The non-ad-supported Disney Channel was all about High School Musical 2 in the latter half of the 2007-year, but still exhibited strong numbers in other areas of programming interest. Disney Channel was on top in Q3, delivering to an average of 3.2 million Total Viewers, with the second largest Primetime audience for any Quarter ever, on cable. The television film funneled in, what some sources report, as many as 18.64 million Total Viewers, making the movie the most-watched show in cable television history.
This, naturally, was the channel's most-watched Quarter in its history; growing 22% when juxtaposed with last year's numbers in the Kids 6-11 demographic. Q3's massive growth can be found in all relevant viewerships: Total Viewers (1.9 million; Total Program Day), Kids 6-11 (759,000; Total Program Day), Tweens 9-14 (660,000; Total Program Day); as can also be seen in
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Fortunately, Disney Channel found success in Q3 and Q4 2007 in more places than High School Musical 2. Preschool animated television programming seemed particularly strong this year.
The Playhouse Disney programming block, which caters to early education audiences and their parents and/or caretakers, has included a few fresh faces over the past year or so, and would do well to benefit from the influx of new animated talent.
Bob Iger, President and CEO of The Walt Disney Co., recently commented: "This past year brought many examples of how we're building on and extending the lives of some of our favorite franchise properties, [including] the hit Disney Channel series for preschoolers, My Friends Tigger and Pooh."
The immensely creative animated television series Charlie and Lola from Tiger Aspect Productions performed rather well throughout August and into September, on notable weekend airings, piquing at a ratings share of 2.0/9, occasionally edging out top performers, the CG dynamic duo of My Friends Tigger & Pooh and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Year End numbers reflected overall growth, as per Iger's comment: Playhouse Disney earned all-time high ratings averages with three key demographics, the Total Viewers (1.26 million), Kids 2-5 (424,000) and Women 18-49 (233,000) audiences.
But for all of the fireworks caused by television premieres and local programming blocks, on a year-to-year comparison, Disney Channel's overall ratings showed moderate growth, if not coming out completely flat. Though there was growth in the summer months with most audiences, Tweens 9-14 in particular; by Q4, October 2007 was completely flat (00% change, Kids 6-11, Total Program Day), November showed growth at 09% (K6-11, Total Program Day), while Year End showed smaller growth at 07% (K6-11, Total Program Day).
Toon Disney:
The extended television network Toon Disney found immense success in the 2007-year; skyrocketing, and rather consistently at that, with just about all key demographics. Although much credit should be given to special events and movie premieres--such as The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl, which was a hit with Kids 2-11 and Kids 6-11--Toon Disney's Q3 pulled in its largest Primetime and Total Program Day audiences per Quarter in network history. With Kids 6-11, Toon Disney's delivery for Total Program Day audiences increased 15% overall, for the Third Quarter.
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This however, is not to overshadow the channel's incredible success in previous months or at the end of the year -- October delivery jumped an incredible 58% (K6-11, Total Program Day), while Year End numbers for the same demographic rose an notable 28% (Total Program Day).