Week 4: NBC led by 'Sunday Night Football' #1 primetime program

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Led by “Sunday Night Football,” which was the #1 primetime program of the week in adults 18-49 for the sixth straight week, aided and abetted by surging ratings from a live “30 Rock” telecast and the network’s other Thursday comedies, NBC averaged a 2.5 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49 and 7.1 million viewers overall for the week of October 11-17, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research. For the week, NBC ranked #3 in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 (tied) and ranked #2 in adults 18-34, men 18-34 and men 18-49.


NBC Sports’ “Sunday Night Football” telecast of the Indianapolis Colts versus the Washington Redskins topped the weekly primetime rankings in adults 18-49. This marks the sixth straight week in which “NBC Sunday Night Football” has finished #1 in primetime’s key demographic. “Sunday Night Football” also ranked #1 among all primetime programs this week in adults 25-54, adults 18-34 and all key adult-male demographics – men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54. In total viewers, “NBC Sunday Night Football” ranked #3 this week among all primetime programs.

“The Office” ranked #10 (tied) among all primetime programs this week in adults 18-49 and was the #5 program of the week among adults 18-34. Among men 18-34, “The Office” was the #2 show of the week, behind only “Sunday Night Football” (rankings exclude all football pre-game and post-game telecasts).

Four tenths of a rating point separated first and fourth place this week in primetime’s key demographic. Primetime averages for the week of October 11-17 in adults 18-49 were CBS (2.7/8), Fox (2.6/8), NBC (2.5/7), ABC (2.4/7) and CW (1.0/3). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (11.1 million), ABC (8.8 million), Fox (7.6 million), NBC (7.1 million) and CW (2.2 million).

Season-to-date through four weeks, NBC is tied for #2 in adults 18-49, up from a #4 ranking at this point last season. NBC is the only network among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox not reporting a year-to-year decline in 18-49 rating. Also, NBC is up 3 percent in total viewers versus the first four weeks of last season (8.048 million vs. 7.841 million).

NBC highlights for the week of October 11-17
* On Sunday, NBC Sports’ “Sunday Night Football” telecast of the Indianapolis Colts at the Washington Redskins led NBC to a dominant Sunday night win in all key measures – adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49, 25-54 and total viewers. NBC’s margin of victory over its closest network competitor in primetime Sunday was 82 percent in adults 18-49 and 38 percent in total viewers.
* Sunday’s Colts-Redskins game was up 3 percent in 18-49 rating and 5 percent in total viewers versus the “Sunday Night Football” Bears-Falcons game that aired during the same week last year and up 42 percent in 18-49 and 46 percent in total viewers versus the comparable 2008 game

* On Thursday, a live telecast of “30 Rock” scored NBC’s highest 18-49 rating for a regularly scheduled program in the Thursday 8:30 p.m. ET half-hour in two years (since October 8, 2008).
* The live “30 Rock” hit new season highs for the show in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. Week to week, “30 Rock” was up 48 percent in adults 18-49 and 37 percent in total viewers.
* “30 Rock” finished within a tenth of a rating point of the time-period lead in adults 18-49 and won its slot in adults, men and women 18-34 and men 18-49.
* Also on Thursday, “Community” surged week to week by 22 percent in 18-49 rating and 15 percent in total viewers to match the show’s highest 18-49 rating since March 4. Despite time-period competition that included CBS’s “Big Bang Theory,” “Community” delivered a 16 percent increase on NBC’s 18-49 average in its time period during the traditional 2009-10 season.
* Additionally on Thursday, NBC’s 9-10 p.m. ET comedies “The Office” and “Outsourced” both also posted notable week-to-week gains in adults 18-49 and total viewers.
* “The Office” ranked #2 in its tough time period in adults 18-49 and was #1, ahead of ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” CBS’s “CSI” and Fox’s “Fringe” in men 18-34 and men 18-49 and tied for #1 in adults 18-34 and men 25-54. “Outsourced” ranked #1 in men 18-34 and was #2 in adults 18-34, men 18-49 and men 25-54.
* “Outsourced” is the #1 new network show of the season in adults 18-34, averaging a 3.5 rating in that demo through four telecasts.
* Through the first two weeks of the season, “Outsourced” is the #1 biggest gainer on a percentage basis going from “live plus same day” to “live plus seven day” among all first-year half-hour comedies on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW.

