ABC Family hits new highs

'25 Days of Christmas' peaks with 2.8 million

By JOHN DEMPSEY

'The Polar Express' amassed 5.06 million viewers to become the highest-rated theatrical in ABC Family history.

ABC Family has decked the halls with eyeballs: Its ninth annual "25 Days of Christmas" primetime-programming stunt harvested all-time records in total viewers (2.56 million), adults 18-49 (1.06 million) and adults 18-34 (441,000).

The 25-day sked hit its peak during the seven days beginning Dec. 4, when ABC Family chalked up the best weekly primetime numbers in its history, averaging 2.81 million viewers in primetime, 486,000 adults 18-34 and 1.18 million adults 18-49. In another ABC Family first, the net ended up No. 1 for the week of Dec. 4-10 among all cablers.

Highlights of the 25 days included Dec. 10's "Santa Baby," which pulled in 4.73 million total viewers, more than any other original movie since ABC took over the Family Channel from Fox in 2001, and Dec. 9's run of "The Polar Express," which amassed 5.06 million viewers to become the highest-rated theatrical in ABC Family history.