Are you ready for some footgball. NBC was paced by “Sunday Night Football,” heavyweight ratings from the finale of “The Biggest Loser” and another week of potent numbers from the second season of “The Sing Off,” NBC won the week of December 13-19 in primetime’s key demographic of adults 18-49, averaging a 2.8 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49 and 8.5 million viewers overall, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.
This marks NBC’s second consecutive weekly win in adults 18-49. For the week, NBC also ranked #1 in adults, men and women 18-34 and men 18-49 and was #2 in adults 25-54, total viewers and all other key measures.
NBC Sports’ “Sunday Night Football” telecast of the New England Patriots’ 31-27 win over the Green Bay Packers was the #1 primetime program this week in adults 18-49, marking the 15th straight week in which “NBC Sunday Night Football” has topped the weekly rankings in primetime’s key demographic. “Sunday Night Football” also ranked #1 among all primetime programs for the week in adults 25-54, adults 18-34, all key adult-male and adult-female demographics – men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 -teens 12-17 and total viewers. (Note: rankings exclude all football pre-game and post-game telecasts).
Also ranking among the top 20 programs this week in adults 18-49 were “The Biggest Loser,” which ranked #4 (tied), the Monday edition of “The Sing Off” (#12, tied), Wednesday’s “Sing Off” (#16, tied) and Tuesday’s “Minute To Win It” (#20, tied; rankings exclude all football pre-game and post-game telecasts).
Among adults 18-34, NBC dominated the upper tier of the weekly rankings, with “Sunday Night Football” (#1), Monday’s edition of “The Sing Off” (#2), “The Biggest Loser” (#3) and Wednesday’s “Sing Off” (#5, tied; rankings exclude all football pre-game and post-game telecasts).
The finale of “The Biggest Loser 10” was the #2-ranked program of the week among women 18-49 and women 25-54, behind only “Sunday Night Football.” In women 18-34, “Biggest Loser” ranked #3 this week, trailing only “Sunday Night Football” and Monday’s “Sing Off.”
Primetime averages for the week of December 13-19 in adults 18-49 were NBC (2.8/8), CBS (2.7/8), Fox (1.6/5), ABC (1.3/4) and CW (0.5/2). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (11.1 million), NBC (8.5 million), ABC (4.7 million), Fox (4.6 million) and CW (1.3 million).
Season-to-date through 13 weeks, NBC is tied for #2 in adults 18-49, with a 2.8 rating in that key demographic, up from a #4 ranking at this same point last season. NBC is also tied for #2 in adults 25-54 season-to-date, up 3 percent in 25-54 rating versus the first 13 weeks last year (3.3 vs. 3.2). NBC ranks #3 in total viewers season to date, up 4 percent year to year through the first 13 weeks of the season (8.230 million vs. 7.910 million).
NBC highlights for the week of December 13-19
* NBC Sports’ “Sunday Night Football” telecast of the Green Bay Packers at the New England Patriots powered NBC to a primetime win in virtually all key measures: adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54, total viewers, all key adult-male demos – men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 – as well as women 18-34, women 18-49 and teens 12-17.
* NBC’s margin of victory over the #2 network in primetime Sunday night was 56 percent in adults 18-49 and 26 percent in total viewers.
* Sunday’s Packers-Patriots game was up 32 percent in 18-49 rating and 23 percent or 6.0 million persons in total viewers versus the “Sunday Night Football” game that aired during the same week last year
* On Monday, “The Sing Off” set new series records, posting increases of 18 percent in 18-49 rating and 11 percent in total viewers versus its prior highs, which were set with its season-two debut one week earlier. Monday’s telecast of “The Sing Off” was up 43 percent in 18-49 rating and 31 percent or more than 2.2 million persons in total viewers versus the comparable second Monday telecast last year.
* The 3.3 rating in adults 18-49 achieved by Monday’s “Sing Off” ties the September 14, 2009 “America’s Got Talent” for NBC’s highest 18-49 rating in this time period, excluding Olympics, since the February 2, 2009 telecasts of the 3-D episode of “Chuck” and “Heroes.”
* Monday’s “Sing Off” ranked #2 in its two-hour time period among ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW in adults 18-49 and total viewers and was #1 in adults, men and women 18-34 and women 18-49.
* On Tuesday, the finale of “The Biggest Loser 10” scored season high ratings in all key measures to win its two-hour time period in adults 18-49 and most other key demographics.
* “The Biggest Loser” finale tipped the scales with NBC’s heftiest 18-49 rating in the Tuesday 9-11 p.m. ET time period since December 8, 2009 and biggest overall viewership in the slot since September 14. Versus the prior week, the “Loser” finale soared 29 percent in 18-49 rating and 34 percent or more than 2.8 million persons in total viewers
* For its concluding hour from 10-11 p.m., “Biggest Loser” topped the ABC-CBS competition combined in adults 18-49, as well as in adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and other key demographics.
