"Kohaku Utagassen," ("Red and White Yearend Song Festival"), the annual TV music extravaganza shown by NHK on New Year's Eve, drew 40.8 percent of viewers in the Kanto region when British talent show upstart Susan Boyle appeared, according to rating firm Video Research Ltd.
Boyle, the breakout star of "Britain's Got Talent," appeared as a special guest for the show's 60th installment, singing her hit "I Dreamed a Dream" in the 9 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. portion of the two-part program.
Although the second segment of the show secured more than 40 percent of viewers for the second year in a row, viewership was down 1.3 points from last year.
The first segment, which started at 7:15 p.m., secured a 37.1 percent rating, up 1.4 points to secure its third consecutive year of gain.