelly Roll, Post Malone, Sabrina Carpenter, LL Cool J, Tyla, Ellie Goulding, Green Day, Janelle Monáe, Ludacris, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Paul Russell, Reneé Rapp with Coco Jones and Thirty Seconds to Mars.

First Primetime Segment

Airing at 8:00 p.m., the first primetime segment skyrocketed over last year’s broadcast by 35% in total viewers (7.0 million vs. 5.2 million) and by 33% among adults 18-49 (1.81 rating vs. 1.36 rating) to score three-year highs.

Second Primetime Segment

Airing at 10:30 p.m., the second primetime segment jumped over the prior year by 30% in total viewers (10.4 million vs. 8.0 million) and by 32% among adults 18-49 (2.93 rating vs. 2.22 rating) to hit three-year highs.

The Part 2 segment ranked as the highest-rated entertainment telecast on any network in primetime in nine months among adults 18-49 – since ABC’s broadcast of The Oscars on March 12, 2023.

Part 2 was the night’s No. 1 entertainment program in primetime in both total viewers and adults 18-49.

The two primetime segments made the programthe night’s No. 1 most social program across all of TV. It was also the No. 1 driver of social video consumption on the night. In addition, this year’s broadcast grew its video views count by 20% over last year.

First Late-Night Segment

Airing at 11:30 p.m., the first late-night segment attracted 18.0 million total viewers and averaged a 5.33 rating among adults 18-49. The special drew in 22.2 million total viewers and hit a 6.41 adult 18-49 rating in the midnight quarter-hour.

Part 1 of the late-night segment stood as the highest-rated entertainment special on any network in two years – since ABC’s 2021 broadcast of the same show.

Part 1 shot up over the prior year’s broadcast by 30% in total viewers (18.0 million vs. 13.8 million) and by 30% among adults 18-49 (5.33 rating vs. 4.11 rating).

Part 1 ranked as the No. 1 program on New Year’s Eve among adults 18-49.

Second Late-Night Segment

Airing at 1:09 a.m., the second late-night segment grew over last year’s broadcast by 19% in total viewers (5.1 million vs. 4.3 million) and by 14% among adults 18-49 (1.47 rating vs. 1.29 rating).

Sources: The Nielsen Company, Fast National Live+Same Day Program Ratings, 12/31/23 – entertainment excludes sports programming; SCR, Talkwalker.

CBS’ New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash Also Scores

CBS’ New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash was also a ratings hit. From 7:30-10:00 p.m., the show averaged 8.31 million viewers, more than doubling its primetime audience last year. This made it CBS’s most-watched original entertainment special since the Grammy Awards in February 2023.

The show was 2023’s top-rated country program–followed by the CMA Awards (6.84 million) and the CMT Awards (5.64 million). (All comparisons are based on Live+SD data.)

There was also a spike in in-person attendance at Nashville’s Big Bash. An estimated 215,000 fans gathered at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park to ring in the new year with headliners Thomas Rhett, Lainey Wilson and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Entertainment Tonight’s Rachel Smith hosted the special along with Grammy-nominated artist Elle King.

The coverage also featured Old Dominion, which performed live from the official watch party at Brooklyn Bowl Nashville.

New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash was executive produced by Robert Deaton and Mary Hilliard Harrington in partnership with the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. Sandra Restrepo directed the special.

Penske Media Corporation, Billboard‘s parent company, is a part-owner of dick clark productions and has a partnership with Eldridge.

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