Led by “Sunday Night Football,” which was the #1 primetime program of the week in adults 18-49, and augmented with solid ratings from new and returning series including the slot-winning debut of “Law & Order: Los Angeles,” NBC averaged a 2.7 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49 and 8.1 million viewers overall for the week of September 27-October 5, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research. For the week, NBC ranked #3 in adults 18-49, tied for #2 in adults 25-54, #2 outright in adults 18-34, men 18-34 and men 25-54 and tied for #1 in men 18-49.
NBC Sports’ “Sunday Night Football” telecast of the Chicago Bears versus the New York Giants topped the weekly primetime rankings in the key demographic of adults 18-49. “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.
With an average 20.9 million viewers, Sunday’s Bears-Giants “Sunday Night Football” game attracted the biggest viewership for any primetime NFL telecast in the month of October in 10 years (since ABC’s “Monday Night Football” telecast of the Buccaneers-Vikings on October 9, 2000). In total viewers, “NBC Sunday Night Football” ranked #2 among all primetime programs this week.
Primetime averages for the week of September 27-October 5 in adults 18-49 were CBS (3.1/9, Fox (2.8/8), NBC (2.7/8), ABC (2.6/8) and CW (1.1/3). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (11.9 million), ABC (9.2 million), NBC (8.1 million), Fox (7.1 million) and CW (2.3 million).
Season-to-date through two weeks, NBC ranks #2 in adults 18-49, and is up 4 percent versus year-ago levels (2.8 vs. 2.7). In total viewers, NBC is up 6 percent versus the first two weeks of last season (8.144 million vs. 7.688 million).
NBC highlights for the week of September 27-October 5
* On Sunday, NBC Sports’ “Sunday Night Football” telecast of the Chicago Bears at the New York Giants 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 Sunday night was 40 percent in adults 18-49 and 47 percent in total viewers.
* Sunday’s Bears-Giants game was up 8 percent in 18-49 rating and 14 percent in total viewers versus the “Sunday Night Football” game that aired during the same week last year.
* On Thursday, “Community” was up 6 percent in 18-49 versus NBC’s result in this time period on the same night last year despite new time-period competition that included CBS’s “Big Bang Theory.” “Community” matched NBC’s 18-49 average for its slot during the traditional 2009-10 season.
* Also on Thursday, “30 Rock” built by 37 percent in adults 18-49 on its lead-in from “Community” and also generated a 37 increase on NBC’s slot average during the 2009-10 traditional season. In its time period, “30 Rock” ranked #2 among ABC, CBS NBC and Fox in adults 18-49 and other key demos and was #1 in adults, men and women 18-34.
* “30 Rock” retained 100 percent of its 18-49 rating from premiere week and was the only Thursday show on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox or the CW to maintain its rating week-to-week
* Thursday’s telecast of “The Office” 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 all key adult-male demographics while tying “Grey’s Anatomy” for #1 among adults 18-34. Versus its average in the most recent May sweep, “The Office” was up 6 percent in 18-49 rating and 9 percent in total viewers.
* “The Office” ranked #16 (tied) among all primetime programs this week in adults 18-49 and was #6 among adults 18-34 (excludes all football pre-game and post-game telecasts).
* Additionally on Thursday, “Outsourced” was up 4 percent in adults 18-49 versus NBC’s average in this slot last season. In its slot, “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 men 18-49 and was #2 in adults and women 18-34, behind only “Grey’s.”
* “Outsourced” is the #1 new network show of the season in adults 18-34, averaging a 3.6 rating in that demo through two telecasts.
* On Thursday, NBC matched its year-ago primetime rating in adults 18-49, while CBS was down 15 percent versus the same night last year, ABC was down 42 percent and Fox was down 12 percent.
* On Wednesday, the series premiere of “Law & Order: Los Angeles” won its time period in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54, total viewers and other key measures.
* “Law & Order: LA” was up 68 percent in adult 18-49 rating and up 65 percent or nearly 4.2 million persons in total viewers versus NBC’s average in this slot last season. In total viewers, “Law & Order: LA” delivered NBC’s biggest in-season non-Olympic audience in this time period since September 16, 2009.
