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Kids TV History

Disney Channel’s most-watched premieres

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Published: August 29, 2019
Updated: May 20, 2023

TV ratings are complicated. There are demos, viewers, “ratings”, shares, households, and numerous other terms that are used to differentiate different sets of ratings data. A commonly reported number for many years (at least since the mid-2000s) has been total viewers – all people ages 2 and up – that are watching a program.

Disney Channel has had an impressive run through much of the 2000s, especially with their original movies (DCOMs). High School Musical 2 is still one of the highest rated (non-sports) premieres in all of cable TV history. Some TV series have also been able to bring in a large audience with specials as well.

Let’s take a look at Disney Channel’s most watched premieres of all time! But first, please note:

  • Data is based on total viewer (ages 2+) ratings for Live (through 12/25/2005) and Live + Same Day (since 12/26/2005) from Nielsen Media Research.
  • Live + Same Day (Live+SD) includes DVR playback through 3:00am on the same day/night. It has been the standard reported number since 2006. Before that, just Live viewing was counted.
  • Available data only. Chart includes all known premieres with 6,000,000+ total viewers. Cannot assure all rankings are accurate.
  • Only includes premiere telecast ratings. Repeats excluded. (Yes, there are repeats that could be on this list if it weren’t just for premieres!)
  • Sources include Zap2it, TV by the Numbers, The Programming Insider, The Futon Critic, Travis Yanan, Son of the Bronx, Ratings Ryan, and other TV ratings resources over the past couple decades!
Rank Program
“Episode” or Note
Live/Live+SD Total Viewers Date
Day Time
1 High School Musical 2
Disney Channel Original Movie
17,241,000 Aug-17-2007
Fri 8:00p
2 Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie
Disney Channel Original Movie
11,433,000 Aug-28-2009
Fri 8:00p
3 Phineas and Ferb
“Rollercoaster”
10,800,000 Aug-17-2007
Fri 10:00p
4 Hannah Montana
“Me and Mr. Jonas and Mr. Jonas and Mr. Jonas”
10,710,000 Aug-17-2007
Fri 10:15p
5 Wizards of Waverly Place
“Who Will Be the Family Wizard?”
9,755,000 Jan-6-2012
Fri 8:00p
6 Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana
crossover special
9,292,000 Jul-17-2009
Fri 8:00p
7 Camp Rock
Disney Channel Original Movie
8,858,000 Jun-20-2008
Fri 8:00p
8 Princess Protection Program
Disney Channel Original Movie
8,533,000 Jun-26-2009
Fri 8:00p
9 Teen Beach Movie
Disney Channel Original Movie
8,388,000 Jul-19-2013
Fri 8:00p
10 Jump In!
Disney Channel Original Movie
8,169,000 Jan-12-2007
Fri 8:00p
11 Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam
Disney Channel Original Movie
7,955,000 Sept-3-2010
Fri 8:00p
12 The Cheetah Girls 2
Disney Channel Original Movie
7,823,000 Aug-25-2006
Fri 8:00p
13 Cadet Kelly
Disney Channel Original Movie
7,753,000 Mar-8-2002
Fri 8:00p
14 High School Musical
Disney Channel Original Movie
7,732,000 Jan-20-2006
Fri 8:00p
15 Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension
Disney Channel Original Movie
7,642,000 Aug-5-2011
Fri 8:00p
16 Cory in the House
“New Kid in Town”
7,592,000 Jan-12-2007
Fri 9:30p
17 Return to Halloweentown
Disney Channel Original Movie
7,530,000 Oct-20-2006
Fri 8:00p
18 Good Luck Charlie
“Special Delivery”
7,477,000 Jun-24-2012
Sun 8:00p
19 Jessie
“Star Wars”
7,317,000 Jan-6-2012
Fri 9:00p
20 The Suite Life on Deck
“Twister, Part 3”
7,109,000 Jan-16-2011
Sun 8:00p
21 Hannah Montana Forever
“I’ll Always Remember You”
7,108,000 Nov-7-2010
Sun 7:30p
22 Hannah Montana
“On the Road Again”
7,050,000 Jul-28-2006
Fri 9:00p
23 Twitches
Disney Channel Original Movie
7,017,000 Oct-14-2005
Fri 8:00p
24 Twitches Too
Disney Channel Original Movie
6,959,000 Oct-12-2007
Fri 8:00p
25 Hannah Montana
“Miley Says Goodbye?, Part 2”
6,920,000 Mar-14-2010
Sun 7:30p
26 Hannah Montana
“He Could Be the One”
6,901,000 Jul-5-2009
Sun 8:00p
27 Good Luck Charlie, It’s Christmas!
Disney Channel Original Movie
6,876,000 Dec-2-2011
Fri 8:00p
28 The Suite Life on Deck
“Lost at Sea”
6,808,000 Oct-2-2009
Fri 8:00p
29 Good Luck Charlie
“Snow Show, Part 1”
6,656,000 Jan-16-2011
Sun 8:30p
30 Descendants
Disney Channel Original Movie
6,550,000 Jul-31-2015
Fri 8:00p
31 Minutemen
Disney Channel Original Movie
6,485,000 Jan-25-2008
Fri 8:00p
32 Hannah Montana
“Miley Says Goodbye?, Part 1”
6,316,000 Mar-7-2010
Sun 7:30p
33 The Santa Clause 2 (2002)
Disney Channel premiere
6,231,000 Dec-18-2006
Mon 8:00p
34 Wizards of Waverly Place
“Wizards vs. Werewolves”
6,217,000 Jan-22-2010
Fri 8:00p
35 Shake It Up
“Start It Up”
6,200,000 Nov-7-2010
Sun 8:30p
36 Hannah Montana Forever
“Wherever I Go”
6,179,000 Jan-16-2011
Sun 7:00p
37 The Cheetah Girls: One World
Disney Channel Original Movie
6,176,000 Aug-22-2008
Fri 8:00p
38 Halloweentown High
Disney Channel Original Movie
6,140,000 Oct-8-2004
Fri 8:00p
39 Sonny With A Chance
“Sonny With A Secret”
6,115,000 Jul-18-2010
Sun 8:30p
40 Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge
Disney Channel Original Movie
6,088,000 Oct-12-2001
Fri 8:00p
41 Wizards of Waverly Place
“Paint By Committee”
6,018,000 Jun-26-2009
Fri 9:45p