On July 4, ABC achieved a surprising victory in television ratings with its primetime special, Nashville's Star-Spangled Bash. The three-hour event, part of a daylong Disney Celebrates America programming block, attracted 5.44 million viewers, surpassing NBC's traditional favorite, the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks, which garnered 4.94 million viewers.
ABC's Fourth of July Programming Success
This year's celebration marked a significant milestone, as it was the first time since 2010 that a network other than NBC led the primetime ratings on Independence Day. ABC's Nashville's Star-Spangled Bash showcased a variety of performances and festivities, contributing to its impressive viewership numbers.
In addition to the primetime special, ABC's entire Disney Celebrates America event reached a total of 49.6 million viewers, indicating the strong appeal of the programming. The network also reported an average of 5 million viewers for the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, which was simulcast with ESPN2, and 4.5 million viewers for the afternoon special 7 Wonders of America.
NBC's Fireworks Special Ratings
Despite ABC's win, NBC's Macy's 4th of July Fireworks special still drew significant numbers. The broadcast initially reported 5.1 million viewers, which was later adjusted to 4.94 million in the final ratings. Including all platforms, NBC claimed a total of 11.2 million viewers, thanks to replays, a Spanish-language telecast on Telemundo, and streaming on Peacock.