* Also on Wednesday, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” improved on its results in the 9 p.m. ET time period on the same night last year by 12 percent in 18-49 rating and by 17 percent or 1.4 million persons in total viewers. From its first half-hour to its second, “SVU” grew by 20 percent in 18-49 rating and by 15 percent or 1.3 million persons in total viewers.
* On Tuesday, “The Biggest Loser” gained 30 percent in adults 18-49 and 11 percent in total viewers from its first half-hour to its fourth, despite fierce time-period competition that included Fox’s “Glee,” CBS’s “NCIS” and “NCIS: Los Angeles” and ABC’s series premiere of “No Ordinary Family” and “Dancing With the Stars.” By its final half-hour, “Biggest Loser” ranked #2 among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in adults 18-34, women 18-34 and women 18-49.
* On Monday, week two of “The Event” was up 71 percent in 18-49 rating and 75 percent or nearly 3.9 million persons in total viewers versus NBC’s non-sports average in its time period during the traditional 2009-10 season.
* “The Event” increased its viewership from half-hour to half-hour in every key demographic category as well as in total viewers.
* Also on Monday, “Chase” was up 40 percent in 18-49 rating and 24 percent or 1.2 million persons in total viewers versus NBC’s non-sports average in its time period during the traditional 2009-10 season.
* “Chase” retained 91 percent of its 18-49 premiere rating of one week earlier
* Additionally On Monday, “Chuck” retained 100 percent of its 18-49 rating from premiere week. “Chuck” increased from its first half-hour to its second in every key demographic measure as well as in total viewers.
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 September 27-October 5:
On Monday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. ET, “Chuck” (2.0 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49, 5.3 million viewers overall) retained 100 percent of its 18-49 rating from premiere week. “Chuck” was up 5 percent in 18-49 versus its average for the May sweep earlier this year (2.0 vs. 1.5), “Chuck” increased from its first half-hour to its second in every key demographic measure as well as in total viewers, including gains of 5 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 2.0 from a 1.9) and 14 percent in adults 18-34 (to a 1.6 from a.1.4). .
Monday from 9-10 p.m. ET, “The Event” (2.9/7 in adults 18-49, 9.1 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 45 percent in 18-49 rating and by 69 percent or nearly 3.7 million persons in total viewers
“The Event” was up 32 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC’s performance in the slot on the same night last year (2.9 vs. 2.2) and up 71 percent versus the network’s average in the time period during the regular 2009-10 season (2.9 vs. 1.7, non-sports “live plus same day”).
In total viewers, “The Event” was up 75 percent, or nearly 3.9 million persons, versus NBC’s “live plus same day” non-sports average in the hour last season (9.1 million vs. 5.2 million).
“The Event” increased its viewership from half-hour to half-hour in every key demographic category as well as in total viewers.
Early results indicate that “The Event” will be among the most time-shifted new series on the primetime schedule. In “live plus three day” ratings for last week’s premiere telecast (which includes time-shifted viewing through three days after the live telecast), 31 percent of the “live plus three day” viewing of “The Event” was on a time-shifted basis. Premiere week’s “live plus same day” 18-49 rating grew 19 percent in “live plus three day” rating to a 4.3 from a 3.6). And in its second week, “The Event” gained 23 percent in going from “live plus same day” to “live plus three days” (to a 3.6 from a 2.9).
Monday at 10 p.m. ET, “Chase” (2.1/6 in adults 18-49, 6.3 million viewers overall) retained 91 percent of its 18-49 premiere rating of one week earlier (2.1 vs. 2.3).
“Chase” was up 40 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC’s non-sports average in this time period during the traditional 2009-10 season (2.3 vs. 1.5, non-sports “live plus same day”) and up 24 percent versus NBC’s 1.7 rating in the slot on the same night last year.
In total viewers, “Chase” was up 24 percent, or more than 1.2 million persons, versus NBC’s “live plus same day” non-sports average in the hour last season (6.3 million vs. 5.1 million).
