NBC has won the week of Aug. 3-9 among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49, total viewers and all other key measures, with top-15 ratings in adults 18-49 from Sunday's Steelers-Vikings NFL Hall of Fame Game, " "America's Got Talent," "American Ninja Warrior," "Last Comic Standing," Running Wild with Bear Grylls" and the series debut of "Mr. Robinson."
According to "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research,
NBC averaged a 1.5 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49 for the week and 5.6 million viewers overall. It's NBC's top-rated week in 18-49 in four months (since the week of April 6-12, 1.5) and most watched in 11 weeks (since May 18-24, 5.6 million).
NBC delivered five of the week's top 10 primetime telecasts in 18-49 on ABC, CBS,
NBC and
FOX and 10 of the top 20, with Sunday's Steelers-Vikings NFL matchup (#1), Tuesday's "Talent" (tied for #2), Monday's "Ninja Warrior" (tied for #6), Wednesday's "Last Comic" (tied for #7), Wednesday's "Talent" clip show (tied for #7), Monday's "Running Wild" (tied for #11), Wednesday's debut of "Mr. Robinson" (tied for #13), Tuesday's "Hollywood Game Night" (tied for #17), Thursday's "Dateline Mystery" (tied for #17) and Friday's "Dateline NBC" (tied for #17). Rankings exclude sports pre- and post-game shows.
NBC ranked #1 or tied for #1 among the Big four networks on five of seven nights last week, finishing first on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday (tie) and Sunday.
Versus the same week last year (which did not feature an NFL telecast),
NBC was up +36% in 18-49 (1.5 vs. 1.1) and +18% in total viewers (5.6 million vs. 4.7 million).
It's
NBC first weeklong win in total viewers in 10 weeks, since the week of May 25-31.
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 men 18-49 and adults and men 18-34.
In total viewers,
NBC is #2 for the season, and running within 6% of its year-ago Olympics-boosted average (7.9 million vs. 8.4 million), making this season and last NBC's two top-scoring seasons in total viewers at this point since the 2006-07 season. This is the second year in a row
NBC has ranked #2 in total viewers at this point in the season, marking first two times since 2003-04 that
NBC has ranked as high as #2 in total viewers at this point.
Primetime averages for the week of Aug. 3-9 in adults 18-49 are: NBC, 1.5/6; CBS, 1.0/4; ABC, 0.8/3; Fox, 0.6/2; and CW, 0.3/1. In overall total viewers, the weekly averages were: NBC, 5.6 million; CBS, 5.2 million; ABC, 3.6 million; Fox, 2.1 million; and CW, 1.0 million.
"Most current" averages for the 52-week 2014-15 season to date are: NBC, 2.1/7; ABC, 2.0/7; CBS, 2.0/7; Fox, 1.8/6; and CW, 0.7/2. In overall total viewers, the season averages are: CBS, 9.9 million; NBC, 7.9 million; ABC, 7.4 million; Fox, 5.4 million; and CW, 1.9 million.
NBC highlights for the week of Aug. 3-9:
Monday
NBC won Monday night among the Big 4 networks in every key measure, taking of six of six half-hours in adults 18-49.
"American Ninja Warrior" (1.9/7 in 18-49, 6.5 million viewers overall from 8-10:01 p.m. ET) ranked #1 for the night on the Big 4 in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key demos. "Ninja" matched the prior week's 1.9 rating in adults 18-49, while growing by +4% in adults 25-54 (2.4 vs. 2.3) and +5% in total viewers (6.5 million vs. 6.2 million). "American Ninja Warrior" led this week's time period among the Big 4 in adults 18-49, total viewers and most other key measures.
"Live Plus Three Day" Ratings: "American Ninja Warrior" grew by +11% in 18-49 rating going from "live plus same day" to "live plus three day" Nielsens (from a 1.88 rating to a 2.07) and by 580,000 viewers overall (from 6.5 million to 7.1 million).
