Disney Channel’s ‘Good Luck Charlie’ Holiday Movie Strikes Ratings Gold

Disney Channel is at it again.

The premiere of holiday television movie Good Luck Charlie: It’s Christmas, inspired by the cable network series Good Luck Charlie, hit ratings gold Friday evening. The Christmas movie delivered nearly 7 million total viewers (6.9 million to be more exact) at 8 p.m.

Good Luck Charlie: It’s Christmas averaged 3.3 million among kids 6-11, 2.4 million among tweens and 1.4 million among adults 18-49. The movie is now the top live-action cable film of the year among total viewers. To compare, Lemonade Mouth — which aired in April and also starred Bridgit Mendler — averaged more than 1 million less viewers with 5.7 million viewers to its premiere.

The telepic’s strong ratings performance boosted the launch of music comedy Austin & Ally at 9:30 p.m. The half-hour series drew 5.7 million viewers, with 2.7 million falling in the kids 6-11 demographic and 2.1 million in tweens.

Next week will be a big test for Austin & Ally as it will premiere in its regular Sunday time slot at 8 p.m.

Versus Friday’s broadcast offerings, which were not tailored to kids or teens, the Disney Channel outdrew nearly every program during the 8-10 p.m. period in viewership — the exceptions being CBS’ A Gifted Man and CSI: NY.

Good Luck Charlie: It’s Christmas centered on the Duncan family who get separated during a trip to Grandma’s house and going against the clock to reunite in time for Christmas. Austin & Ally follows Austin, an extroverted singer, and Ally, a brilliant but shy songwriter and their best friends.