TBS’s marathon broadcast of A Christmas Story scored its best ever average delivery of adults 18 to 34 (775,000) and adults 25 to 54 (1.5 million), the network said Friday.
The 24-hour marathon screening of the 1983 classic, which began at 8 p.m. on Dec. 24, also drew 2.8 million viewers and 1.7 million households.
For the entire 24-hour timeslot of the marathon (Dec. 24, at 8 p.m. – Dec. 25, at 8 p.m.), TBS ranked as ad-supported cable’s top network among adults 18-34, adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and viewers.
The Christmas Eve 8 p.m. telecast of the movie was the top-rated telecast during the marathon among viewers (4,368,000), while the Christmas Eve 10 p.m. telecast was the No.1 telecast during the marathon among adults 18-34 (1,196,000); adults 18-49 (2,181,000); and adults 25-54 (2,112,000).
And the Christmas morning 10 a.m. telecast was tops for the marathon among households (2,183,000), TBS said.
The 1983 film is based on the short stories of author Jean Shepherd, who narrates the movie. It stars Peter Billingsley, who plays Ralphie Parker, a boy whose dream Christmas gift is a “Red Ryder carbine action 200-shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock.”
Darren McGavin plays Ralphie’s father (The Old Man), and Melinda Dillon plays Mrs. Parker, who warns Ralphie, “You’ll shoot your eye out.”