"Live Plus Seven Day" Ratings: "American Ninja Warrior" has grown by +18% in 18-49 rating going from "live plus same day" to "live plus seven day" ratings (from a 1.92 to a 2.27) and 882,000 viewers overall (6.4 million to 7.3 million).
"Running Wild with Bear Grylls" (1.3/4 in 18-49, 3.8 million viewers overall from 10:01-11 p.m. ET) hit a season highs in 18-49 and total viewers, growing +8% week to week in 18-49 (1.3 vs. 1.2) and +4% in total viewers (3.8 million vs. 3.6 million). With an episode featuring Ed Helms, "Running Wild" scored the show's highest 18-49 rating since Aug. 11, 2014 (1.5), and biggest overall audience since Sept. 1, 2014 (3.845 million). It's the second week in a row the show has grown week to week in 18-49 and total viewers. This week's "Running Wild" tied for the #2 rating of the night on the Big 4 in adults 18-49, behind only NBC's "American Ninja Warrior." In the time period, "Running Wild" ranked #1 among ABC,
CBS and
NBC in all key measures. L+3: "Running Wild" increased by +12% in 18-49 going from L+SD to L+3 (1.33 to 1.48). In total viewers, "The Island" grew by 426,000 persons (from 3.8 million to 4.2 million). L+7: "Running Wild" is growing by +23% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.17 to a 1.44) and 685,000 viewers overall (3.5 million to 4.2 million) going from L+SD to L+7.
Tuesday
NBC won Tuesday night among the Big 4 in every key measure, with "America's Got Talent" scoring as the #1 show of the night on those nets in all key categories.
"America's Got Talent" (2.2/8 in 18-49, 10.2 million viewers overall from 8-10:01 p.m. ET) ranked as the #1 show of the night on the Big 4 networks in all key measures and grew +5% week to week in adults 18-49 (2.2 vs. 2.1). "America's Got Talent" won the time period among the Big 4 in every key category, with an +83% margin of victory in adults 18-49 (2.2 vs. 1.2 for the first two hours of ABC's #2 "CMA Festival"). L+3: "America's Got Talent" grew by +21% in 18-49 rating going from L+SD to L+3 Nielsens (from a 2.20 rating to a 2.65) and by 1.5 million viewers overall (from 10.2 million to 11.7 million).
(completed) L+7: "The Island" increased by +22% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.05 to a 1.28) and 663,000 viewers overall (3.4 million to 4.1 million) going from L+SD to L+7. L+7: "Talent" is growing by +30% in 18-49 rating (from a 2.42 to a 3.14) and 2.2 million viewers overall (10.7 million to 12.9 million) going from L+SD to L+7. Upscale: The prior week's "Talent" was the top upscale Big 4 telecast of the night among adults 18-49 living in homes with $100K+ incomes (with a 122 index, 100 represents an average concentration of those homes), and "Hollywood Game Night" was #2 (102).
"Hollywood Game Night" (1.1/4 in 18-49, 4.1 million viewers overall from 10:01-11 p.m. ET) grew week to week by +14% in adults 18-34 (0.8 vs. 0.7), +17% in men 18-34 (0.7 v. 0.6) and +13% in women 18-34 (0.9 vs. 0.8). "HGN" ranked as the #2 show or tied for the #2 show of the night on the Big 4 networks in adults 18-34 and all key adult-male demos. L+3: "HGN" grew by +17% in 18-49 rating going from L+SD to L+3 Nielsens (from a 1.15 rating to a 1.34) and by 542,000 viewers overall (from 4.1 million to 4.6 million). L+7: "HGN" is increasing by an average of +20% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.38 to a 1.65) and 676,000 viewers overall (4.9 million to 5.6 million) going from L+SD to L+7.
Wednesday
NBC won Wednesday night in adults 18-49, with "Mr. Robinson" leading all networks for the 9-10 p.m. ET hour in adults, men and women 18-49 and adults, men and women 25-54.
