On an unusually busy Fourth of July television schedule, ABC pulled off a ratings upset by beating NBC's traditionally dominant Macy's 4th of July Fireworks. ABC's three-hour primetime special, Nashville's Star-Spangled Bash, hosted by Ryan Seacrest and serving as the finale of a 24-hour "Disney Celebrates America" block, averaged 5.44 million viewers against NBC's 4.94 million on-air viewers. The result marked the first time since 2010 that a network other than NBC has led primetime on Independence Day.

ABC's special also outdrew Fourth of July broadcasts on Fox News (3.47 million), CBS (1.99 million) and CNN (1.27 million), while the wider "Disney Celebrates America" stunt reached 49.6 million viewers across its programming. NBC still recorded a 37 percent year-on-year rise and claimed 11.2 million viewers for the fireworks special once replays, a Telemundo Spanish-language telecast and Peacock streaming were included. Elsewhere, ABC averaged 5 million viewers for the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest and 4.5 million for the afternoon special 7 Wonders of America, helping the big four networks, Fox News and CNN combine for almost 20 million primetime viewers on a night boosted by the semiquincentennial celebrations.