NBC Wins Opening Night of the Season in Adults 18-49

NBC has won the opening night of the season in adults 18-49 with the top "Voice" since March 17 and the second-highest-rated "Blacklist" ever.

"The Voice" (3.9/11 in 18-49, 12.7 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) jumped by +18% versus its finale in May in 18-49 (3.9 vs. 3.3) and by +9% in total viewers (12.736 million vs. 11.685 million), despite intense competition last night from the two season-opening episodes of "Big Bang Theory," the series premiere of "Gotham" and "Dancing With the Stars." In the highly competitive time period, "The Voice" ranked #1 among adults 18-34 and all key adult-female demos (including a tie in women 25-54) in the intensely competitive slot.

"The Voice" scored its highest 18-49 rating since March 17 (4.1) and biggest overall audience since March 24 (12.847 million).

"The Voice" grew dramatically throughout its two hours with this half-hour track in adults 18-49: 3.3, 3.6, 4.1, 4.4

Note that the 8-9 p.m. ET competition is up by 43% on CBS and 68% on FOX versus the same night last year, with CBS growing with "The Big Bang Theory" (5.3 vs. the year-ago 3.7 for "How I Met Your Mother") and FOX up with "Gotham" (3.2 vs. the year-ago 1.9 for "Bones"). Also note that the year-ago "Voice" debut earned a 4.9 in these preliminary fast nationals and a 5.1 in official nationals. The most recent cycle launched Feb. 24 with a 4.7 in fast nationals and official nationals.

"The Blacklist" (3.4/10 in 18-49, 12.5 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) is the #1 drama of the night in 18-49 on a highly competitive night, capturing the show's top results since its series debut one year ago (3.8/10 in 18-49, 12.583 million viewers overall on Sept. 23, 2013), making this the #2 "Blacklist" ever in 18-49 and total viewers (L+SD). The show is expected to finish at or near record levels in L+3 and L+7.

"The Blacklist" grew by +31% vs. its finale in May in 18-49 (3.4 vs. 2.6) and +19% in total viewers (12.453 million vs. 10.444 million).

"The Blacklist" dominated the time period among ABC, CBS and NBC in every key measure and beat the combined ABC-CBS result in adults 18-49 (with a 3.4 versus a combined 3.3 for CBS's "Under the Dome" [1.8] and ABC's preview of "Forever" [1.5]).

Projected "Live Plus Three Day" and "Live Plus Seven Day" Results:

Adult 18-49 Rating
Show... L+SD... L+3...L+7
The Voice...3.9...4.6...4.8
The Blacklist...3.4...5.2...5.7

Persons 2+ (Total Viewers)
Show... L+SD... L+3...L+7
The Voice...12.7 million...14.5 million...14.9 million
The Blacklist...12.5 million...17.4 million...18.8 million

In Late-Night Metered Markets Monday night:

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 3.2/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.2/6; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.8/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 1.1/5; "Late Show," 0.4/2; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/2.

From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.2/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Seth Meyers" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.1/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 in metered-market households and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

For the Week:

NBC has concluded its VICTORIOUS 2013-14 ratings season with a #1 finish for the week of Sept. 15-21, led by Steelers-Panthers "Sunday Night Football," which ranked #1 among Big 4 primetime programs in every key ratings measure - adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, plus total viewers - as well as kids 2-11 and teens 12-17, excluding sports pre- and post-game shows.

According to "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research, NBC finished the week with an average 2.3 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49 and 7.9 million viewers overall.

Versus the same week a year ago, NBC was up +10% in adults 18-49 (to a 2.3 rating from a 2.1) and up +5% in total viewers (7.9 million vs. 7.5 million).

For the week, NBC also ranked #1 or tied for #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in adults 18-34, adults 25-54, all key adult-female demos, men 18-34 and men 18-49.

Joining "Sunday Night Football" in the week's top 15 primetime shows on ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in adults 18-49 were Tuesday's "America's Got Talent" (#5), Wednesday's "Talent" (tied for #6), Wednesday's "Mysteries of Laura" preview (tied for #11) and "American Ninja Warrior: USA vs. the World" (#14). Rankings exclude sports pre- and post-game shows.

WEEKLY RESULTS
Adults 18-49, L+SD
Net... Week 52, 2012-13... Week 52, 2013-14...Diff
NBC...2.1...2.3...Up 10%
CBS...2.2...2.2... Even
ABC...1.3...1.2... Down 8%
Fox...1.6...1.1... Down 31%

Total Viewers, L+SD
Net... Week 52, 2012-13... Week 52, 2013-14...Diff
NBC...7.492 million ...7.853 million...Up 5%
CBS...8.919 million...8.751 million...Down 2%
ABC...5.372 million ...5.521 million ...Up 3%
Fox....4.432 million ...3.126 million...Down 29%

For the Completed 52-Week 2013-14 Season:

NBC has finished in first place for the full 52-week primetime ratings season in the key demographic of adults 18-49, marking the network's first full-season win in the 10 years since the 2003-04 season.

In "most current" averages from Nielsen Media Research through Sept. 21, NBC finished +9% ahead of its year-ago rating in adults 18-49 (to a 2.4 from a 2.2) and is the only Big 4 network that generated a year-to-year improvement in the key demo.

In total viewers, NBC grew by +24%, which tops every increase by a Big 4 network in a full 52-week season for the last 25 years.

Even taking NBC's 18 nights of Winter Olympic coverage out of the network's averages, NBC still ranks #1 for the season in adults 18-49, ahead of Super Bowl-boosted FOX (with a 2.2 rating for NBC excluding Olympic nights vs. a 2.1 for #2 Fox).

