‘NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL’ IS THE #1 PRIMETIME PROGRAM OF THE WEEK IN ADULTS 18-49, TOTAL VIEWERS AND OTHER KEY MEASURES
NBC SPORTS’ VIKINGS-CARDINALS GAME PROPELS THE NETWORK TO A SUNDAY PRIMETIME WIN IN ADULTS 18-49, TOTAL VIEWERS AND OTHER KEY MEASURES
‘THE OFFICE’ IS THE #1 SHOW THURSDAY NIGHT IN ADULTS 18-49 AND RANKS #4 AMONG ALL PRIMETIME PROGRAMS THIS WEEK IN 18-49 AND #2 IN ADULTS 18-34
‘COMMUNITY’ ENROLLS ITS BIGGEST 18-49 AND TOTAL-VIEWER AUDIENCES SINCE NOV. 5 AND RANKS #1 IN THE SLOT IN ADULTS AND MEN 18-34
‘THE JAY LENO SHOW’ SCORES ITS HIGHEST WEDNESDAY VIEWERSIP IN SEVEN WEEKS AND RANKS #1 AMONG MEN 18-34 AND #2 IN ADULTS 18-49, 25-54, TOTAL VIEWERS AND OTHER KEY MEASURES
ON TUESDAY, ‘BIGGEST LOSER’ IS THE #1 SHOW OF THE NIGHT IN ADULTS 18-49 AND DELIVERS A SEASON HIGH IN TOTAL VIEWERS
FOR THE WEEK, NBC RANKS #2 AMONG THE MAJOR NETWORKS IN ADULTS 18-34, MEN 18-34 AND ADULTS 25-54, TIES FOR #1 IN MEN 25-54 AND IS #1 OUTRIGHT IN MEN 18-49
Paced by “NBC Sunday Night Football,” which was the #1 program of the week in adults 18-49 and total viewers, and “The Office,” “Biggest Loser” and “30 Rock,” NBC ranked #2 in primetime’s key demographic of adults 18-49 for the week of November 30-December 6, averaging a 2.6 rating, 7 share in 18-49 and 7.7 million viewers overall, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research. For the week, NBC also ranked #2 among the major networks in adults 18-34, men 18-34 and adults 25-54, tied for #1 among men 25-54 and was #1 outright in men 18-49.
NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” telecast of the Minnesota Vikings at the Arizona Cardinals was the #1 primetime program of the week in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and all key adult-male demographics. This marks the 12th telecast in a row of “NBC Sunday Night Football” to top the weekly primetime adult 18-49 rankings (excluding NFL pre- and post-game shows, and including a tie with the Thursday NFL season opener). With an average 20.9 million viewers, “Sunday Night Football” also ranked #1 among all programs this week in total viewers.
Other NBC programs also ranking in the top tier this week in primetime’s key demographic of adults 18-49 was “The Office” (#4), “The Biggest Loser” (#8, tied) and “30 Rock (#16, tied) (rankings exclude all NFL pre- and post-game telecasts).
Among adults 18-34, NBC had four of the top 10 primetime shows of the week, with “Sunday Night Football” ranking #1 and “The Office” #2. “30 Rock” ranked #8 (tied) and “The Biggest Loser” was #10 (tied) (rankings exclude all NFL pre- and post-game telecasts).
Primetime averages for the week of November 30-December 6 in adults 18-49 were Fox (2.8/8), NBC (2.6/7), ABC (2.4/7), CBS (2.3/6) and CW (0.8/2). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (8.8 million), ABC (7.9 million), NBC (7.7 million), Fox (7.6 million) and CW (1.7 million).
NBC highlights for the week of November 30-December 6:
On Sunday, NBC Sports’ “Sunday Night Football” telecast of the Minnesota Vikings at the Arizona Cardinals led NBC to a commanding nightlong win in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54, total viewers and all key adult-male demographics – men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54. NBC’s margin of victory over its closest network competitor Sunday night was 37 percent in adults 18-49 and 39 percent in total viewers.