* On Wednesday, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” was up 28 percent in 18-49 rating and 29 percent or more than 1.8 million persons in total viewers versus NBC’s time-period averages in the slot last season.
* “Law & Order: SVU” grew from its first half-hour to its second in all key measures, posting gains of 19 percent in adults 18-49, 24 percent in adults 18-34, 17 percent in adults 25-54 and 15 percent in total viewers.
* Also on Wednesday, ” “Law & Order: Los Angeles” retained 83 percent of its adult 18-49 lead-in from “Law & Order: SVU” and 96 percent of its adult 25-54 lead-in. “Law & Order: LA” ranked #1 in the time period among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults 18-34 (tied) and women 18-34 and was #2 in all other key demographic measures including adults 18-49 and total viewers
* “Law & Order: LA” increased from its first half-hour to its second in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and other measures while competing programming on ABC and CBS declined half-hour to half-hour in those key categories

* On Tuesday, “The Biggest Loser” gained 4 percent in adults 18-49 and 3 percent in total viewers week to week.
* From its first half-hour to its fourth, “Loser” grew by 26 percent in adults 18-49, 21 percent in adults 25-54 and 44 percent in adults 18-34 despite formidable time-period competition that included Fox’s “Glee,” CBS’s “NCIS” and “NCIS: Los Angeles” and ABC’s “No Ordinary Family” and “Dancing With the Stars.”
* Also on Tuesday, “Parenthood” ranked #2 in its time period among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and other key measures and was #1 in adults and women 18-34.
* Through the first two weeks of the season, “Parenthood” has added 41 percent to its 18-49 rating when going from the previously reported “live plus same day” ratings to its “live plus seven day” results. On a percentage basis, “Parenthood” is the #2 biggest gainer from “live plus same day” to “live plus seven” among all primetime series on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, second only to Fox’s “Fringe” (42 percent).

* On Monday, “The Event” was up 29 percent in 18-49 rating and 26 percent in total viewers versus NBC’s non-sports average in its time period during the traditional 2009-10 season.
* “The Event” built on its lead-in by 16 percent in 18-49 rating and by 22 percent in total viewers.
* Through the first two weeks of the season, “The Event” has added an average 30 percent to its 18-49 rating when going from “live plus same day” ratings to its “live plus seven day” figure, and has added an average 24 percent or more than 2.4 million persons in total viewers. Overall, “The Event” has derived 36 percent of its “live plus seven” 18-49 rating from time-shifted viewing, making “The Event” the most time-shifted new primetime series on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox or CW on a percentage basis.
* Additionally on Monday, “Chuck” retained 100 percent of its 18-49 rating from the prior week and increased from its first half-hour to its second in most key measures, including adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and all key adult-male demos. “Chuck” is up 5 percent versus its 18-49 average for the May sweep earlier this year.
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 October 11-17:

On Monday, Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. ET, “Chuck” (1.9 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49, 5.3 million viewers overall) retained 100 percent of its 18-49 rating from the prior week (1.9 vs. 2.0). “Chuck” is up 5 percent versus its 18-49 average for the May sweep earlier this year (1.9 vs. 1.8).

“Chuck” increased from its first half-hour to its second in most key demographic measures, including gains of 5 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 2.0 from a 1.9) and 10 percent in men 18-49 (to a 2.3 from a 2.1).

It’s worth noting that through the first two weeks of the season, “Chuck” has added an average 29 percent to its 18-49 rating when going from the previously reported “live plus same day” rating to its “live plus seven day” figure.

Monday from 9-10 p.m. ET, “The Event” (2.2/6 in adults 18-49, 6.5 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 16 percent in 18-49 rating and by 22 percent or more than 1.1 million persons in total viewers.

“The Event” delivered a 22 percent increase in adults 18-49 versus NBC’s 1.8 average for the same night last year and a 29 percent increase versus the network’s 1.7 average in the slot last season (non-sports “live plus same day”).

In total viewers, “The Event” was up 26 percent, or more than 1.3 million persons, versus NBC’s “live plus same day” average in the hour last season (6.502 million vs. 5.178 million).

Through the first two weeks of the season, “The Event” has added an average 30 percent to its 18-49 rating when going from the previously reported “live plus same day” rating to its “live plus seven day” figure. In total viewers, “The Event” has added an average 24 percent or more than 2.4 million persons in going from “live plus same day” to “live plus seven day.” Overall, “The Event” has derived 36 percent of its “live plus seven” rating from time-shifted viewing, making “The Event” the most time-shifted new primetime series on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox or CW on a percentage basis.

