Why Winter Break Is Tough on TV Ratings But Great for Binging

Networks aren’t finding many TV viewers in their stockings this week. Or below their Christmas trees, or on any couches across America, for that matter. That’s because this week, the one with the Yuletide smack dab in the middle of it, typically sees the lowest television usage of the entire traditional September-to-May Nielsen season. Merry Christmas, TV execs. Christmas week last year, which spanned Dec. 24, 2018 to Dec. 30, 2018, had a total usage of televisions (TUT) level of 59.70. That means during an average primetime minute, 59.70% of homes were watching TV programming on either linear or digital platforms. That’s low. (By the way, in case you’re wondering, NBC won Christmas week 2018 in both the key adults 18-49 demographic and among total viewers. Best network of the worst week, we suppose. Congratulations?) Also Read: The Key to Fox's 'The Simpsons' Success? Football Low, yes, but most summer weeks tend to be even lower, with the absolute lightest week of the past few years surrounding the Fourth of July holiday. (Continuing to make lemonade out of lemons, NBC also won that one outright in Summer 2019. Cue — and thank — the fireworks.) What’s interesting is that while...

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