Mark Giangreco and Janet Davies

Mark Giangreco and Janet Davies regained their throne as Chicago’s king and queen of New Year’s Eve on Saturday — with perhaps an assist from Cheryl Scott in a sensational red dress.

Straight up at midnight, “Countdown Chicago 2017” on ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 had a 12.3 rating and 31 share, while “Chi-Town Rising” on NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5 had a 9.7 rating and 25 share, according to Nielsen overnight ratings.

That translates to 425,949 households for ABC 7 versus 335,911 households for NBC 5. Although combined viewership for the two stations was down more than 30 percent from last year, ABC 7 enjoyed a return to the top spot it held for 24 years until last year’s surprise upset by NBC 5’s premiere “Chi-Town Rising.”

Cheryl Scott and Terrell Brown

From their base at the Drake Hotel, Giangreco and Davies presided over a far-flung cast of ABC 7 revelers, including Val Warner and Ryan Chiaverini at the Arie Crown Theatre, and Hosea Sanders and Ji Suk Yi at the Harold Washington Cultural Center. A highlight for some viewers may have been the appearance of meteorologist Scott, who arrived at the Hilton Oakbrook Hills Resort by helicopter with Terrell Brown.

NBC 5’s second annual “Chi-Town Rising,” featuring music performances and the ascent of a star 70 feet over the Chicago River at midnight, was hosted by Sheinelle Jones and Siafa Lewis with Kye Martin, Alicia Roman, Marley Kayden and Byron Miranda.

For their full broadcasts, ABC 7 averaged a 12.1 rating and 27 share, while NBC 5 averaged a 6.0 rating and 14 share. ABC 7 also prevailed among viewers between 25 and 54 and between 18 and 49.

One rating point represents 36,630 households; share is percent of sets in use.

“Countdown Chicago 2017”