NBC finished #1 or tied for #1 among the Big 4 networks during 31 weeks of the season (L+SD), the most for any network over the past seven seasons and NBC's highest total in 11 years. CBS is #2 this season with 13 weekly wins (including ties). Note that the last time NBC aired an Olympics (London during the 2011-12 season), NBC won 11 weeks, three of which were Olympic weeks.

NBC also leads the season in adults 25-54, adults 18-34, men 18-49, men 25-54 and all key adult-female demos.

In total viewers, NBC ranks #2 for the season (with or without Olympic nights being counted in its average) for only the second time in 10 years, and is up +24% this season versus last (8.3 million vs. 6.7 million). That +24% gain is the biggest year-to-year increase for a full 52-week season since FOX grew by +47% in 1988-89.

In 18-49 rating among Big 4 primetime programs, NBC's schedule includes:
The #1 series, "Sunday Night Football" (with an 8.0 rating, L+7).
The #1 reality series, "The Voice" (4.6).
The #1 new series, "The Blacklist" (4.4).
Counting originals only, the #1 drama, "The Blacklist" (4.9, originals only).
The #1 summer series, "America's Got Talent" (tied with a 2.8 rating in 18-49, #1 outright in total viewers, most current).

NBC's lineup features the three highest-rated regular-schedule averages on the Big 4:
NBC's Sunday (3.6 rating in 18-49, "most current," regularly scheduled programming).
NBC's Monday (3.5).
NBC's Tuesday (2.9).

Looking at NBC's averages for regular programming this season vs. last in adults 18-49, NBC's regular schedule was up on six of seven nights:
Mondays are up +3%
Tuesdays are up +4%
Wednesdays are up +11%
Thursdays are down 6%
Fridays are up +23%
Saturdays are up +33%
Sundays are up +9%.

It was also an exceptional season for NBC specials:
"The Sound of Music Live!" was the season's #1 movie event, delivering NBC's biggest Thursday in total viewers since 2004 (18.7 million, L+SD; 21.8 million, L+7).
"The 71st Golden Globes" hit a 10-year high in total viewers (20.9 million, L+SD).
"The 66th Primetime Emmy Awards" generated the event's second biggest audience in eight years (15.6 million).
"Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" delivered its biggest audience in People Meter history (25.2 million), as did "The NATIONAL DOG SHOW Presented by Purina" (10.7 million).
"Christmas in Rockefeller Center" hit a seven-year high in adults 18-49 (2.3).
"NBC's New Year's Eve with Carson Daly" delivered the biggest audience in its nine-year history (9.5 million).

SEASON AVERAGES
Adults 18-49, "Most Current"
Net... STD '12-13... STD '13-14...Diff
NBC...2.2...2.4...Up 9%
CBS...2.4...2.0...Down 17%
ABC...2.0...1.9...Down 5%
Fox...2.1...2.1...Even

Total Viewers, "Most Current"
Net... STD '12-13... STD '13-14...Diff
NBC...6.666 million ...8.273 million...Up 24%
CBS...9.954 million...9.277 million... Down 7%
ABC...6.962 million ...6.801 million...Down 2%
Fox...5.968 million ...6.114 million...Up 2%

NBC has also won its fourth summer in a row in adults 18-49, finishing #1 or tied for #1 among the Big 4 during 13 weeks of the summer while no other network won more than four weeks. NBC was also #1 for the summer among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in all other key demographics: adults, men and women 18-34; men and women 18-49; and adults, men and women 25-54.

NBC's summer programming highlights include:
"America's Got Talent," the most-watched summer series for a ninth year in a row.
"American Ninja Warrior," which has grown +18% year to year in 18-49 (to a 2.0 from a 1.7) and is tied for the # 11 ranking of the summer (excludes fall football coverage).
"Last Comic Standing," which ranks tied for #16 this summer in 18-49.
"The Night Shift," the #1 new series on the Big 4 this summer in 18-49 and the #7 series overall in total viewers.

SUMMER AVERAGES
Adults 18-49, "Most Current" thru Sept. 21
Net... Summer '13... Summer '14...Diff
NBC...1.7...1.6...Down 6%
CBS...1.3...1.3...Even
ABC...1.4...1.3...Down 7%
Fox...1.4...1.2...Down 14%

Total Viewers, "Most Current" thru Sept. 21
Net... Summer '13... Summer '14...Diff
NBC...5.890 million ...6.145 million...Up 4%
CBS...6.152 million...6.293 million... Up 2%
ABC...4.968 million ...4.975 million...Up 0.1%
Fox...3.780 million ...3.525 million...Down 7%

In late-night, "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and "Late Night with Seth Meyers" have established themselves as the dominant choices in those time periods. Since the debuts of Fallon and Meyers in February:
"Tonight" is outrating the ABC and CBS time-period competition combined in adults 18-49 (with a 1.19 rating vs. a combined 1.10, L+SD through Aug. 14).
"Tonight" is up by +47% versus year-ago results (1.19 vs. 0.81).
Meyers is outrating CBS's Letterman (0.56 vs. 0.48), despite starting an hour later.
Meyers is delivering bigger audiences than the ABC and CBS time-period competition in every key ratings measure - adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, plus total viewers.

NOTE: All ratings are "live plus same day" from Nielsen Media Research unless otherwise indicated. Season figures are averages of "live plus seven day" data except for the two most recent weeks, which are "live plus same day."