Versus the same Monday last season, NBC was up 10 percent in adult 18-49 rating (2.3 vs. 2.1) and 15 percent in total viewers (6.9 million vs. 6.0 million).
On Tuesday, Sept. 28 from 8-10 p.m. ET, “The Biggest Loser 10” averaged a 2.7/8 in adults 18-49 and 7.2 million viewers overall in a highly competitive time period that included Fox’s “Glee,” CBS’s “NCIS” and “NCIS: Los Angeles” and ABC’s series premiere of “No Ordinary Family” and the “Dancing With the Stars” Results Show.
From its first half-hour to its fourth, “Biggest Loser” grew by 30 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 3.0/8 from a 2.3/7) and 11 percent in total viewers (to 7.4 million from 6.7 million). By the 9:30-10 p.m. ET half-hour, “Biggest Loser” ranked #2 among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in adults 18-34, women 18-34 and women 18-49.
Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET, “Parenthood” (2.0/6 in adults 18-49, 4.8 million viewers overall) tied for #1 among the ABC, CBS and NBC in adults and women 18-34.
It’s worth noting that last season, Parenthood added an average 31 percent to its “live plus same day” ratings when “live plus seven day” results were released, giving it one of the largest such increases among primetime series on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox. In early “live plus three day” ratings for last week’s telecast (which includes time-shifted viewing through three days after the live telecast), “Parenthood’s” 18-49 rating increased by 28 percent versus its “live plus same day” result (to a 3.14 from a 2.46).
On Wednesday, Sept. 29 from 8-9 p.m. ET, “Undercovers” averaged a 1.6/5 in 18-49 and 7.2 million viewers overall. “Undercovers” grew from half-hour to half-hour in all key demographics – adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 – as well as in total viewers. From 8:30-9 p.m. ET, “Undercovers” ranked #2 among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in total viewers.
“Undercovers” was up 17 percent or nearly 1.1 million persons in total viewers versus NBC’s average in the 8-9 p.m. ET time period for the traditional 2009-10 season (7.2 million vs. 6.2 million, non-sports “live plus same day”).
Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (2.8/8 in 18-49, 9.5 million viewers overall) improved on its results in this time period on the same night last year by 12 percent in 18-49 rating (2.7 vs. 2.5) and by 17 percent or 1.4 million persons in total viewers (9.5 million vs. 8.1 million).
From its first half-hour to its second, “SVU” grew by 20 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 3.0 from a 2.5) and by 15 percent or 1.3 million persons in total viewers (to 10.1 million from 8.8 million). From 9:30-10 p.m. ET, “SVU” ranked #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in adults 18-34 and women 18-34 and #2 in total viewers and women 18-49.
Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET, the series premiere of “Law & Order: Los Angeles” (3.2/9 in 18-49, 10.6 million viewers overall) won the time period in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54, total viewers and other key measures. The “Law & Order: LA” margin of victory in that hour was 28 percent in 18-49 rating (3.2 vs. 2.5 for CBS’s “The Defenders” in second place).
“Law & Order: LA” was up 68 percent in adult 18-49 rating versus NBC’s average in this slot last season (3.2 vs. 1.9) and up 65 percent or nearly 4.2 million persons in total viewers (10.638 million vs. 6.456 million). In total viewers, this was NBC’s biggest in-season non-Olympic audience in this time period since September 16, 2009.
“Law & Order: Los Angeles,” with a 3.2 rating in adults 18-49, is the #2 10 p.m. drama premiere thus far this season behind only CBS’s “Hawaii Five-0” (3.9). Among the 10 p.m. drama debuts, “Law & Order: LA” has topped are CBS’s “The Defenders” (2.9), ABC’s “Detroit 1-8-7” (2.3) and ABC’s “The Whole Truth” (1.5).
On Thursday, Sept. 30 from 8-8:30 p.m. ET, “Community” (1.9/6 in 18-49, 4.5 million viewers overall) matched NBC’s 18-49 average for the slot during the traditional 2009-10 season (1.9, non-sports, “live plus same day’) despite time-period competition that included CBS’s “Big Bang Theory.” “Community” was up 6 percent in 18-49 versus NBC’s result in this time period on the same night last year (1.9 vs. 1.8).
