Thanks to Sunday’s original programming fare—primarily of the live-action variety, notably the series’ finale of Shake It Up, the week’s #1 telecast in key demos—Disney Channel has extended its streak as TV’s #1 Total Day network to 126 consecutive weeks (nearing 2½ years) among Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14, since the week of 6/13/11. Additionally, the channel overwhelmed rival outlet Nickelodeon by at least double digits for the 105th week in a row with Kids 6-11 (+19%) and for the 107th consecutive week in Tweens 9-14 (+69%). In Prime, Disney Channel was cable TV’s #1 network for the 443rd week with Kids 6-11 and 180th week in Tweens 9-14.
The Mouse House’s 24-hour preschool outlet Disney Junior ranked as TV’s #1 preschool exclusive network in Total Day for the 32nd consecutive week with Kids 2-5 and Boys 2-5, for the 16th week with Girls 2-5, 21st week in Women 18-49 and 31st in Total Viewers. The channel rose by double digits week to week across all target demographics, posting its #2 week on record in Total Viewers and Women 18-49 and its 4th most-watched week to date for Kids 2-5 and Girls 2-5. Key categories Total Viewers and Kids 2-5 grew by solid margins week to week’ 13% and 10% respectively.
Against the competition, Disney Junior beat out Nick Jr. for the 32nd week in a row in Kids 2-5 (+22%) and Boys 2-5 (+41%, for the 15th week in Girls 2-5 (+8%), for the 20th week in Women 18-49 (+40% and for the 31st time in Total Viewers (+30%), despite being available in 13.1 million fewer homes. The channel also out-delivered Sprout by its largest margin on record, more than tripling the network in Total Viewers (+207%) and Kids 2-5 (+270%) and delivered its second-largest margin to date in Girls 2-5 (+241%). Disney Junior also marked its 32nd consecutive week over Sprout by triple digits in Total Viewers, Kids 2-5 and Boys 2-5 (+293%).
Fueled by animation and preschool hits, Nickelodeon this week was the top basic cable network with Kids 2-11 and Total Viewers, marking six straight weeks at #1—building on Nick’s nine-plus months of year-over-year ratings gains. The channel’s performance was driven by its hit toon lineup: SpongeBob SquarePants ranks as the top program with Kids 2-11, followed by Sanjay and Craig. These shows also topped with Kids 6-11, ranking as the week’s top two animated series with that demographic.
Paw Patrol marked its fourth consecutive week as TV’s top preschool show, averaging 6.8/861k with Kids 2-5; it was followed by Bubble Guppies which averaged 6.4/808k with Kids 2-5 for the week. Nick at Nite’s original Sunday night lineup also continues to gain: newcomer See Dad Run drew 1.2m total viewers and posted double-digit increases with Adults 18-49 (+11%), Kids 2-11 (+21%) and Kids 6-11 (+17%). Instant Mom boasted +50% delivery gains with Adults 18-49 and grew its rating to double digits with Kids 6-11 (+14%).
