Annual event will only be semi-live this year — and crowd-less
2020 has been less than spectacular, but like life, the (fireworks) show must go on. While Saturday’s “Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular” won’t have an in-person crowd this year, it should still pull down a decent live-TV audience.
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Yes, even on a Saturday, and even with with 2020’s secretive coronavirus-forced setup. (This year’s unfortunate day-of-the-week designation won’t do the annual NBC event any favors: Saturdays are the lowest-rated night of the week.)
Last year’s July 4 show, when things were “normal,” the biggest U.S. fireworks event of the year drew 5.865 million total viewers, according to Nielsen. That tally may not be worthy of the “spectacular” title, especially when considering the returns from previous years, but it is generally a pretty strong performance for a summer telecast this side of hits like fellow NBC program “America’s Got Talent.”
Also Read: 'America's Got Talent' Resumes Production - Here's How Judge Cuts and Live Shows Will Look
Unfortunately, the 2019 celebration of America’s independence, which was hosted by Derek Hough and Ciara, drew an all-time low rating in the key demo of adults 18-49.
The sub-6-million-viewers count, only the third time the event’s Nielsen numbers came in that low over the previous 10 years, marked a decline of nearly 21% from the viewership on Wednesday, July 4, 2018. Part of that is because the exact middle of the week is actually the best night for fireworks, as Wednesdays are the least-likely evening for potential viewers to be on vacation.
Again, that was back when things like vacations (and joy) existed.
The previous Wednesday-to-Thursday drop off, from 2012 to 2013, was just 11.5% — or about half last year’s decline.
Also Read: Los Angeles County to Close Beaches, Prohibit Fireworks Over Fourth of July Weekend
Below are the overall audience sizes for the past 10 years of the “Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular.”
2019 (Thursday): 5.865 million total viewers
2018 (Wednesday): 7.405 million
2017 (Tuesday): 6.361 million
2016 (Monday): 7.034 million
2015 (Saturday): 4.958 million
2014 (Friday): 5.373 million
2013 (Thursday): 7.181 million
2012 (Wednesday): 8.116 million
2011 (Monday): 8.713 million
2010 (Sunday): 6.918 million
As you can see, the Friday and Saturday events from 2014 and 2015 received the smallest TV audiences of the past 10 years. That is consistent with how television usage on those evenings goes, and is a pattern that should continue this year — COVID-19 or no COVID-19.
In case you were wondering, we skipped having the Fourth on a Friday this year due to the leap year.
Saturday’s fireworks have actually been happening all week. This year’s broadcast event will feature footage from a weeklong series of surprise five-minute fireworks displays spanning each of New York City’s five boroughs. That is how producers were able to keep crowds away, satisfying New York’s social-distancing guidelines.
The grand finale display will be broadcast live. The only semi-live nature of the event is like the fifth or sixth thing working against this year’s telecast.
NBC News’ “Today” anchor Craig Melvin will host the TV presentation, which in addition to the colorful explosions, will include performances by National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman, the Black Eyed Peas, the Killers, Lady A, John Legend, Tim McGraw and Brad Paisley.
Saturday’s two-hour live telecast starts at 8 p.m. on NBC.
18 New Summer TV Shows Ranked by Premiere Viewers, From 'Tough as Nails' to 'United We Fall' (Photos)
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ABC/Fox/CBS/The CW
With all due respect to "America's Got Talent," summer is not exactly the time when Nielsen ratings threaten to fall off the charts -- at least, not the top of the charts. And when it comes to new series, a summer slot isn't generally a vote of confidence from the network.
Due to coronavirus-forced production shutdowns, Summer 2020 has been an especially soft season. Click through our gallery to see how 18 freshman broadcast television shows -- some acquisitions -- fared in total viewers for their premieres this summer.
Also Read: 2020-2021 TV Season: Every Broadcast Show Canceled, Renewed and Ordered – So Far
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The CW
Rank: 18 Show: "Taskmaster"* Net: The CW Total Viewers: 212,000
*Network debut of U.K. series
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The CW
Rank: 17 Show: "Being Reuben"* Net: The CW Total Viewers: 242,000 *Network debut of U.K. series
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The CW
Rank: 16 Show: "Fridge Wars"* Net: The CW Total Viewers: 398,000
*Network debut of Canadian series
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CBS All Access
Rank: 15 Show: "Tell Me a Story"* Net: The CW Total Viewers: 434,000
*Network debut of CBS All Access series
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The CW
Rank: 14 Show: "Killer Camp"* Net: The CW Total Viewers: 483,000
*Network debut of U.K. series
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The CW
Rank: 13 Show: "Dead Pixels"* Net: The CW Total Viewers: 506,000
*Network debut of U.K. series
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The CW
Rank: 12 Show: "Coroner"* Net: The CW Total Viewers: 715,000
*Network debut of Canadian series
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Fox
Rank: 11 Show: "Labor of Love" Net: Fox Total Viewers: 891,000
Also Read: How ‘Labor of Love’ Producers Found Kristy Katzmann Her Perfect Man/Sperm Donor
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The CW
Rank: 10 Show: "DC's Stargirl"* Net: The CW Total Viewers: 1.224 million *Network debut of DC Universe series
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Fox
Rank: 9 Show: "Celebrity Watch Party" Net: Fox Total Viewers: 1.785 million
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ABC
Rank: 8 Show: "The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons - Ever!" Net: ABC Total Viewers: 2.412 million
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NBC
Rank: 7 Show: "Cannonball"* Net: NBC Total Viewers: 2.655
*Network debut of USA Network series
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ABC
Rank: 6 Show: "The Genetic Detective" Net: ABC Total Viewers: 3.264 million
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CBS
Rank: 5 Show: "Tough as Nails" Net: CBS Total Viewers: 4.096 million
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ABC
Rank: 4 Show: "Don't" Net: ABC Total Viewers: 4.178 million
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ABC
Rank: 3 Show: "United We Fall" Net: ABC Total Viewers: 4.235 million
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Fox
Rank: 2 Show: "Ultimate Tag" Net: Fox Total Viewers: 4.351 million
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CBS
Rank: 1 Show: "Game On!" Net: CBS Total Viewers: 4.437 million
Nielsen sheets cooled off as the months warmed up
With all due respect to "America's Got Talent," summer is not exactly the time when Nielsen ratings threaten to fall off the charts -- at least, not the top of the charts. And when it comes to new series, a summer slot isn't generally a vote of confidence from the network.
Due to coronavirus-forced production shutdowns, Summer 2020 has been an especially soft season. Click through our gallery to see how 18 freshman broadcast television shows -- some acquisitions -- fared in total viewers for their premieres this summer.
Also Read: 2020-2021 TV Season: Every Broadcast Show Canceled, Renewed and Ordered – So Far
Tony Maglio
TV Editor • tony.maglio@thewrap.com • Twitter: @tonymaglio