* Also on Tuesday, “Minute To Win It” set a new series record in total viewers and matched its highest 18-49 rating since the second hour of its premiere night. Versus its season premiere one week earlier, “Minute” ticked off gains of 21 percent in adults 18-49 and 10 percent in total viewers.
* NBC scored season highs for Tuesday night in adults 18-49 and total viewers and won the night in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and all key adult-female demographics.
* On Wednesday, “The Sing Off” delivered a season high for NBC in the time period in adults 18-49 and attracted the biggest overall viewership for NBC in the slot since September 22. Versus the prior Wednesday telecast, “The Sing Off” was up by 7 percent in 18-49 rating and 11 percent in total viewers.
* Versus the year-ago Wednesday telecast, Wednesday’s “Sing Off” was up 38 percent in 18-49 rating and 30 percent or nearly 2.0 million persons in total viewers
* In its two-hour time period Wednesday, “The Sing Off” ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and total viewers and #1 in adults 18-34 versus competition that included CBS’s “Survivor” and “Criminal Minds” and the finale of Fox’s “Hell’s Kitchen.” “The Sing Off” topped the “Hell’s Kitchen” finale head-to-head in the 9-10 p.m. hour in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and total viewers.
* Through its first four telecasts this year, “The Sing Off” is up versus last year’s four telecasts by 26 percent in 18-49 rating and by 24 percent or more than 1.6 million persons in total viewers.
* On Friday, a two-hour “Dateline NBC” ranked #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW in adults, men and women 18-49; adults, men and women 25-54; and total viewers.
* “Dateline” reported its biggest overall audience for a Friday telecast since October 8 and matched its highest Friday 18-49 rating since that same date.
NBC ranked #1 on Friday night in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, total viewers and other key categories.
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 December 13-19:
On Monday, Dec.13 from 8-10 p.m. ET, “The Sing Off” (3.3 rating, 9 share in adults 18-49, 9.5 million viewers overall) set new series records, posting increases of 18 percent in 18-49 rating and 11 percent in total viewers versus the prior records which were set with the show’s season-two debut one week earlier (a 2.8/7 in 18-49 and 8.570 million viewers on December 6). The 3.3 rating in adults 18-49 ties the September 14, 2009 “America’s Got Talent” for NBC’s highest 18-49 rating in this time period, excluding Olympics, since February 2, 2009 (3-D episode of “Chuck” and “Heroes”).
Monday’s telecast of “The Sing Off” was up versus the comparable second Monday telecast last year by 43 percent in 18-49 rating (3.3 vs. a 2.3 on December 21, 2009) and by 31 percent or more than 2.2 million persons in total viewers (9.510 million vs. 7.277 million).
“The Sing Off” ranked #2 in its two-hour time period among ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW in adults 18-49 and total viewers and was #1 in adults, men and women 18-34 and women 18-49.
Monday at 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of “Chase” (1.2/3 in adults 18-49, 4.4 million viewers overall) held 80 percent of the 18-49 rating and 89 percent of the overall viewership of the prior week’s 1.5 rating and 4.985 million viewers for an original telecast. The “Chase” rebroadcast ranked #2 or tied for #2 among ABC, CBS and NBC in the time period in most key demographics, including adults 18-49 and adults 18-34.
On Tuesday, Dec. 14 from 8-9 p.m. ET, “Minute To Win It” (2.3/7 in adults 18-49, 7.7 million viewers overall) set a new series record in total viewers and matched its highest 18-49 rating since the second hour of its premiere night, from 8-9 p.m. on Sunday, March 14. Versus its season premiere one week earlier, “Minute” ticked off gains of 21 percent in adults 18-49 (2.3 vs. 1.9) and 10 percent in total viewers (7.7 million vs. 7.0 million).
“Minute To Win It” clocked significant gains in all key categories from its first half-hour to its second, including increases of 19 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 2.5 from a 2.1, 29 and 14 percent or more than 1.0 million persons in total viewers (to 8.2 million from 7.1 million7.6 million vs. 6.4 million).
In its time period, “Minute To Win It” ranked #2 versus all broadcast and cable competition in adults, men and women 18-49, adults, men and women 25-54 and in total viewers.
Tuesday from 9-11 p.m. ET, the finale of “The Biggest Loser 10” (4.0/11 in adults 18-49, 11.1 million viewers overall) scored season highs in all key measures to win the time period in adults 18-49 and most other key demographics. “Biggest Loser” weighed in with its heftiest 18-49 ratings since January 19 and its biggest overall audience since January 5.