Sunday’s Vikings-Cardinals game was up 56 percent in adults 18-49 rating and 57 percent in total viewers versus the “Sunday Night Football” game that aired on the same night last year (Redskins-Ravens on December 7, 2008).
On Friday, “The Jay Leno Show” delivered its biggest overall viewership for a Friday telecast in five weeks.
On Thursday, “The Office” won its time period in adults 18-49 and was the #1 telecast of the night in that key demographic. “The Office” also ranked #1 in its slot among adults, men and women 18-34, men 18-49 and adults and men 25-54. Versus its prior original telecast on November 19, “The Office” was up 11 percent in 18-49 rating and 9 percent in total viewers.
Also on Thursday, “30 Rock” ranked #1 among the major networks in the half-hour in adults 18-34 and all key adult-male demos, while finishing within 0.1 of a rating point of the time-period lead in adults 18-49. “30 Rock” matched its highest 18-49 rating since October 29 and attracted its biggest overall viewership since November 5.
Additionally on Thursday, “Community” delivered its top 18-49 and total-viewer results since November 5, gaining 10 percent in adults 18-49 and 11 percent in total viewers versus its prior telecast. “Community” ranked #1 among the major networks in adults and men 18-34.
On Wednesday, “The Jay Leno Show” ” scored its highest Wednesday overall viewership in seven weeks (since October 14), up 8 percent in total viewers versus the prior Wednesday and up 15 percent versus the Wednesday before that.
The Wednesday “Jay Leno Show” ranked #1 among the major networks in men 18-34 and #2 in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, total viewers and other key measures, topping ABC’s first-run drama “Eastwick.”
On Tuesday, “The Biggest Loser” was the #1 telecast of the night in adults 18-49, and hit a season high in total viewers. Excluding finales, this marked the biggest average audience for an episode of “Biggest Loser” during a fall cycle in four years.
“Loser” won its two-hour Tuesday time period in all key demographics – adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54.
NBC ranked #1 on Tuesday night in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and adults 25-54 and was #1 or tied for #1 in all key male and female demographics.
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 November 30-December 6:
On Monday, November 30, from 8-9 p.m. ET, “Heroes” averaged a 2.3 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49 and 5.4 million viewers overall. “Heroes” was up 4 percent week-to-week in total viewers (5.4 million vs. 5.2 million) to deliver its biggest overall audience in four weeks (since November 4). “Heroes” is one of the most time-shifted programs on network television. So far this season, “Heroes” has added 30 percent to its 18-49 rating when going from its “live plus same day” to its “live plus seven day” results. In total viewers, “Heroes” adds more than 1.4 million viewers to its previously reported “live plus same day” results when “live plus seven day” ratings are released.
Monday from 9-10:01 p.m. ET, “Trauma” averaged a 1.6/4 in adults 18-49 and 5.4 million viewers overall.
Monday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, “The Jay Leno Show” averaged a 1.2/3 in adults 18-49, a 1.3/3 in adults 25-54 and 4.2 million viewers overall. Monday’s time-period competition included CBS’s “CSI: Miami” rebroadcast, ABC’s “Castle” encore and a potent NFL matchup on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” (New England vs. New Orleans).
Comparisons to Jay Leno’s 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” were: in adults 18-49 (1.2 vs. 1.4), adults 25-54 (1.3 vs. 1.8) and total viewers (4.2 million vs. 5.1 million). Comparisons to NBC’s Monday-through-Friday 10-11 p.m. ET non-sports average over the prior 52 weeks were: in adults 18-49 (1.2 vs. 2.2), adults 25-54 (1.3 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (4.2 million vs. 6.9 million).
On Tuesday, December 1 from 9-11 p.m. ET, “The Biggest Loser” (3.7/10 in adults 18-49, 10.0 million viewers overall) was the #1 telecast of the night in adults 18-49. “Loser” matched its highest 18-49 rating in three weeks and hit a season-high in total viewers. Excluding finales, this marks the biggest average audience for an episode of “Biggest Loser” during a fall cycle in four years (since November 22, 2005).
In its two-hour time period, “The Biggest Loser” ranked #1 in all key demographics – adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54.
