All Spike TV needed to set a new internal ratings record was Channing Tatum in a “Frozen” wig and dress. Plus, cameos from Beyonce and Paula Abdul certainly didn’t hurt.
The Season 2 premiere of “Lip Sync Battle” — where Tatum battled it out with wife Jenna Dewan-Tatum — set a new all-time high mark for the cable channel, with 4.7 million total viewers. That sum counts three days of delayed viewing and makes this the most-watched original series episode in Spike’s history.
“‘Lip Sync Battle’ is a driving force behind the network’s successful shift to deliver a broad, gender-balanced audience,” said Kevin Kay, president of Spike TV. “The incredible popularity of this cultural phenomenon is a direct result of the creativity and hard work of the exceptionally talented producers and talent.”
In demo ratings news, the “Lip Sync Battle” Season 2 debut was the top-ranked show among viewers 18-49 (with a 3.45 rating) and 18-34 (a 3.43 rating) across all of television in the timeslot.
The show continued to perform very well among women, which was previously a major shortcoming for the male-skewing cable channel. Three million women tuned in to the Channing vs. Channing prize fight — another record for Spike.