Ratings Analysis: Though the Lakers ended up losing to the Nets, ABC's NBA game (1.57) was easily the highest-rated broadcast on Christmas night and helped boost a 10:30pm 'Black-ish' encore (0.61) to a rating well above the majority of its 2021 episodes. Buoyed by a massive NFL game (5.12) that aired outside of primetime, Fox's 'PBC Boxing' (0.66) improved significantly from last week (0.17) and was the #2 telecast of the evening. NBC had sturdy showings of the 1966 animated special 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas!' (0.42) and the 2000 live-action 'Grinch' film (0.47). The first 'Grinch' was seven-hundredths shy of its year-ago performance (0.49) while the second 'Grinch' was only down by three-hundredths from 2020 (0.50). CBS went with tepid repeats of 'NCIS: Los Angeles' (0.19) and '48 Hours' (0.19/0.22). The CW had an encore of 'iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2021' (0.07).
Finals Update: 'NBA: Nets v. Lakers' (+0.8), 'PBC Boxing' (+0.1), 'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas' (+0.1), and the repeat of 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas!' (+0.1) adjusted up. The 10 PM repeat of '48 Hours' (-0.1) adjusted down.
(R) = repeat