In the time period “Community” ranked #2 among NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox in adults 18-34, men 18-34 and men 18-49 (tie).
Thursday from 8:30-9 p.m. ET, “30 Rock” (2.6/8 in 18-49, 5.7 million viewers overall) built by 37 percent in adults 18-49 and 25 percent in total viewers on its lead-in from “Community.” 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.”
“30 Rock” also generated a 37 percent increase in 18-49 rating versus NBC’s average in this time period during the traditional 2009-10 season (2.6 vs. a 1.9, non-sports, “live plus same day”). “30 Rock” matched NBC’s highest results in 18-49 in this time period, excluding sports, since December 17, 2009. In its time period, “30 Rock” ranked #2 among NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox in adults 18-49 and other key demos and was #1 in adults, men and women 18-34.
“30 Rock” retained 100 percent of its 18-49 rating from premiere week and was the only Thursday show on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox or the CW to maintain its rating week-to-week.
Thursday from 9-9:31 p.m. ET, “The Office” (3.7/10 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 all key adult-male demographics – men 18-34, men 18-49 and men 25-54 – while tying “Grey’s Anatomy” for #1 among adults 18-34. Versus its average in the most recent May sweep, “The Office” was up 6 percent in 18-49 rating (3.7 vs. 3.5) and 9 percent in total viewers (7.4 million vs. 6.8 million).
Thursday from 9:31-10 p.m. ET, “Outsourced” delivered a 2.8/7 in 18-49 and 5.9 million viewers overall, up 4 percent in 18-49 versus NBC’s average in this slot last season (2.7, non-sports, “live plus same day”). “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 men 18-49 and was #2 in adults and women 18-34, behind only “Grey’s.”
“Outsourced” retained 76 percent of its 18-49 lead-in in “live plus same day” results versus its heavily time-shifted lead-in, “The Office.” In “live only” results, “Outsourced” retained 89 percent of its lead-in from “The Office,” the second highest percentage of any 8:30 or 9:30 p.m. new comedy on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox this week, with the other “live only” retentions being 100 percent for ABC’s “Better With You,” 87 percent for CBS’s “$%*! My Dad Says,” 85 percent for CBS’s “Mike & Molly” and 65 percent for Fox’s “Running Wilde.”
Thursday at 10 p.m. ET, “The Apprentice” averaged a 1.3/4 in 18-49 and 3.6 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its second, “Apprentice” increased 3 percent in total viewers.
On Thursday, Sept.30, NBC matched its year-ago primetime rating in adults 18-49 (2.3 vs. 2.3) while CBS was down 15 percent (3.3 vs. 3.9), ABC was down 42 percent (2.8 vs. 4.8) and Fox was down 12 percent (2.2 vs. 2.5).
On Friday, Oct. 1 from 8-10 p.m. ET, “Dateline NBC” averaged a 1.3/5 in 18-49 and 6.2 million viewers overall. In its two-hour time period, “Dateline” ranked #2 among ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and the CW in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, total viewers and other key categories. From its first half-hour to its fourth, “Dateline” grew by 60 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.6 from a 1.0) and by 29 percent or nearly 1.6 million persons in total viewers (7.0 million vs. 5.4 million).
Friday from 10-11 p.m. ET, “Outlaw” averaged a 1.0/4 in adults 18-49 and 4.7 million viewers overall. “Outlaw” grew half-hour to half-hour in adults 18-34 and all key adult-male demos and ranked #2 among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults 25-54 and total viewers.
On Saturday, Oct. 2 from 8-9 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of “The Event” averaged a 0.7/2 in 18-49 and 3.2 million viewers overall. “The Event” matched NBC’s highest in-season 18-49 rating in this time period since March 13 and delivered the network’s biggest in-season audience since March 6. Versus the prior week’s rebroadcast of the “Event” premiere in this slot, the show maintained its 18-49 rating and grew by 9 percent in total viewers (3.2 million vs. 2.9 million).
