TV Ratings: ABC Scores Fourth of July Upset With Daylong Programming Block

The network capped a daylong 'Disney Celebrates America' programming stunt with a primetime special from Nashville.

On an unusually crowded Fourth of July TV slate, ABC delivered a ratings upset.

The network’s primetime special Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash — the finale of a 24-hour “Disney Celebrates America” programming block — outdrew the annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks on NBC, which is usually the top program on Independence Day. ABC averaged 5.44 million viewers for the three-hour Star-Spangled Bash, beating the 4.94 million on-air viewers for NBC’s two-hour special.

ABC’s win marks the first time since 2010 that a network other than NBC has led primetime on the Fourth of July

Including replays, a Spanish-language telecast on Telemundo and streaming on Peacock, NBC claimed 11.2 million viewers for the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks, based on early Nielsen numbers. The early tally for NBC’s first airing of the special came in at 5.1 million viewers, adjusting down to 4.94 million in the final ratings. NBC still saw a sizable bump in viewers compared to last year, improving by 37 percent