Rock Hall of Fame Ceremony’s Debut on Broadcast TV a Hit for ABC

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s primetime airing on ABC was a hit on New Year’s Day, drawing 13 million total viewers and a 0.38 rating among people people aged 18 to 49, according to Nielsen data.

The Jan. 1 airing, which was the ceremony’s first time on a broadcast network after decades on HBO, was the top choice among 18-49ers across primetime, topping NBC’s America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League (0.31), as well as Fox’s M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television special (0.20). The ABC special, which was edited down to three hours, followed the Nov. 3 live-streaming of the all-star event on Disney+, its new digital home following a deal struck last September. That four hour-plus version has been available to re-watch ever since for Disney+ subscribers.

“Moving to our new home at Disney has taken The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to a new level of awareness and engagement with music audiences around the world,” said John Sykes, chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. “They have a true understanding of music and the ability to deliver record viewership.”

The Rock Hall was founded in 1983 and inducted its first honoree — Chuck Berry — three years later. This year’s induction ceremony was held Nov. 3 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine and The Spinners were all inducted, along with DJ Kool Herc and Link Wray for musical influence; Chaka Khan, Al Kooper and Bernie Taupin for musical excellence; and Don Cornelius for the Ahmet Ertegun Award.

Highlights of the ceremony included Crow’s fist-pumping duet with Olivia Rodrigo, a tribute to Michael featuring Carrie Underwood, Miguel and Adam Levine, Big Boi’s stumping for Bush, a surprise pop-in by Jimmy Page and Elliott’s raucous closing medley, among other choice moments.