Saturday at 9 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of Wednesday’s “Law & Order: Los Angeles” premiere (0.9/3 in 18-49, 4.3 million viewers overall) locked up NBC’s highest in-season 18-49 rating and biggest in-season overall viewership in this time period since May 1. “Law & Order: LA” grew from half-hour to half-hour by 25 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.0 from a 0.8) and by 17 percent in total viewers (4.6 million vs. 4.0 million).
Saturday at 10 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (1.4/5 in 18-49, 5.9 million viewers overall) captured NBC’s highest in-season 18-49 rating in this time period since March 6 and biggest in-season overall audience in the slot since November 7, 2009. From its first half-hour to its second, “SVU” grew by 15 percent in adult 18-49 rating (to a 1.5 from a 1.3) and 12 percent in total viewers (6.2 million vs. 5.5 million).
On Sunday Oct. 3, the “NBC Sunday Night Football” telecast of the Chicago Bears at the New York Giants 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 Bears-Giants game averaged an 8.0/20 in adults 18-49, 20.9 million viewers overall and a 12.5/20 household rating/share from 8:31-11:14 p.m. ET.
Sunday’s Bears-Giants game, with an average 20.9 million viewers, attracted the biggest overall audience for a primetime NFL telecast in October in 10 years (since Monday, October 9, 2000, Tampa Bay-Minnesota on ABC).
NBC’s margin of victory over the #2 network Sunday night was 40 percent in 18-49 (6.6 vs. a 4.7 from 7-10 p.m. for Fox, which was boosted by an NFL overrun.) and 47 percent in total viewers (17.6 million vs. 12.0 million for CBS).
Sunday’s Bears-Giants game was up 8 percent in 18-49 rating and 14 percent in total viewers versus the “Sunday Night Football” game that aired during the same week last year (a 7.4/19 in 18-49 and 18.4 million viewers overall for the Chargers-Steelers match-up on October 4, 2009).
Also on Sunday, “Football Night in America 2” from 7:30-7:56 p.m. ET averaged a1.9/6 in 18-49, 5.2 million viewers overall and a 3.4/6 household rating/share. “Football Night in America 3” from 7:56-8:20 p.m. delivered a 3.9/11 in 18-49, 10.8 million viewers overall and an 6.5/11 in households. From 8:20-8:31 p.m., “NBC Sunday Night Football Pre Kickoff” averaged a 5.6/16 in 18-49, 15.8 million viewers overall and a 9.3/15 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 3.1/9, 4.1 million
Fox 2.8/8, 3.7 million
NBC 2.7/8, 3.6 million
ABC 2.6/8, 3.4 million
CW 1.1/3, 1.4 million
Each rating point equals 1.31 million viewers
ADULTS 25-54
CBS 4.0/11, 4.9 million
NBC 3.2/9, 4.0 million
ABC 3.2/9, 4.0 million
Fox 3.0/8, 3.7 million
CW 1.0/3, 1.2 million
Each rating point equals 1.24 million viewers
TOTAL VIEWERS
CBS 4.0/11, 11.9 million
ABC 3.1/8, 9.2 million
NBC 2.8/7, 8.1 million
Fox 2.4/6, 7.1 million
CW 0.8/2, 2.3 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
ABC 2.7/8, 3.5 million
Fox 2.7/8, 3.5 million
CW 1.1/3, 1.4 million
Each rating point equals 1.31 million viewers
ADULTS 25-54
CBS 4.1/11, 5.1 million
ABC 3.3/9, 4.1 million
NBC 3.2/9, 4.0 million
Fox 2.8/8, 3.5 million
CW1.0/3, 1.2 million
Each rating point equals 1.24 million viewers
TOTAL VIEWERS
CBS 4.1/11, 12.2 million
ABC 3.2/9, 9.4 million
NBC 2.8/7, 8.1 million
Fox 2.3/6, 6.8 million
CW 0.8/2, 2.4 million
Each rating point equals 2.95 million viewers
(source: NBC)
