'America's Got Talent' Ranks 1st in Adults 18-49

Two editions of "America's Got Talent" delivered primetime television's #1 and #2 ratings of the week in both adults 18-49 and total viewers, leading NBC to an average 1.5 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49 and 5.2 million viewers overall for the week of June 21-27, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

For the week, NBC tied for #2 in primetime in adults 18-49 and adults 18-34 and tied for #1 in adults 25-54. NBC ranked #2 outright among the major networks in total viewers.

The Wednesday edition of "America's Got Talent," with a 3.5 rating in adults 18-49 and 12.4 million viewers overall, was the #1 program of the week in both adults 18-49 and total viewers. The Wednesday edition of "Talent" also ranked #1 this week in adults 18-34, men and women 18-49 and other key demographics.

The Tuesday edition of "America's Got Talent," with a 3.4 rating in adults 18-49 and 11.7 million viewers overall was the #2 program of the week in both measures. Tuesday's "Talent" demonstrated the show's broad appeal by simultaneously ranking #1 among all programs this week in two diverse demographics: adults 25-54 and teens 12-17.

Also ranking among the top 20 programs of the week in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, were the Wednesday encore telecast of "Talent" (#13) and Monday's "Last Comic Standing" (#18, tied)

Primetime averages for the week of June 21-27 in adults 18-49 were Fox (1.7/6), NBC and ABC (1.5/5), CBS (1.3/4) and CW (0.4/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (6.2 million), NBC (5.2 million), ABC (5.1 million), Fox (4.5 million) and CW (0.9 million).

NBC highlights for the week of June 21-27

* On Monday, "Last Comic Standing" was up 29 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's non-sports average in the time period last summer. "Last Comic" ranked #1 among the major networks in its time period in men 18-34 and #2 in adults and women 18-34, men 18-49 and men 25-54.

* On Tuesday, "America's Got Talent" was the #1 program of the night in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures, outscoring such primetime rivals as "Hell's Kitchen" on Fox and the season premieres of "Wipeout" and "Downfall" on ABC. In its two-hour time period, "Talent" ranked #1 in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, total viewers and other key measures.

* Week-to-week, the Tuesday edition of "America's Got Talent" was up 13 percent in 18-49 rating and 10 percent or more than 1.0 million persons in total viewers

* From its first half-hour to its fourth, the Tuesday "Talent" increased by 32 percent in 18-49 rating and by 23 percent or more than 2.3 million persons in total viewers. In its second hour from 10-11 p.m. ET, "America's Got Talent" topped The Combined programming on ABC and CBS by 61 percent in 18-49 rating and by 31 percent or more than 2.9 million persons in total viewers

* On Wednesday, "America's Got Talent" matched the highest 18-49 rating for any Wednesday edition of "Talent" in nearly four years, equaling the 3.5 rating for last season's "Talent" finale on September 16, 2009. "Talent" also delivered NBC's top non-Olympic 18-49 rating and total viewer result in the Wednesday 9-10 p.m. time period since that same September 16, 2009 date.

* "America's Got Talent" was the #1 show of the night Wednesday in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, total viewers and other key measures. "Talent" ranked #1 in its hour in adults 18-49, total viewers and most other key measures.

* Week-to-week, the Wednesday "Talent" was up 13 percent in 18-49 rating and 6 percent in total viewers. The Wednesday edition of "Talent" has grown with each telecast so far this season in both adults 18-49 and total viewers.

* Also on Wednesday, an encore telecast of "America's Got Talent" ranked #1 among the major networks in the 8-9 p.m. ET hour in total viewers and all key adult-male demographics and #2 in adults 18-49 and all other key measures.

* Additionally on Wednesday, a rebroadcast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" ranked #1 among the major networks in the hour in adults 18-49 and other key measures.

* NBC ranked #1 in primetime Wednesday in adults 25-54 and total viewers and #2 in adults 18-49, with a 2.4/7 from 8-11 p.m. ET in adults 18-49 versus Fox's 2.5/8 from 8-10 p.m. In head-to-head competition from 8-10 p.m. ET, NBC topped Fox in adults 18-49 (2.7 vs. 2.5).

* On Friday, "Friday Night Lights" tied for #1 among the major networks in the time period in adults 18-49, marking the fifth straight week the critically acclaimed drama has ranked #1 or tied for #1 in adults 18-49 in the Friday 8-9 p.m. hour. "Lights" also tied for #1 in adults and men 18-34 and ranked #1 outright in men 18-49 and men 25-54.

* On Saturday, an encore telecast of "America's Got Talent" ranked #1 among the major networks from 8-10 p.m. ET in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. Versus its prior Saturday rebroadcast, the "Talent" encore was up 57 percent in adults 18-49 and 33 percent in total viewers.

* NBC ranked #1 among the major networks in primetime Saturday in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and other key demographics.

* On Sunday, the 10 p.m. ET edition of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" ranked #1 among the major networks in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures versus CBS's second hour of the Daytime Emmys and ABC's original series "The Gates." Week-to-week, the Sunday 10 p.m. ET "Criminal Intent" was up 30 percent in adults 18-49 and 50 percent 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."