NBC Sunday Night Movie
NBC's Sunday night film showcase, a top-30 program in the mid-1980s.
For much of the 1980s, NBC’s Sunday night film slot was a consistent top-30 hit, typically running from 9 to 11 p.m. or starting half an hour earlier. It sometimes launched a miniseries, with the second part airing on Monday. The block ended on September 6, 2009, with Friday Night Lights, which drew 2.6 million viewers.
Quick Facts
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Runtime
- 120–240 mins. (approx.)
- Channel
- NBC
- First aired
- 1981
- Last aired
- 2009
Facts from the source article.
"The Big Event"
On September 20, 1976, NBC rebranded the Sunday Night Movie as an umbrella program called The Big Event. Its programming included film premieres, made-for-TV movies, miniseries installments, specials, and sporting events. The opening telecast, a live presentation structured around three New York parties, was panned by The New York Times, which described it as an excruciatingly embarrassing and almost pathetic occasion due to rain disrupting outdoor segments. In its first season (1976–77), The Big Event earned a 24.4 rating, ranking sixth and becoming one of only four NBC programs in the Top 30. Ratings declined in later seasons, and NBC dropped the Big Event branding in 1981.
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