Monday at 10 p.m. ET, “Chase” averaged a 1.5/4 in adults 18-49 and 4.9 million viewers overall. “Chase” matched NBC’s 1.5 average in this time period during the traditional 2009-10 season (non-sports “live plus same day”). From its first half-hour to its second, “Chase” maintained its 18-49 rating while competing dramas on ABC and CBS each declined by 0.3 of an 18-49 rating point.

Through the first two weeks of the season, “Chase” has added an average 21 percent to its 18-49 rating when going from the previously reported “live plus same day” rating to its “live plus seven day” figure.

On Tuesday, Oct. 12 from 8-10 p.m. ET, “The Biggest Loser 10” averaged a 2.6/7 in adults 18-49 and 7.0 million viewers overall in a highly competitive time period that included Fox’s “Glee,” CBS’s “NCIS” and “NCIS: Los Angeles” and ABC’s “No Ordinary Family” and the “Dancing With the Stars” Results Show. Versus the prior Tuesday, “Biggest Loser” gained 4 percent in 18-49 rating (2.6 vs. 2.5) and 3 percent in total viewers (7.040 million vs. 6.842 million).

From its first half-hour to its fourth, “Biggest Loser” grew by 26 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.9 from a 2.3), 44 percent in adults 18-34 (to a 2.3 from a 1.6), 21 percent in adults 25-54 (to a 3.5 from a 2.9) and 12 percent in total viewers (to 7.4 million from 6.6 million).

Tuesday from 10-11 p.m. ET, “Parenthood” averaged a 2.0/5 in adults 18-49 and 4.7 million viewers overall. In the time period, “Parenthood” ranked #2 among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and other key measures and #1 in adults and women 18-34.

Through the first two weeks of the season, “Parenthood” has added an average 41 percent to its 18-49 rating when going from the previously reported “live plus same day” ratings to its “live plus seven day” results. On a percentage basis, “Parenthood” is the #2 biggest gainer from “live plus same day” to “live plus seven” among all primetime series on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, second only to Fox’s “Fringe” (42 percent).
On Wednesday, Oct. 13 from 8-9 p.m. ET, “Undercovers” averaged a 1.4/4 in 18-49 and 5.9 million viewers overall. “Undercovers” grew from half-hour to half-hour in most key ratings categories, posting increases of 7 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 1.5 from a 1.4) and 6 percent in adults 25-54 (to a 1.9 from a 1.8).

Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (2.3/6 in 18-49, 8.1 million viewers overall) grew dramatically from its first half-hour to its second in all key measures. “SVU” increased by 19 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 2.5 from a 2.1), 23 percent in women 18-49 (3.2 vs. 2.6), 24 percent in adults 18-34 (2.1 vs. 1.7), 23 percent in women 18-34 (2.8 vs. 2.3), 17 percent in adults 25-54 (2.8 vs. 2.4) and 15 percent or more than 1.1 million persons in total viewers (to 8.7 million from 7.6 million).
Versus NBC’s time-period averages in this slot last season, “Law & Order; SVU” was up 28 percent in 18-49 rating (2.3 vs. 1.8) and 29 percent or more than 1.8 million persons in total viewers (8.127 million vs. 6.278 million).

Through the first two weeks of the season, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” added an average 24 percent to its 18-49 rating when going from the previously reported “live plus same day” rating to its “live plus seven day” figure.

Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET, “Law & Order: Los Angeles” (1.9/6 in 18-49, 7.3 million viewers overall) retained 83 percent of its adult 18-49 lead-in from “Law & Order: SVU” and 96 percent of its adult 25-54 lead-in (2.5 vs. 2.6) in a time slot that included special competition from ABC’s “20/20” news special in place of “The Whole Truth.”
“Law & Order: LA” ranked #1 in the time period among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults 18-34 (tied) and women 18-34 and was #2 in all other key demographic measures including adults 18-49 and total viewers.

“Law & Order: LA” increased from its first half-hour to its second in adults 18-49 (to a 2.0 from a 1.9) and adults 25-54 (to a 2.5 from a 2.4), while competing programming on ABC and CBS declined half-hour to half-hour in those key categories.
On Thursday, Oct. 14 from 8-8:30 p.m. ET, “Community” (2.2/7 in 18-49, 4.8 million viewers overall) surged week to week by 22 percent in 18-49 rating (2.2 vs. 1.8) and 15 percent in total viewers (4.806 million vs. 4.195 million) to match the show’s highest 18-49 rating since March 4. Despite time-period competition that included CBS’s “Big Bang Theory,” “Community” delivered a 16 percent increase on NBC’s 18-49 average in the slot during the traditional 2009-10 season (1.9, non-sports, “live plus same day”). In the time period, “Community” ranked #2 among ABC, CBS NBC and Fox in men 18-34 and men 18-49 (tie).

