NBC has extended its primetime winning streak to an eighth straight week at #1 or tied for #1 in the key demographic of adults 18-49, with NBC Sports' preseason NFL coverage finishing #1 among Big 4 programs in 18-49 for the week of Aug. 24-30 and "America's Got Talent" ranking #1 in total viewers.
Joining Sunday's #1 Cardinals-Raiders NFL telecast among the week's top 20 primetime shows on ABC, CBS,
NBC and
FOX in 18-49 are Tuesday's "Talent" (tied for #2), Wednesday's "Talent" (#7), Monday's "American Ninja Warrior" recap (tied for #10), Wednesday's "Carmichael Show" debut (tied for #14), Tuesday's "Hollywood Game Night" (tied for #14), Wednesday's "Last Comic Standing" (tied for #14) and "Dateline Thursday Night Mystery" (tied for #14). Rankings exclude sports pre- and post-game shows.
According to "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research,
NBC averaged a 1.2 rating, 4 share in adults 18-49 for the week and 5.0 million viewers overall.
NBC rated #1 or tied for #1 for the week among the Big 4 in every key demographic - adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54.
Cardinals-Raiders football was the #1 primetime telecast on the Big 4 networks last week in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 (tied with "Talent"), adults 18-34 and all key adult-male demos.
Tuesday's "Talent" was #1 in primetime on those nets in total viewers, adults 25-54 (tied with
NBC football), teens 12-17 and kids 2-11. "Talent" has ranked #1 among primetime Big 4 telecasts, excluding sports, during 14 of its 14 weeks on the schedule this summer in total viewers and 12 of 14 in adults 18-49 (including two ties, L+SD).
For the 52-week 2014-15 season to date,
NBC ranks #1 among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 and is #1 or tied for #1 among those nets in adults 18-34 and all key adult-male demos.
In total viewers,
NBC is #2 for the season, and running within 6% of its year-ago Olympics-boosted average (7.7 million vs. 8.2 million).
Primetime averages for the week of Aug. 24-30 in adults 18-49 are: NBC, 1.2/4; CBS, 1.1/4; ABC, 0.8/3; Fox, 0.7/3; and CW, 0.3/1. In overall total viewers, the weekly averages were: CBS, 5.4 million; NBC, 5.0 million; ABC, 3.4 million; Fox, 2.3 million; and CW, 1.1 million.
"Most current" averages for the 52-week 2014-15 season to date are: NBC, 2.1/7; ABC, 2.0/7; CBS, 1.9/7; Fox, 1.7/6; and CW, 0.7/2. In overall total viewers, the season averages are: CBS, 9.7 million; NBC, 7.7 million; ABC, 7.2 million; Fox, 5.2 million; and CW, 1.9 million.
NBC highlights for the week of Aug. 24-30:
Monday
NBC tied for #1 Monday night among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 and was #1 outright among those nets in adults 25-54 and all key adult-male demos, pending updates.
A clip-show encore of "American Ninja Warrior" (1.3/5 in 18-49, 5.1 million viewers overall from 8-10:01 p.m. ET) won its two hour time period among the Big 4 networks in total viewers and adults 25-54, and won its second hour from 9-10 p.m. among those networks in adults 18-49.
"Running Wild with Bear Grylls" (0.9/3 in 18-49, 2.9 million viewers overall from 10:01-11 p.m. ET) won the time period among ABC,
CBS and
NBC in adults 18-49, as well as men 18-49 and women 18-49 (tie), adults 25-54, men 25-54 and adults, men and women 18-34 with an episode featuring James Marsden.
"Live Plus Three Day" Ratings: "Running Wild with Bear Grylls" grew by +22% in 18-49 rating going from "live plus same day" to "live plus three day" Nielsens (from a 0.94 rating to a 1.14) and by 525,000 viewers overall (from 2.9 million to 3.4 million).
"Live Plus Seven Day" Ratings: "Running Wild with Bear Grylls" has grown by +19% in 18-49 rating going from "live plus same day" to "live plus seven day" rating (from a 1.25 to a 1.49) and 627,000 viewers overall (3.7 million to 4.3 million) going from L+SD to L+7.
Tuesday
NBC swept Tuesday night among the Big 4 networks, winning the night in all key categories and claiming six of six half-hours among those nets in adults 18-49.
