Debut of NBC's THE WALL Propels Network Win in All Key Measures

NBC has won the primetime ratings week of Dec. 26-Jan. 1 among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49, total viewers and all other key measures, led by the week's #1 primetime telecast in each of those categories, "Sunday Night Football," according to "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research. Also contributing top-25 ratings in 18-49 last week were NBC's "The Wall," "Chicago P.D.," "Law & Order: SVU," "Dateline NBC" and "A Toast to 2016!"

In 18-49, NBC has now won eight weeks in a row and is leading the season by a +35% margin over #2 Fox, with a 2.7 rating versus Fox's 2.0 in "most current" Nielsens. On a percentage basis, that's the biggest advantage at this point in the season over the #2 network for any net in the history of Nielsen's current people meter sample, which dates back to 1987. On a rating-point basis, the 0.7 lead is the biggest margin at this point for any net in 19 years, since NBC led by 1.3 at 15 weeks during the 1997-98 season.

In total viewers, NBC has now won six weeks in a row, its longest in-season winning streak by that measure in 18 years (since a six-week streak covering the weeks of April 6 through May 11, 1998). The last time NBC won more than six weeks in a row in season was 21 years ago, when the network won eight in a row from the week of Jan. 1 through the week of Feb. 19, 1996.

For the season to date, NBC is running within 265,000 viewers of perennial total-viewer leader CBS (9.7 million vs. 10.0 million), the narrowest gap between NBC and CBS at this point in the season in 16 years, since NBC held the lead at this point during the 2000-01 season.

For the week of Dec. 26-Jan. 1, NBC dominated, ranking #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in 18-49, total viewers and every other key ratings measure.

Ranking among the week's top-25 primetime shows on the Big 4 nets in 18-49 were -- "Sunday Night Football," #1; Tuesday's encore of "The Wall," tied for #8; Wednesday's "Law & Order: SVU" rebroadcast, tied for #14; Wednesday's "Chicago P.D." encore, tied for #14; Friday's "Dateline NBC" rebroadcast, tied for #20; and Saturday's "A Toast to 2016!," tied for #20. Rankings exclude sports pre- and post-game shows.

Season to date, NBC ranks #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in adults 18-49 and every other key demographic.

Counting only entertainment programs season to date (excluding live news and sports), NBC ranks #1 among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 and is also #1 in adults 25-54, adults 18-34 and every key adult-female demo.

Image courtesy of NBC

To post a comment, you must register and login.