Original film Cadet Kelly marched to record ratings for Disney Channel
Friday night.
The premiere of the military school-themed movie averaged a 5.6 household
rating from 8 p.m. to 9:50 p.m. March 8, the highest-ever for the network's
original-movie franchise.
According to Nielsen Media Research data, Cadet Kelly attracted 7.8
million viewers in some 4.4 million homes. Both of those marks were also records
for the network, according to Disney officials.
Among its target tweens group, Disney Channel averaged 3.5 million viewers
nine through 14, 3.4 million among the six-through-11 set and 3.9 million among
kids two through 11.
Disney Channel officials said the film was the top performer in basic cable
among all of those measurements for the night.
Moreover, Disney Channel topped all broadcast shows with tweens and kids six
through 11.
Cadet Kelly evidently benefited from a Lizzy McGuire marathon that
day (2 p.m. to 8 p.m.). The stunt culminated with a 3.1 household rating for the
skein's installment at 7:30 p.m., the best ever for the popular series.
Cadet Kelly stars Hilary Duff (Lizzie McGuire) and Christy Carlson
Romano (Even Stevens).