Through the first two weeks of the season, “Community” has added an average 30 percent to its 18-49 rating when going from the previously reported “live plus same day” rating to its “live plus seven day” figure.

Thursday from 8:30-9 p.m. ET, a live telecast of “30 Rock” (3.1/9 in 18-49, 6.7 million viewers overall) scored season highs in 18-49, total viewers and other key measures, delivering the show’s highest 18-49 rating since December 10, 2009 when it still aired in the 9:30 p.m. slot. In total viewers, this was the biggest audience for “30 Rock” since March 18, also in the 9:30 p.m. half-hour.

The 3.1 rating in adults 18-49 for “30 Rock” marks NBC’s highest 18-49 rating for a regularly scheduled program in this half-hour since October 8, 2008.
Week to week, “30 Rock” was up 48 percent in 18-49 rating (3.1 vs. 2.1) and 37 percent or 1.8 million persons in total viewers (6.701 million vs. 4.899 million). “30 Rock” finished within a tenth of a rating point of the time-period lead in adults 18-49 and won the slot in adults, men and women 18-34 and men 18-49.

“30 Rock” built by 41 percent in adults 18-49 on its lead-in from “Community” and also generated a 63 percent increase on NBC’s slot average during the traditional 2009-10 season (1.9, non-sports, “live plus same day”). This build on lead-in is a substantial improvement versus NBC’s performance in this slot last season when the network was flat in this time period versus first-run lead-ins from “Community.”

Through the first two weeks of the season, “30 Rock” has added an average 26 percent to its 18-49 rating when going from the previously reported “live plus same day” rating to its “live plus seven day” figure.

Thursday from 9-9:31 p.m. ET, “The Office” (3.8/10 in adults 18-49, 7.4 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in the time period in adults 18-49 and was #1, ahead of ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” CBS’s “CSI” and Fox’s “Fringe” in men 18-34 and men 18-49 and tied for #1 in adults 18-34 and men 25-54.

Week to week, “The Office” was up 9 percent in 18-49 rating and 6 percent in total viewers (7.357 million vs. 6.951 million). Versus its averages in last May’s sweep, “The Office” was up 9 percent in both 18-49 rating (3.8 vs. 3.5) and total viewers (7.357 million vs. 6.771 million).

Through the first two weeks of the season, “The Office” has added an average 30 percent to its 18-49 rating when going from the previously reported “live plus same day” rating to its “live plus seven day” figure.

Thursday from 9:31-10 p.m. ET, “Outsourced” (2.6/7 in 18-49, 5.4 million viewers overall) was up week to week by 4 percent in 18-49 rating (2.6 vs. 2.5) and 4 percent in total viewers (5.404 million vs. 5.220 million). In the time period, “Outsourced” ranked #1, ahead of the concluding half-hours of ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” CBS’s “CSI” and Fox’s “Fringe,” in men 18-34 and was #2 in adults 18-34, men 18-49 and men 25-54.
Through the first two weeks of the season, “Outsourced” has added an average 19 percent to its 18-49 rating when going from the previously reported “live plus same day” rating to its “live plus seven day” figure. On a percentage basis, “Outsourced” is the #1 biggest gainer going from “live plus same day” to “live plus seven” among all first-year half-hour comedies on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox or CW.

Thursday at 10 p.m. ET, “The Apprentice” averaged a 1.3/4 in 18-49 and 3.7 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its second, “Apprentice” maintained its 18-49 rating and grew 6 percent in total viewers.

Through the first two weeks of the season, “The Apprentice” has added an average 30 percent to its 18-49 rating when going from the previously reported “live plus same day” rating to its “live plus seven day” figure.

On Friday, Oct. 15 from 8-9 p.m. ET, the debut of “School Pride” averaged a 0.9/3 in 18-49 and 2.9 million viewers overall. In the time period, “School Pride” ranked #2 among ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW in women 18-49, adults 18-34 (tied) and women 18-34 (tied). “School Pride” maintained its rating from half-hour to half-hour in adults 18-49 and other key categories.