A "World's Got Talent" edition of "America's Got Talent" (1.5/6 in 18-49, 7.0 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) retained 100% of last week's result in the same 8-9 p.m. hour in 18-49 (1.5 vs. 1.5 from 8-9) and held 95% in total viewers (7.0 million vs. 7.4 million). "America's Got Talent" won the hour in total viewers and tied as the #2 telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49.
The series debut of "Mr. Robinson" (1.2/4 in 18-49, 4.6 million viewers overall from 9-9:30 p.m. ET) was the most-watched summer-comedy premiere on the Big 4 since 2007 (6.2 million for "Creature Comforts" on
CBS June 4, 2007), a span covering 11 summer-comedy launches, and the #2 highest-rated summer comedy debut on the Big 4 in adults 18-49 since 2009 (1.6 for "The Goode Family"), a span covering 10 summer-comedy launches. The only higher-rated summer-comedy debut on the Big 4 over that time in 18-49 was NBC's "Undateable" (1.3 on May 29, 2014). "Mr. Robinson" won the time period among the Big 4 in every key demographic and was up +71% versus NBC's prior summer comedy debut (1.2 vs. 0.7 for "Working the Engles" July 10, 2014). "Mr. Robinson" retained 86% of its lead-in from the 8:30-9 p.m. half-hour of "America's Got Talent" in adults 18-49 (1.2 vs. 1.4).
A second episode of "Mr. Robinson" (1.0/4 in 18-49, 3.7 million viewers overall from 9:30-10 p.m. ET) retained 83% of the prior half-hour's strong series-premiere rating in 18-49, retained 91% in men 18-49 (1.0 vs. 1.1), 93% in adults 25-54 (1.4 vs. 1.5) and 94% in women 25-54 (1.5 vs. 1.6). The 9:30 "Mr. Robinson" ranked #1 or tied for #1 in the time period among the Big 4 in every key demo.
"Last Comic Standing" (1.5/5 in 18-49, 4.7 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) retained 100% of its rating from the prior two weeks, to equal the show's highest rating since May 29, 2014 (1.6). Versus its third telecast last summer, "Last Comic" is up +7% in 18-49 (1.5 vs. 1.4 on June 5, 2014) and up +10% in total viewers (4.736 million vs. 4.308 million). "Last Comic" won the time period among ABC,
CBS and
NBC in all key demos and tied as the #2 telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49. "Last Comic" took the slot among those networks in adults 18-49 by a +88% margin of victory (1.5 vs. 0.8). L+7: "Last Comic Standing" is growing by an average of +27% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.55 to a 1.97) and 1.1 million viewers overall (6.1 million to 7.2 million) going from L+SD to L+7.
Thursday
"Food Fighters" (0.9/3 in 18-49, 3.7 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) matched its season high in adult 18-49 rating, delivering three-week highs in 18-49 and total viewers (best since July 16, 0.9 in 18-49, 3.9 million viewers overall). "Food Fighters" grew in total viewers for a second week in a row. In the time period, "Food Fighters" finished #2 among ABC, CBS,
NBC and
FOX in adults 18-49 and most other key measures, and #1 among those nets in men 18-34. Upscale: The prior week's "Food Fighters" was the top upscale Big 4 telecast of the night among adults 18-49 living in homes with $100K+ incomes (with a 120 index).
"Dateline Thursday Night Mystery" (1.1/4 in 18-49, 5.0 million viewers overall from 9-11 p.m. ET) delivered its top rating among four telecasts since "Dateline Mystery" moved to Thursdays on July 16. "Dateline Mystery" also scored NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the time period in 10 weeks (since May 28, 1.1). The 1.1 rating is 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. ET, "Dateline Thursday Night Mystery"" won the hour among ABC,
CBS and
NBC in all key measures.
Friday
An encore telecast of "America's Got Talent" (0.8/4 in 18-49, 4.0 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) maintained its 18-49 rating for a fifth straight week to match the show's highest result since June 26 (0.9). The "Talent" rebroadcast also hit a four-week high in total viewers. best since July 10.
