Led by the week’s #1 telecast in adults 18-49, the Panthers-Jets “Sunday Night Football” NFL preseason game, and the #1 show in total viewers, Tuesday’s “America’s Got Talent,” NBC has tied for #1 for the week of August 20-26 in adults 18-49, marking the fourth time in five weeks NBC has ranked #1 or tied for #1 in primetime’s key demo. According to “live plus same day” viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research, NBC averaged a 1.5 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49 and 5.1 million viewers overall for the week.
The Panthers-Jets “Sunday Night Football” preseason game ranked #1 for the week on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and all key adult-male demos. Also ranking among the top programs for the week in adults 18-49 were the Tuesday and Wednesday editions of “America’s Got Talent (#4 and tied for #6 respectively), Monday’s “Grimm” (tied for #14), Wednesday’s “Go On” encore (tied for #25) and Wednesday’s “Talent” rebroadcast (tied for #25). Rankings exclude sports pre- and post-game shows.
In total viewers, Tuesday’s “America’s Got Talent,” “Sunday Night Football” and Wednesday’s “America’s Got Talent” Results Show ranked #1, #2 and #3 respectively among all primetime telecasts on those networks.
“America’s Got Talent” has been the #1 non-sports program on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in total viewers for each of its last 11 weeks on the air (“Talent” was preempted during the two full weeks of the London Olympics).
Primetime averages for the week of August 20-26 in adults 18-49 were: CBS (1.5/5), NBC (1.5/5), Fox (1.4/4), ABC (1.1/3) and CW (0.3/1). In overall total viewers, the weekly averages were: CBS (5.8 million), NBC (5.1 million), ABC (4.1 million), Fox (3.8 million) and CW (0.7 million).
For the 2011-12 broadcast year to date, NBC is #2 among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in adult 18-49 rating and total viewers, running within 0.2 of a rating point of first-place Fox in 18-49. NBC is the only network among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox that’s up versus one year ago in viewers 18-49, viewers 18-34 and viewers 25-54. Averages for the broadcast year through 48 weeks are: Fox (2.8/8), NBC (2.6/8), CBS (2.5/7), ABC (2.2/6) and CW (0.6/2). In overall total viewers, the broadcast-year averages are: CBS (10.0 million), NBC (8.1 million), Fox (7.7 million), ABC (7.5 million) and CW (1.4 million).
NBC highlights for the week of August 20-26
* On Monday, “Grimm” captured its second-highest adult 18-49 rating since January 20.
* On Tuesday, “America’s Got Talent” delivered the #1 results of the night in 18-49 and total viewers and grew steadily throughout its two hour time period in both categories.
* Also on Tuesday, an encore of “Go On” ranked #1 from 10-10:30 p.m. ET among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults 18-49 and all other key demos.
* NBC was the #1 network Tuesday night in 18-49 and total viewers..
* On Wednesday, “America’s Got Talent” matched the highest 18-49 rating for any Wednesday telecast on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox, excluding Olympics, since June 27.
* Wednesday’s 8 p.m. encore of “America’s Got Talent” generated NBC’s top 18-49 rating in the slot, excluding sports, so far this summer.
* Also on Wednesday, “Law & Order: SVU” matched its summer high in 18-49.
* On Thursday, “Rock Center” reported its top 18-49, 25-54 and total-viewer results since July 12, to tie for #1 in the slot among ABC, CBS and NBC in 18-49 and rank #1 outright among those nets in 25-54.
* On Saturday, “WrestleMania 28 – Rock vs. Cena” improved on the results for the comparable year-ago special by 33 percent in 18-49 rating and 22 percent in total viewers..
* On Sunday, NBC Sports’ coverage of the Panthers-Jets preseason football game scored the highest ratings in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures for any NFL preseason telecast on any network so far this season. Sunday’s NFL coverage paced NBC to a primetime win in adults 18-49, total viewers and most other key measures..
Ratings reflect “live plus same day” data unless otherwise noted. Season-to-date figures are averages of “live plus seven day” data except for the two most recent weeks, which are “live plus same day.”
Additional NBC highlights for the week of August 20-26:
On Monday, August 20 at 8 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of “America’s Got Talent” averaged a 1.1 rating, 3 share in adults 18-49 and 4.7 million viewers overall.
Monday at 9 p.m. ET, “Stars Earn Stripes” averaged a 1.2/3 in 18-49 and 3.6 million viewers overall. “Stars Earn Stripes” built on its 18-49 lead-in by 9 percent. “Stars Earn Stripes” also increased its 18-49 rating from its first half-hour to its second by 9 percent (to a 1.2 from a 1.1).