"America's Got Talent" (2.2/8 in 18-49, 10.3 million viewers overall from 8-10:01 p.m. ET) ranked as the #1 show of the night on the Big 4 networks in every key measure. "Talent" grew +5% versus its adult 18-49 rating on the same night last year (2.2 vs. 2.1 from 9-11 p.m. on Aug. 26, 2014) and was up +9% in total viewers (10.3 million vs. 9.5 million). L+3: "America's Got Talent" grew by +19% in 18-49 rating going from L+SD to L+3 Nielsens (from a 2.17 rating to a 2.58) and by more than 1.3 million viewers overall (from 10.3 million to 12.7 million). L+7: Tuesday's "America's Got Talent" has grown by +29% in 18-49 rating (from a 2.38 to a 3.08) and 2.1 million viewers overall (10.7 million to 12.8 million) going from L+SD to L+7.
"Hollywood Game Night" (1.1/4 in 18-49, 4.1 million viewers overall from 10:01-11 p.m. ET) won the time period among ABC,
CBS and
NBC in every key demographic, taking the hour among ABC,
CBS and
NBC by a +38% margin in adults 18-49 (1.1 vs. 0.8 for CBS's #2 "NCIS: New Orleans" encore). "Hollywood Game Night" tied as the #2 show of the night on the Big 4 in 18-49, behind only NBC's "Talent." L+3: "HGN" grew by +11% in 18-49 rating going from L+SD to L+3 Nielsens (from a 1.08 rating to a 1.26) and by 412,000 viewers overall (from 4.1 million to 4.5 million). L+7: "Hollywood Game Night" is increasing by an average of +20% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.32 to a 1.58) and 664,000 viewers overall (4.7 million to 5.4 million) going from L+SD to L+7.
Wednesday
"America's Got Talent" (1.6/6 in 18-49, 8.5 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) matched NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the time period since April 8, when a special "Voice" averaged a 2.2. "America's Got Talent" maintained 100% of the show's 1.6 rating in 18-49 over the prior two Wednesdays. In total viewers, this week's "Talent" was the #1 telecast of the night. L+3: The prior week's Wednesday "Talent" increased by +19% in 18-49 going from L+SD to L+3 (1.64 to 1.95) and by 1.2 million viewers overall (9.1 million to 10.3 million).
"The Carmichael Show" (1.1/4 in 18-49, 4.8 million viewers overall from 9-9:30 p.m. ET) scored as the most-watched summer-comedy debut on the Big 4 since 2007 (6.2 million for "Creature Comforts" on
CBS June 4, 2007), a span covering 12 summer-comedy launches. In adult 18-49 rating, its 1.1 keeps "Carmichael" within 0.1 of NBC's strong Aug. 5 debut of "Mr. Robinson," which was the #2 highest-rated summer comedy debut on the Big 4 since 2009. "The Carmichael Show" tied for #1 in the time period among the Big 4 in adults 18-49 and other key demos.
A second episode of "The Carmichael Show" (0.9/3 in 18-49, 4.1 million viewers overall from 9:30-10 p.m. ET) retained 82% of the prior half-hour's strong series premiere rating in 18-49 and held onto 87% in adults 25-54 (1.3 vs. 1.5) and 89% in women 25-54 (1.6 vs. 1.8). The 9:30 "Carmichael Show" tied for #1 in the time period among the Big 4 in adults, men and women 18-49 and adults, men and women 25-54.
"Last Comic Standing" (1.1/4 in 18-49, 4.2 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) won the time period among ABC,
CBS and
NBC in adults 18-49 and ranked #1 or tied for #1 in every key demo. "Last Comic Standing" retained 100% of the prior week's 18-49 rating and was up +1% in total viewers. Despite the 10 p.m. hour, "Last Comic Standing" maintained or increased its rating from half-hour to half-hour in all key demos. L+3: The previous week's "Comic" grew by +38% or a season-high 0.42 of a point in 18-49 going from L+SD to L+3 (1.12 to 1.54) and by 1.1 million viewers overall (4.2 million to 5.3 million). L+7: "Last Comic Standings" is growing by an average of +31% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.44 to a 1.88) and 1.1 million viewers overall (5.4 million to 6.5 million) going from L+SD to L+7. Upscale: "Comic" was the most upscale show of the night on the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 living in homes with $100K+ incomes (with a 119 index) and with four or more years of college (125).
