Disney Channel’s ‘Wizards’ Movie Draws 5.9 Million Viewers

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

Disney Channel’s original movie The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex drew 5.9 million viewers in its Friday night premiere.

The two-hour event, which reunited the cast of Disney’s successful Wizards of Waverly Place series, also drew big numbers in the major kids demo, including kids 2 to 11 (2.9 million viewers); kids 6 to 11 (2.3 million) and Tweens 9 to 14 (2.2 million), according to Nielsen data.

Immediately following the movie, an episode of the network’s animated series Gravity Falls set a series high in total viewers (4.5 million) and posted its second-best telecast with tweens 9 to 14 (1.7 million) and its third-best telecast among kids 2 to 11 (2.5 million), said network officials.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.