Monday from 10-11 p.m. ET, “Grimm” (1.7/5 in adults 18-49, 4.9 million viewers overall) delivered its second highest adult 18-49 rating since January 20, behind only the 2.0 for the prior week’s season-two debut, to win the hour this week among ABC, CBS and NBC in 18-49. “Grimm” led the time period among those networks in every key demo, capturing a 70 percent margin of victory over CBS’s encore “Hawaii Five-0” (with a 1.7 rating vs. a 1.0) and equaling the combined score of the CBS and ABC competition (1.7 vs. a combined 1.7). Versus “Grimm’s average in last May’s sweep, this week’s telecast is up 21 percent in 18-49 rating (1.7 vs. 1.4). “Grimm” beat NBC’s average in this slot last summer by 42 percent in 18-49 rating (with a 1.7 vs. a 1.2, “live plus same day non-sports”). Note that last season, “Grimm” originals added an average 69 percent to these next-day “live plus same day” 18-49 ratings when Nielsen issued “live plus seven day” results.
On Tuesday, August 21, from 8-10 p.m. ET, “America’s Got Talent” (2.5/8 in 18-49, 9.9 million viewers overall) delivered the #1 results of the night in adults 18-49 and total viewers. “Talent” is also #1 in the time period in adults 18-49 and total viewers. “Talent grew steadily through its two-hour time period, increasing its 18-49 rating by 22 percent from the show’s first half-hour to its fourth (to a 2.8 from a 2.3) and increasing its overall audience by 11 percent or 1.0 million persons (10.3 million vs. 9.3 million).
Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of “Go On” (1.4/4 in 18-49, 4.8 million viewers overall) finished #1 among ABC, CBS and NBC in the time period in adults 18-49 and all other key demos. “Go On” topped CBS’s “Mentalist” encore in the half-hour by a 27 percent margin in 18-49 rating (with a 1.4 vs. a 1.1) and beat ABC’s original “NY Med” by a 40 percent margin (1.4 vs. 1.0).
Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of “Animal Practice” (1.0/3 in 18-49, 3.6 million viewers overall) finished within a tenth of a point of #1 among ABC, CBS and NBC in the half-hour in 18-49 rating and is #1 or tied for #1 among those networks in men 18-49 and adults, men and women 18-34. Despite the late 10:30 half-hour, “Animal Practice” retained 71 percent of its 18-49 lead-in and 72 percent of its 25-54 lead-in from the 10 p.m. “Go On” rebroadcast.
NBC ranked #1 Tuesday night among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in adults 18-49 and total viewers, winning five of six half-hours among those networks in 18-49.
On Wednesday, August 22 at 8 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of “America’s Got Talent” (1.4/5 in 18-49, 5.2 million viewers overall) generated NBC’s highest non-sports 18-49 rating in the time period so far this summer. In total viewers, the 8 p.m. “Talent” encore has over the last two weeks delivered NBC’s two biggest overall audiences in the slot so far this summer, excluding sports.
Wednesday from 9-10 p.m. ET, the “America’s Got Talent” Results Show (2.3/7 in 18-49, 8.6 million viewers overall) matched the prior week’s 2.3 in 18-49, the highest non-Olympic rating for any Wednesday program on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox since the June 27 “Talent.” This week’s telecast also equaled the show’s highest Wednesday rating in adults 18-49 since that same night. “America’s Got Talent” ranked #1 for the night in 18-49 and total viewers and led its time period in 18-49, total viewers and most other key measures, establishing an advantage of 53 percent over Fox’s second-place “So You Think You Can Dance” in 18-49 (2.3 vs. 1.5 in that hour). The 9 p.m. “Talent” original built on its lead-in from a rebroadcast in the prior hour by 64 percent in 18-49 rating.
Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (1.2/4 in 18-49, 4.3 million viewers overall) matched the show’s summer high in 18-49. In the time period, “SVU” finished #1 among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults 18-49 ahead of CBS’s “CSI” encore (1.1/3) and the finale of ABC’s original “NY Med” (1.0/3).
NBC ranked #1 Wednesday night in adults 18-49 and total viewers.
On Thursday, August 23 at 8 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of “The Office” averaged a 0.7/3 in 18-49 and 2.2 million viewers overall, matching the show’s top 18-49 rating since May 31. At 8:30, a rebroadcast of “Parks and Recreation” delivered a 0.6/2 in 18-49 and 1.8 million viewers overall.
Thursday at 9 p.m. ET, “Saving Hope” averaged a 0.6/2 in 18-49 and 2.9 million viewers overall, to match its highest 18-49 rating since June 28.
Thursday at 10 p.m. ET, “Rock Center” (1.1/3 in 18-49, 5.2 million viewers overall) tied for #1 among ABC, CBS and NBC in the time period in adults 18-49 and was #1 outright among those networks in adults 25-54. “Rock Center” reported its top adult 18-49, adult 25-54 and total-viewer results since July 12 and matched its highest 25-54 rating (a 1.6) since January 23. It’s the third consecutive edition of “Rock Center” to improve on its results for the prior telecast in 18-49 and total viewers, with the 1.1 rating in 18-49 up 10 percent versus the 1.0 for the August 16 edition, up 38 percent versus the 0.8 for the July 26 telecast and up 57 percent versus the 0.7 for the July 19 edition. Compared with NBC’s averages in the time period last summer, this week’s “Rock Center” is up 22 percent in 18-49 (1.1 vs. 0.9, L+SD non-sports) and up 101 percent in total viewers (5.179 million vs. 2.579 million). From its first half-hour to its second, “Rock Center” grew by 20 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.2 from a 1.0), 7 percent in adults 25-54 (1.6 vs. 1.5) and 12 percent in total viewers (5.5 million vs. 4.9 million).