“The Biggest Loser” continues to out-deliver its year-ago results, last week gaining 9 percent in adults 18-49 and 14 percent or more than 1.2 million persons in total viewers versus its 8-10 p.m. telecast on the same night last year (a 3.4/9 in 18-49 and 8.8 million viewers overall on December 2, 2008).
From 8-8:45 p.m. ET, NBC carried coverage of the Presidential address, which was sustaining and is not included in the nightly or weekly averages. From 8:45-9 p.m., a 15-minute encore telecast of “The Biggest Loser” averaged a 1.8/5 in adults 18-49 and 6.1 million viewers overall.
NBC ranked #1 on Tuesday night in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and adults 25-54 and all other key demographics (including a #1 tie in men 25-54).
On Wednesday, December 2 from 8-9 p.m. ET, the special “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” (1.8/5 in adults 18-49, 8.7 million viewers overall) ranked #2 among the major networks in the hour in total viewers.
Wednesday from 9-10:01 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (2.8/7 in adults 18-49, 8.8 million viewers overall) ranked #2 among the major networks in the hour in total viewers, finishing within 1 percent of Fox’s first-run “Glee” in overall viewership (8.118 million for “SVU” vs. 8.147 million for “Glee”) and topping CBS’s Grammy Nominations Concert special and ABC’s comedy encores. From its first half-hour to its second, the “SVU” rebroadcast increased by 24 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 2.1 from a 1.7) and 10 percent in total viewers (to 8.5 million from 7.7 million).
Wednesday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, “The Jay Leno Show” averaged a 1.5/4 in adults 18-49, a 1.9/5 in adults 25-54 and 5.5 million viewers overall. Wednesday’s time-period competition included CBS’s “CSI: NY” and ABC’s “Eastwick.” “The Jay Leno Show” ranked #1 among the major networks in men 18-34 and #2 in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, total viewers and other key measures, topping ABC’s first-run drama “Eastwick.”
“The Jay Leno Show” scored its highest Wednesday overall viewership in seven weeks (since October 14), up 8 percent in total viewers versus the prior Wednesday (5.5 million vs. 5.1 million) and up 15 percent versus the previous Wednesday (5.5 million vs. 4.7 million).
Comparisons to Jay Leno’s 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” were: in adults 18-49 (1.5 vs. 1.4), adults 25-54 (1.9 vs. 1.8) and total viewers (5.5 million vs. 5.1 million). Comparisons to NBC’s Monday-through-Friday 10-11 p.m. ET non-sports average over the prior 52 weeks were: in adults 18-49 (1.5 vs. 2.2), adults 25-54 (1.9 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (5.5 million vs. 6.9 million).
On Thursday, December 3 from 8-8:30 p.m. ET, “Community” (2.2/6 in adults 18-49, 5.4 million viewers overall) delivered its top 18-49 and total-viewer results since November 5, gaining 10 percent in adults 18-49 and 11 percent in total viewers versus its prior telecast (a 2.0 in 18-49 and 4.9 million viewers on November 19). In the time period, “Community” ranked #1 among the major networks in adults and men 18-34. “Community” was up 29 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC’s average this season in this time period prior to “Community’s” debut (2.2 vs. 1.7). It is worth noting that so far this season, “Community” has added 25 percent to its 18-49 rating when going from its “live plus same day” to its “live plus seven day” results.
Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET, “Parks and Recreation” (2.1/6 in 18-49, 4.8 million viewers overall) was up 5 percent in both 18-49 and total viewers versus its previous telecast on November 19 and attracted its biggest overall viewership since November 5. In the time period, “Parks” ranked #1 among the major networks in men 18-34. “Parks” retained 95 percent of its 18-49 lead-in from “Community” and has now retained 95 percent or more of its 18-49 lead-in with 11 of 11 telecasts in this slot so far this season. It’s worth noting that, “Parks and Recreation” has added 20 percent to its 18-49 rating this season when going from its “live plus same day” to its “live plus seven day” results.