“The Biggest Loser” finale tipped the scales with NBC’s weightiest 18-49 rating in the Tuesday 9-11 p.m. ET time period since December 8, 2009 and biggest overall viewership in the slot since September 14. Versus the prior week, the “Loser” finale soared 29 percent in 18-49 rating (4.0 vs. 3.1) and 34 percent or more than 2.8 million persons in total viewers (11.1 million vs. 8.2 million).
For its concluding hour from 10-11 p.m. ET, “Biggest Loser” topped the ABC-CBS competition combined in adults 18-49 (with a 4.2 rating vs. a combined 3.0) as well as in adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and other key demographics.
NBC scored season highs for Tuesday night in adults 18-49 and total viewers and won the night in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and in all key adult-female demographics – women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54.
On Wednesday, Dec. 15 from 8-10 p.m. ET, “The Sing Off” (2.9/8 in 18-49, 8.5 million viewers overall) delivered a season high for NBC in the time period in adults 18-49 and attracted the biggest overall viewership for NBC in the slot since September 22. Versus the prior week’s Wednesday telecast, “The Sing Off” was up by 7 percent in 18-49 rating (2.9 vs. 2.7) and 11 percent in total viewers (8.5 million vs. 7.6 million).
In its time period, “The Sing Off” ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and total viewers and #1 in adults 18-34 versus competition that included CBS’s “Survivor” and “Criminal Minds” and the finale of Fox’s “Hell’s Kitchen.” “The Sing Off” topped the “Hell’s Kitchen” finale head-to-head in the 9-10 p.m. hour in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and total viewers.
The Wednesday “Sing Off” was up versus the year-ago Wednesday telecast by 38 percent in 18-49 rating (2.9 vs. 2.1) and 30 percent or nearly 2.0 million persons in total viewers (8.5 million vs. 6.5 million).
Through its first four telecasts this year, “The Sing Off” is up versus last year’s four telecasts by 26 percent in 18-49 rating (2.9 vs. 2.3) and by 24 percent or more than 1.6 million persons in total viewers (8.544 million vs. 6.884 million. (Note: Last year, “The Sing Off” had four telecasts total – on December .14, 15, 16 and 21. Last year’s averages include the show’s finale on Monday, Dec. 21. This year, “The Sing Off” cycle consists of five telecasts, with the finale airing on Monday, December 20.)
Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (1.9/6 in 18-49, 6.7 million viewers overall) finished one tenth of a rating point out of the time-period lead in adults 18-49 and ranked #1 among ABC, CBS and NBC in all key adult female demographics – women 18-34, women 18-49 and women 25-54 (tied).
From its first half-hour to its second, the “SVU” rebroadcast grew by 11 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.0 from a 1.8) and 10 percent in total viewers (to 7.1 million from 6.4 million) while the competition on ABC and CBS declined half-hour to half-hour in both categories.
On Thursday, Dec. 16 from 8-8:30 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of “Community” averaged a 1.2/4 in 18-49 and 3.2 million viewers overall, ranking #2 (tied) in the half-hour among ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW in men 18-34.
Thursday from 8:30-9 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of “30 Rock” (1.4/4 in 18-49, 3.4 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 17 percent in 18-49 rating. In its time period, “30 Rock” ranked #2 among ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW in men 18-34 and men 18-49 (tie).
Thursday from 9-9:31 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of “The Office” (1.8/5 in adults 18-49, 4.3 million viewers overall) finished within one share of the time-period lead, ranking #2 in adults 18-49 among ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW, and #1 in adults, men and women 18-34.
Thursday from 9:31-10 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of “Outsourced” (1.5/4 in 18-49, 3.6 million viewers overall) tied for #2 among ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW in adults 18-49 and finished #1 in adults and men 18-34 in a time slot that included competition from rebroadcasts of ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” CBS’s “CSI” and Fox’s “Bones.”
Thursday from 10-10:30 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of “The Office” (1.3/4 in 18-49, 3.0 million viewers overall) ranked #1 among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults and men 18-34, topping CBS’s “Mentalist” encore and ABC’s “Private Practice” rebroadcast in those demos. At 10:30 p.m., another rebroadcast of “The Office” (1.2/4 in 18-49, 2.9 million viewers overall) ranked #2 among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults 18-49 and other key demos and #1 in adults and men 18-34.
NBC tied for #2 Thursday night among ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW in adults 18-49 and ranked #2 outright in adults 18-34.
On Friday, Dec. 17 from 8-9 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of “Minute To Win It” (1.0/4 in 18-49, 4.0 million viewers overall) tied for #2 in the hour in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 among ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW. The “Minute” rebroadcast ranked #2 in the hour outright in total viewers and tied for #1 in adults 18-34.
Friday from 9-11 p.m. ET, “Dateline NBC” (1.4/5 in 18-49, 6.4 million viewers overall) ranked #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW in adults, men and women 18-49; adults, men and women 25-54; and total viewers. “Dateline” attracted its biggest overall audience for a Friday telecast since October 8 and matched its highest 18-49 rating since that same date.