"Dateline NBC" (1.1/4 in 18-49, 5.2 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) ranked as the #1 show of the night in adults 18-49, as well as adults 25-54 (1.5). "Dateline" matched its top Friday rating in 18-49 since April 3 (1.2) and attracted its biggest overall audience since May 29 (5.3 million). "Dateline" grew for a third straight week in total viewers. L+3: The prior Friday's "Dateline" grew by +30% in 18-49 rating going from L+SD to L+3 (1.05 to 1.37) and by 1.1 million viewers overall (5.1 million to 6.2 million). L+7: Friday's "Dateline" is increasing by an average of +25% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.15 to a 1.44) and 951,000 viewers overall (5.8 million to 6.7 million) going from L+SD to L+7. Upscale: The prior Friday's "Dateline NBC" was the top upscale Big 4 program of the night among adults 18-49 living in homes with $100K+ incomes (110 index) and with four or more years of college (115 index).
For the night,
NBC tied for #1 among the Big 4 in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and other key measures.
Saturday
An encore telecast of "Running Wild with Bear Grylls" (0.3/1 in 18-49, 1.3 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) equaled the show's 18-49 rating for its prior two Saturday rebroadcasts.
"Aquarius" (0.3/1 in 18-49, 1.3 million viewers overall from 9-10 p.m. ET) tied for #2 among the Big 4 nets in 18-49 and grew by 0.1 of a point or +50% (0.3 vs. 0.2) week to week in adult 18-49 rating to capture its top rating to date among four Saturday telecasts. "Aquarius" was also up versus the prior week in total viewers by +7%, its second straight week of total-viewer growth and it biggest overall audience to date on a Saturday. L+3: The prior week's "Aquarius" grew by a series-high +96% going from L+SD to L+3 (0.24 to 0.47) and by 790,000 viewers overall (1.2 million to 2.0 million). L+7: "Aquarius" is growing by an average of +41% in 18-49 rating (from a 0.68 to a 0.96) and 1.2 million viewers overall (3.5 million to 4.7 million) going from L+SD to L+7. Upscale: The prior week's "Aquarius" was the #2 most upscale Big 4 program of the night among adults 18-49 living in homes with $100K+ incomes (115 index) and with four or more years of college (102 index).
"Hannibal" (0.3/1 in 18-49, 1.0 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) maintained its adult 18-49 rating of the prior three weeks. L+3: The previous week's "Hannibal" grew by +50% going from L+SD to L+3 (0.30 to 0.45) and by 407,000 viewers overall (1.0 million to 1.4 million). L+7: "Hannibal" is increasing by an average of +57% in 18-49 rating (from a 0.44 to a 0.69) and 627,000 viewers overall (1.6 million to 2.2 million) going from L+SD to L+7. Upscale: The prior week's "Hannibal" was the top upscale Big 4 program of the night among adults 18-49 living in homes with $100K+ incomes (122 index) and with four or more years of college (121 index).
Sunday
Rebroadcasts of "Mr. Robinson" averaged a 0.6/2 in 18-49 and 2.1 million viewers overall from 7-7:30 p.m. ET and a 0.6/3 in 18-49 and 2.1 million viewers overall from 7:30-8, giving
NBC its highest 18-49 ratings in those two half-hours over the last five weeks (since July 5, 0.6 at 7 p.m. and 0.7 at 7:30 with Sprint Cup coverage from Daytona).
NBC Sports coverage of the NFL Hall of Fame Game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota
VIKINGS (3.6/12 in 18-49, 11.0 million viewers overall from 8:11-11 p.m. ET) dominated the night among the Big 4 networks in all key measures. The Steelers-Vikings Hall of Fame Game is up versus the year-ago Giants-Bills matchup by +24% in adult 18-49 rating (3.6 vs. 2.9). The 11.0 million average made it the most-watched NFL preseason game on any network in five years, since NBC's Bengals-Cowboys Hall of Fame game on Aug. 8, 2010 (11.4 million viewers). It was NBC's top rated non-Cowboys Hall of Fame telecast ever and second highest of all behind the 2010 coverage.