Thursday from 9-9:31 p.m. ET, “The Office” (4.1/11 in 18-49, 8.0 million viewers overall) won its time period in adults 18-49 and was the #1 telecast of the night in that key demographic. “The Office” also ranked #1 in the slot among adults, men and women 18-34, men 18-49 and adults and men 25-54, topping ABC’s “Private Practice,” CBS’s “CSI” encore and Fox’s “Fringe” in those key measures. Versus its prior original telecast on November 19, last week’s “Office” was up 11 percent in 18-49 rating (4.1 vs. 3.7) and 9 percent in total viewers (8.0 million vs. 7.4 million). “The Office” is a heavily time-shifted show, adding an average 27 percent to its 18-49 rating so far this season when going from its “live plus same day” to its “live plus seven day” results. In total viewers, “The Office” adds more than 1.9 million viewers to its previously reported “live plus same day” results when “live plus seven day” ratings are released.
Thursday from 9:31-10:01 p.m. ET, “30 Rock” (3.0/8 in 18-49, 6.1 million viewers overall) ranked #1 among the major networks in adults 18-34 and in all key adult-male demographics – men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 – while finishing within 0.1 of a rating point of the time-period lead in adults 18-49. “30 Rock” matched its highest 18-49 rating since October 29 and attracted its biggest overall viewership since November 5. “30 Rock” is a heavily time-shifted program, so far this season adding an average 24 percent to its 18-49 rating when going from its “live plus same day” to its “live plus seven day” results. In total viewers, “30 Rock” adds more than 1.3 million viewers to its previously reported “live plus same day” results when “live plus seven day” ratings are released.
Thursday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, “The Jay Leno Show” averaged a 1.5/4 in adults 18-49, a 1.6/4 in adults 25-54 and 4.7 million viewers overall. Thursday’s time-period competition included ABC’s “Private Practice” and CBS’s “Mentalist” encore. “Leno” matched its 18-49 rating of the prior Thursday.
Comparisons to Jay Leno’s 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” were: in adults 18-49 (1.5 vs. 1.4), adults 25-54 (1.6 vs. 1.8) and total viewers (4.7 million vs. 5.1 million). Comparisons to NBC’s Monday-through-Friday 10-11 p.m. ET non-sports average over the prior 52 weeks were: in adults 18-49 (1.5 vs. 2.2), adults 25-54 (1.6 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (4.7 million vs. 6.9 million).
On Friday, December 4 from 8-9 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of the special “A Muppet Christmas: Letters to Santa” (1.1/4 in adults 18-49, 4.2 million viewers overall) was the #1 show of the night on the major networks among kids 2-11. In its time period it ranked #1 in kids 2-11 and #2 in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, total viewers and most other key categories
Friday from 9-10:01 p.m. ET, “Dateline NBC” (1.5/5 in 18-49, 6.2 million viewers overall) built from its first half-hour to its second by 14 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.6 from a 1.4) and by 12 percent in total viewers (6.5 million vs. 5.8 million). In the time period, “Dateline” tied for #1 among the major networks in men 18-49 and 25-54 and was #2 in adults 18-49 and total viewers.
Friday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, “The Jay Leno Show” averaged a 1.2/4 in adults 18-49, a 1.5/4 in adults 25-54 and 4.7 million viewers overall. In the time period, “Leno” ranked #2 among the major networks in men 18-49 and men 25-54. Friday’s time-period competition included CBS’s “Numb3rs” and ABC’s “20/20.”
“The Jay Leno Show” matched its highest 25-54 rating for a Friday telecast in five weeks (since October 30) and delivered its biggest overall viewership for a Friday edition since that same date.
Comparisons to Jay Leno’s 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” were: in adults 18-49 (1.2 vs. 1.4), in adults 25-54 (1.5 vs. 1.8) and total viewers (4.7 million vs. 5.1 million). Comparisons to NBC’s Monday-through-Friday 10-11 p.m. ET non-sports average over the prior 52 weeks were: in adults 18-49 (1.2 vs. 2.2), adults 25-54 (1.5 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (4.7 million vs. 6.9 million).