For its second hour from 10-11 p.m. ET, “Dateline” finished #1 among ABC, CBS and NBC in all key ratings categories – adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, as well as total viewers.
NBC ranked #1 on Friday night in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, total viewers and other key categories.
On Saturday, December 18 from 8-9 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of “The Office” averaged a 0.6/2 in 18-49 and 2.0 million viewers overall. “The Office” ranked #2 among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in adults 18-34, men 18-34 and women 18-34 (tie).
Saturday from 9-10 p.m. ET, “WWE Tribute to the Troops” delivered a 0.7/2 in 18-49 and 2.3 million viewers overall. In the time period, “WWE Tribute to the Troops” ranked #2 among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in men 18-34.
Saturday at 10 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” averaged a 0.9/3 in 18-49 and 4.1 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its second, “SVU” grew by 25 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.0 from a 0.8) and by 21 percent in total viewers (4.4 million vs. 3.7 million).
On Sunday Dec. 19, the “NBC Sunday Night Football” telecast of the Green Bay Packers at the New England Patriots fueled a commanding primetime victory in virtually all key measures. NBC ranked#1 on Sunday night in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54, total viewers and all key adult-male demos – men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54. NBC also finished #1 in primetime Sunday night in women 18-34 and women 18-49 and in teens 12-17.
For its full duration, the Packers-Patriots NFL game averaged an 8.6/22 in adults 18-49, 24.2 million viewers overall and a 14.0/23 household rating/share from 8:31-11:29 p.m. ET.
Sunday’s Packers-Patriots game was up 32 percent in 18-49 rating and 23 percent or 6.0 million persons in total viewers versus the “Sunday Night Football” game that aired during the same week last year (a 6.5/17 in 18-49 and 18.2 million viewers overall for the Vikings-Panthers match-up on December 20, 2009).
NBC’s margin of victory over the #2 network in primetime Sunday night was 56 percent in 18-49 rating (a 7.0 vs. a 4.5 for CBS, which was boosted by an NFL overrun) and 26 percent in total viewers (20.1 million vs. 16.0 million for CBS).
Also on Sunday, “Football Night in America 2” from 7:30-7:57 p.m. ET averaged a 2.9/9 in 18-49, 8.0 million viewers overall and a 6.9/12 household rating/share. “Football Night in America 3” from 7:57-8:22 p.m. delivered a 4.0/12 in 18-49, 11.7 million viewers overall and a 6.9/12 in households. From 8:22-8:31 p.m., “NBC Sunday Night Football Pre Kickoff” averaged a 5.7/16 in 18-49, 17.1 million viewers overall and a 9.9/16 in households. Note: “Football Night in America” from 7-7:30 p.m. ET was sustaining programming and does not figure in the nightly or weekly primetime averages.
WEEKLY AVERAGES
Average rating, share and audience in each category
ADULTS 18-49
NBC 2.8/8, 3.7 million
CBS 2.7/8, 3.6 million
Fox 1.6/5/6, 2.1 million
ABC 1.3/4, 1.7 million
CW 0.5/2, 0.7 million
Each rating point equals 1.31 million viewers
ADULTS 25-54
CBS 3.7/10, 4.6 million
NBC 3.3/9, 4.1 million
Fox 1.8/5, 2.2 million
ABC 1.7/4, 2.1 million
CW 0.5/1, 0.7 million
Each rating point equals 1.24 million viewers
TOTAL VIEWERS
CBS 3.8/10, 11.1 million
NBC 2.9/8, 8.5 million
ABC 1.6/4, 4.7 million
Fox 1.6/4, 4.6 million
CW 0.5/1, 1.3 million)))
Each rating point equals 2.95 million viewers
2010-11 SEASON AVERAGES
Average rating, share and audience in each category
ADULTS 18-49
CBS 3.2/9, 4.2 million
NBC 2.8/8, 3.7 million
Fox 2.8/8, 3.7 million
ABC 2.7/7, 3.5 million
CW 1.1/3, 1.5 million
Each rating point equals 1.31 million viewers
ADULTS 25-54
CBS 4.2/10, 5.2 million
NBC 3.3/8, 4.1 million
ABC 3.3/8, 4.1 million
Fox 3.1/8, 3.9 million
CW 1.1/3, 1.3 million
Each rating point equals 1.24 million viewers
TOTAL VIEWERS
CBS 4.2/11, 12.3 million
ABC 3.1/8, 9.3 million
NBC 2.8//7, 8.2 million
Fox 2.6/7, 7.8 million
CW 0.8/2, 2.5 million
Each rating point equals 2.95 million viewers
(source: NBC)