Friday from 9-11 p.m. ET, “Dateline NBC” (1.2/4 in 18-49, 5.0 million viewers overall) tied for #2 among ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW in adults 18-49 and was #2 outright in total viewers and adults 25-54.
On Saturday, Oct. 16 from 8-9 p.m. ET, “Outlaw” averaged a 0.6/2 in 18-49 and 3.4 million viewers overall, delivering NBC’s biggest overall audience in the time period since June 26. From its first half-hour to its second, “Outlaw” held steady in adult 18-49 rating and grew in adults 25-54, total viewers and all key adult-female demos. The total-viewer growth from half-hour to half-hour was 17 percent (to 3.612 million from 3.094 million).

Saturday at 9 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of “Law & Order: Los Angeles” locked up a 0.7/2 in 18-49 and 3.4 million viewers overall. The Saturday “Law & Order: LA” encore grew week to week by 17 percent in 18-49 rating (to 0.7 from 0.6) and by 6 percent in total viewers (3.360 million vs. 3.177 million).
Saturday at 10 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (1.3/4 in 18-49, 4.7 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 86 percent in 18-49 rating and 39 percent in total viewers. From its first half-hour to its second, “SVU” grew by 27 percent in adult 18-49 rating (to a 1.4 from a 1.1) and 15 percent in total viewers (5.0 million vs. 4.4 million).

On Sunday Oct. 17, the “NBC Sunday Night Football” telecast of the Indianapolis Colts at the Washington Redskins propelled NBC to a Sunday primetime win in all key measures – adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, as well as total viewers. For its full duration, the Colts-Redskins game averaged a 7.4/19 in adults 18-49, 19.1 million viewers overall and an 11.7/19 household rating/share from 8:31-11:35 p.m. ET.
NBC’s margin of victory over the #2 network in primetime Sunday was 82 percent in adults 18-49 (6.2 vs. a 3.4 for Fox) and 38 percent in total viewers (16.2 million vs. 11.8 million for CBS).

Sunday’s Colts-Redskins game was up 3 percent in 18-49 rating and 5 percent in total viewers versus the “Sunday Night Football” game that aired during the same week last year (a 7.2/18 in 18-49 and 18.170 million viewers overall for the Bears-Falcons match-up on October 18, 2009) and up 42 percent in adults 18-49 and 46 percent in total viewers versus the week #6 game in 2008 (a 5.2/13 in 18-49 and 13.051 million viewers overall for the Patriots-Chargers on October 12, 2008).

Also on Sunday, “Football Night in America 2” from 7:30-7:56 p.m. ET averaged a 2.5/8 in 18-49, 6.4 million viewers overall and a 3.8/7 household rating/share. “Football Night in America 3” from 7:56-8:22 p.m. delivered a 3.9/12 in 18-49, 10.8 million viewers overall and a 6.5/11 in households. From 8:22-8:31 p.m., “NBC Sunday Night Football Pre Kickoff” averaged a 5.2/15 in 18-49, 14.1 million viewers overall and an 8.3/14 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
CBS 2.7/8, 3.6 million
Fox 2.6/8, 3.5 million
NBC 2.5/7, 3.3 million
ABC 2.4/7, 3.2 million
CW 1.0/3, 1.3 million

Each rating point equals 1.31 million viewers
ADULTS 25-54
CBS 3.6/9, 4.5 million
ABC 3.0/8, 3.8 million
NBC 2.9/8, 3.6 million
Fox 2.9/8, 3.6 million
CW 0.9/2, 1.1 million
Each rating point equals 1.24 million viewers

TOTAL VIEWERS

CBS 3.8/10, 11.1 million
ABC 3.0/8, 8.8 million
Fox 2.6/7, 7.6 million
NBC 2.4/6, 7.1 million
CW 0.7/2, 2.2 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 3.3/9, 4.4 million
NBC 2.8/8, 3.7 million
Fox 2.8/8, 3.7 million
ABC 2.8/8, 3.6 million
CW 1.2/3, 1.6 million
Each rating point equals 1.31 million viewers

ADULTS 25-54
CBS 4.3/11, 5.4 million
ABC 3.4/9, 4.2 million
NBC 3.2/8, 4.0 million
Fox 3.0/8, 3.8 million
CW 1.1/3, 1.4 million
Each rating point equals 1.24 million viewers

TOTAL VIEWERS

CBS 4.3/11, 12.6 million
ABC 3.2/9, 9.6 million
NBC 2.7/7, 8.1 million
Fox 2.5/6, 7.4 million
CW 0.9/2, 2.6 million
Each rating point equals 2.95 million viewers

(source: NBC)