While it did not quite average as many viewers as some websites reported, Friday’s “Descendants 2” premiere still drew an impressive audience.
Airing across six networks, the “Descendants 2” premiere averaged what Showbuzz reports as 8.92 million live+same-day viewers.
Disney Channel’s broadcast, which was by far the most popular option, garnered 5.33 million viewers. ABC’s simulcast drew 2.41 million, while Disney XD attracted 0.47 million.
Other broadcasters included Lifetime (0.30 million), Freeform (0.26 million) and Lifetime Movies (0.15 million).
The 8.92 million combined figure bests the 6.55 million averaged by the 2015 original. That film, it should be noted, aired exclusively on Disney Channel.
Comparing the numbers is a dicey game.
On the one hand, “Descendants 2” surely benefited from airing across six networks. TV ratings history tells us that some who watched one of the simulcasts would not have seen “Descendants 2” had it aired exclusively on Disney Channel.
On the other hand, some who watched a simulcast would have watched the Disney Channel version had it been their only option.
— The Disney version of “Descendants 2” led into the premiere of “Raven’s Home,” which drew 3.50 million.