On Saturday, December 5 from 8-8:30 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of “Parks and Recreation” delivered a 0.3/1 in 18-49 and 1.4 million viewers overall.
Saturday from 8:30-11 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of the 2004 feature film “The Incredibles” averaged a 1.0/3 in 18-49 and 2.8 million viewers overall. From its first to its final half-hour, “The Incredibles” increased its 18-49 rating by 117 percent (to a 1.3 from a 0.6) and its overall viewership by 134 percent or 2.1 million persons (to 3.7 million from 1.6 million).
On Sunday, December 6, the “NBC Sunday Night Football” telecast of the Minnesota Vikings at the Arizona Cardinals propelled NBC to a convincing primetime win in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, adults and women 18-34, total viewers and all key adult-male demographics – men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54. For its full duration, the Vikings-Cardinals game averaged a 7.8/19 in adults 18-49, 20.9 million viewers overall and a 12.5/19 household rating/share from 8:31-11:16 p.m. ET.
Sunday’s Vikings-Cardinals game was up 56 percent in 18-49 rating and 57 percent or more than 7.6 million persons in total viewers versus the “Sunday Night Football” game that aired on the same night last year (a 5.0/12 in 18-49 and 13.3 million viewers overall for the Redskins-Ravens on December 7, 2008).
For the night (from 7:30-11 p.m. ET), NBC averaged a 6.3/16 in adults 18-49 and 17.3 million viewers overall. NBC’s margin of victory over the #2 network was 37 percent in adults 18-49 (6.3/16 for NBC from 7:30-11 p.m. vs. a 4.6/12 for Fox from 7-10 p.m.) and 49 percent in total viewers (17.3 million for NBC from 7:30-11 p.m. vs. 11.6 million for Fox).
Also on Sunday, “Football Night in America 2” from 7:30-7:56 p.m. ET averaged a 1.6/5 in 18-49, 4.2 million viewers overall and a 2.7/5 household rating/share. “Football Night in America 3” from 7:56-8:22 p.m. delivered a 3.2/8 in 18-49, 9.4 million viewers overall and a 5.8/9 in households. From 8:22-8:31 p.m., “NBC Sunday Night Football Pre Kickoff” averaged a 4.8/12 in 18-49, 13.7 million viewers overall and an 8.3/13 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
Fox 2.8/8, 3.7 million
NBC 2.6/7, 3.4 million
ABC 2.4/7, 3.2 million
CBS 2.3/6, 3.0 million
CW 0.8/2, 1.0 million
Each rating point equals 1.32 million viewers
ADULTS 25-54
Fox 3.1/8, 3.8 million
NBC 3.0/7, 3.7 million
CBS 2.9/7, 3.6 million
ABC 2.9/7, 3.6 million
CW 0.7/2, 0.8 million
Each rating point equals 1.24 million viewers
TOTAL VIEWERS
CBS 3.0/8, 8.8 million
ABC 2.7/7, 7.9 million
NBC 2.6/7, 7.7 million
Fox 2.6/6,7.69 million
CW 0.6/1, 1.7 million
Each rating point equals 2.92 million viewers
2009-10 SEASON AVERAGES
Average rating, share and audience in each category
ADULTS 18-49
Fox 3.5/9, 4.6 million
CBS 3.2/9, 4.2 million
ABC 3.1/8, 4.1 million
NBC 2.7/7, 3.6 million
CW 1.2/3, 1.6 million
Each rating point equals 1.32 million viewers
ADULTS 25-54
CBS 4.1/10, 5.1 million
Fox 3.8/9, 4.7 million
ABC 3.7/9, 4.6 million
NBC 3.1/8,, 3.9 million
CW 1.1/3, 1.3 million
Each rating point equals 1.24 million viewers
TOTAL VIEWERS
CBS 4.1/10, 11.9 million
ABC 3.5/9, 10.2 million
Fox 3.2/8, 9.4 million
NBC 2.7/7, 7.8 million
CW 0.8/2, 2.5 million
Each rating point equals 2.92 million viewers
(source: data and information provided by NBC)