On Friday, August 24 at 8 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of “America’s Got Talent” averaged a 0.6/2 in 18-49 and 2.9 million viewers overall. At 9 p.m., an encore telecast of “Grimm” delivered a 0.5/2 in 18-49 and 2.0 million viewers overall. And at 10 p.m. ET, “Dateline NBC” averaged a 0.9/3 in 18-49 and 3.7 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its second, “Dateline” grew by 25 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 1.0 rating from a 0.8), by 18 percent in adults 25-54 (1.3 vs. 1.1) and by 21 percent in total viewers (4.1 million vs. 3.4 million).
Saturday, August 25, from 8-9 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of “America’s Got Talent” averaged a 0.4/2 in 18-49 and 1.9 million viewers overall.
Saturday from 9-10 p.m. ET, “WrestleMania 28 – Rock vs. Cena” delivered a 0.8/3 in 18-49 and 2.5 million viewers overall. The “WrestleMania” special topped the 18-49 rating of all entertainment programming that NBC has aired in the time period so far this summer. From its first half-hour to its second, “WrestleMania 28” grew by 29 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 0.9 from a 0.7) and 17 percent in total viewers (2.7 million vs. 2.3 million). The “WrestleMania 28” special is up 33 percent in 18-49 rating and 22 percent in total viewers versus the comparable year-ago special (0.6/2 in 18-49 and 2.1 million viewers overall from 9-10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011).
Saturday at 10 p.m. ET, an encore of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” averaged a 0.7/2 in 18-49 and 2.9 million viewers overall. “SVU” grew from its first half-hour to its second by 33 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 0.8 rating from a 0.6), 25 percent in adults 25-54 (1.0 vs. 0.8) and 24 percent in total viewers (3.3 million vs. 2.6 million).
On Sunday, August 26, from 8:07-11:05 p.m. ET, NBC Sports’ coverage of the Carolina Panthers-New York Jets “Sunday Night Football” preseason game averaged a 3.3/9 in 18-49, 9.8 million viewers overall and a 6.2/10 household rating/share. Sunday’s Panthers-Jets match-up scored the highest results in adults 18-49 and total viewers for any NFL preseason game so far this season, with NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” Colts-Steelers telecast of last week ranking #2. Sunday’s game was the #1 telecast of the night on the broadcast networks in adults 18-49 and total viewers and dominated its time period.
Also on Sunday from 7-8 p.m. ET, the NBC Sports special “Madden NFL 13 Pigskin Pro-Am” averaged a 0.9/3 in 18-49, 2.6 million viewers overall and a 1.6/3 in households, growing versus the year-ago special by 13 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 0.9 from a 0.8) and 2 percent in total viewers (2.623 million vs. 2.561 million. From 8-8:07 p.m. ET, “NBC Sunday Night Football Pre Kickoff” averaged a 1.9/6 in 18-49, 6.0 million viewers overall and a 3.8/7 in households.
NBC ranked #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox Sunday night in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54, total viewers, all key adult-male demos and women 18-49 and 25-54.
WEEKLY AVERAGES
Average rating, share and audience in each category
ADULTS 18-49
CBS 1.5/5, 1.9 million
NBC 1.5/5, 1.9 million
Fox 1.4/4, 1.8 million
ABC 1.1/3, 1.4 million
CW 0.3/1, 0.4 million
Each rating point equals 1.28 million viewers
ADULTS 25-54
CBS 1.9/5, 2.3 million
NBC 1.8/5, 2.2 million
Fox 1.6/5, 2.0 million
ABC 1.5/4, 1.8 million
CW 0.3/1, 0.4 million
Each rating point equals 1.21 million viewers
TOTAL VIEWERS
CBS 2.0/6, 5.8 million
NBC 1.8/5, 5.1 million
ABC 1.4/4, 4.1 million
Fox 1.3/4, 3.8 million
CW 0.3/1, 0.7 million
Each rating point equals 2.90 million viewers
2011-12 BROADCAST YEAR AVERAGES
Average rating, share and audience in each category
ADULTS 18-49
Fox 2.8/8, 3.5 million
NBC 2.6/8, 3.4 million
CBS 2.5/7, 3.2 million
ABC 2.2/6, 2.8 million
CW 0.6/2, 0.8 million
Each rating point equals 1.28 million viewers
ADULTS 25-54
CBS 3.3/8, 4.0 million
Fox 3.2/8, 3.8 million
NBC 3.1/8, 3.8 million
ABC 2.7/7, 3.3 million
CW 0.6/2, 0.8 million
Each rating point equals 1.21 million viewers
TOTAL VIEWERS
CBS 3.5/9, 10.0 million
NBC 2.8/7, 8.1 million
Fox 2.6/7, 7.7 million
ABC 2.6/7, 7.5 million.
CW 0.5/1, 1.4 million
Each rating point equals 2.90 million viewers
(source: NBC)