NBC tied for the Wednesday win in adults 18-49.
Thursday
"Food Fighters" (0.9/4 in 18-49, 3.8 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) matched its season high in 18-49, maintaining 100% of the prior week's results in 18-49 and 98% in total viewers (3.8 million vs. 3.9 million). "Food Fighters" ranked #2 in the time period among ABC, CBS,
NBC and
FOX in adults 18-49 and total viewers.
"Dateline Thursday Night Mystery" (1.1/4 in 18-49, 5.5 million viewers overall from 9-11 p.m. ET) won the time period in total viewers among the Big 4 networks with its biggest overall audience since July 30, and was #2 in 18-49. "Dateline Mystery" was up +83% versus NBC's summer average in the time period prior to "Dateline Mystery" (1.1 vs. 0.6). For its second hour from 10-11 p.m., "Dateline Thursday Night Mystery" ranked #1 among ABC,
CBS and
NBC in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers. "Dateline Mystery" has now ranked #1 or tied for #1 in 18-49 among ABC,
CBS and
NBC from 10-11 p.m. with seven of seven Thursday telecasts to date. Upscale: "Dateline Mystery" was the most upscale show of the night on the Big 4 networks in 18-49 living in homes with $100K+ incomes (with a 120 index).
Friday
An encore telecast of "America's Got Talent" averaged a 0.6/3 in 18-49 and 3.1 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET.
A "Dateline NBC" rebroadcast (0.7/3 in 18-49, 4.2 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) grew from half-hour to half-hour by +14% in adults 18-49 (0.7 to 0.8), +20% in adults 25-54 (1.0 to 1.2) and +13% in total viewers (3.9 million to 4.5 million), despite the 10 p.m. hour. L+7: Friday's "Dateline" is increasing by an average of +26% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.14 to a 1.44) and 959,000 viewers overall (5.8 million to 6.7 million) going from L+SD to L+7.
Saturday
An encore telecast of "American Ninja Warrior" (0.4/2 in 18-49, 1.8 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) grew from its first half-hour to its fourth by 0.2 of a point or +67% in 18-49 rating (0.3 to 0.5) and +34% in total viewers (1.5 million to 2.1 million).
"Hannibal" (0.3/1 in 18-49, 1.2 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) delivered its biggest overall audience since Thursday, July 9. Week to week, "Hannibal" grew 0.1 of a point or +50% in adults 18-49 (0.3 vs. 0.2) and +58% in total viewers (1.2 milllion vs.785,000). L+7: "Hannibal" has been increasing by an average of +56% in 18-49 rating (from a 0.39 to a 0.61) and 567,000 viewers overall (1.4 million to 1.9 million) going from L+SD to L+7.
Sunday
Rebroadcasts of "The Carmichael Show" averaged a 0.5/2 in 18-49 and 1.8 million viewers overall from 7-7:30 p.m. ET and a 0.6/2 in 18-49 and 1.9 million viewers overall from 7:30-8, growing half-hour to half-hour by 0.1 or +20% in adults 18-49, +20% in women 18-49 (0.5 to 0.6) and +75% in men 18-49 (0.4 to 0.7).
NBC Sports coverage of Sunday's Arizona Cardinals-Oakland Raiders NFL preseason game (2.4/8 in 18-49, 7.5 million viewers overall from 8:11-11 p.m. ET) led
NBC to the nightlong win among the Big 4 nets in adults 18-49, total viewers, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and other key measures. The Cardinals-Raiders game is up versus the comparable year-ago telecast by +14% in 18-49 (2.4 vs. 2.1 for Bengals-Cardinals on Aug. 24, 2014) and up +8% in total viewers (7.5 million vs. 7.0 million). Excluding "Hall of Fame" games, Sunday's Cardinals-Raiders matchup is the top-scoring NFL preseason telecast on any network in 18-49 or total viewers in two years, since NBC's Aug. 25, 2013 Vikings-49ers game (2.7/8 in 18-49, 8.2 million viewers overall). The Cardinals-Raiders telecast combines with this year's Vikings-Steelers NFL Hall of Fame Game (3.6/12 in 18-49, 11.0 million viewers overall on Aug. 9) to give
NBC the two highest-rated 2015 NFL preseason games among all networks in 18-49 and total viewers.
