TV ratings: 'New Year's Rockin' Eve' rules the final night of 2012

Fast National ratings for Monday, Dec. 31, 2012

Those not out celebrating on New Year's Eve overwhelmingly chose to watch ABC and its annual "New Year's Rockin' Eve" special.

The prime-time portion of the Times Square coverage was the night's top show, and a special honoring the late Dick Clark also scored well. The prime-time lineup gave ABC its best New Year's Eve in 12 years.

ABC averaged 10.7 million viewers and a 5.5 rating/10 share in households for the night, beating second-place CBS (4 million, 2.5/4) by more than 6 million viewers. NBC (3.3 million came in third. FOX was fourth with 2.95 million viewers and a 1.8/3, and The CW (1.3 million, 0.8/1) trailed.

ABC also dominated the adults 18-49 race with a 3.1 rating. No other network got above 1.0 -- NBC averaged 0.9 and CBS 0.8. FOX and The CW tied for fourth at 0.5.

Monday hour by hour:

8 p.m.

ABC: Special - "New Year's Rockin' Eve Celebrates Dick Clark" (8.25 million viewers, 4.6/8 households)
FOX: "Bones" rerun (3.55 million, 2.1/4)
CBS: "How I Met Your Mother" reruns - two episodes (3.3 million, 2.1/4)
NBC: Movie - "Enchanted" (3 million, 1.9/3)
The CW: "IHeartRadio Music Festival" rerun (1.3 million, 0.8/2)

18-49 leader: "New Year's Rockin' Eve Celebrates Dick Clark" (2.2)

9 p.m.

ABC: "New Year's Rockin' Eve Celebrates Dick Clark" (10.5 million, 5.4/10)
CBS: "2 Broke Girls" rerun (4.1 million, 2.5/5)/"Mike & Molly" rerun (4.2 million, 2.6/5)
NBC: "Enchanted" (3.2 million, 1.9/3)
FOX: "The Mob Doctor" (2.35 million, 1.4/3)
The CW: "IHeartRadio Music Festival" rerun (1.3 million, 0.8/1)

18-49 leader: "New Year's Rockin' Eve Celebrates Dick Clark" (2.9)

10 p.m.

ABC: "Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest" (13.3 million, 6.6/13)
CBS: "Hawaii Five-0" rerun (4.6 million, 2.9/6)
NBC: "New Year's Eve with Carson Daly" (3.75 million, 2.0/4)

18-49 leader: "Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve" (4.1)

Ratings information includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change. Source: The Nielsen Company.

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