NBC Wins Primetime Week of December 31 - January 6

NBC has won the primetime week of December 31-January 6 among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in adults 18-49, total viewers adults 25-54 and adults 18-34, according to "live plus same day" viewing data from Nielsen Media Research. NBC has now ranked #1 or tied for #1 among those networks for 13 of the season's 15 weeks and 20 of the last 24 weeks overall.

NBC won its third straight week in total viewers among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, marking the first time in more than 10 years NBC has won three consecutive in-season weeks in total viewers without Olympic help. The last time NBC won three in-season non-Olympic weeks in a row was during the weeks of May 6 through May 20, 2002.

For the season to date, NBC ranks #1 with a 24 percent increase over its year-ago 18-49 average (with a 3.1 rating versus last year's 2.5). It's the first time in nine years NBC has ranked #1 outright at this point in the season. NBC's lead of 0.4 of a rating point so far this season (3.1 vs. 2.7 for #2 CBS) is the biggest for any network at this point in the season in nine years (since NBC led by 0.4 of a point at this time during the 2003-04 season).

In total viewers, NBC is up this season versus one year ago by 18 percent (8.8 million vs. 7.4 million). NBC is ahead of its year-ago season average by double-digit percentages in every key ratings category.

NBC Sports' Saturday coverage of The Vikings-Packers NFL Wild Card playoff game was the #1 primetime show of the week on ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in every key category - adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 and total viewers - as well as kids 2-11 and teens 12-17 (excluding sports pre- and post-game shows). Also ranking among the top primetime programs of the week on ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in 18-49 were Sunday's "Biggest Loser" season premiere, #11; Wednesday's "Chicago Fire," tied for #15; Wednesday's "Law & Order: SVU," #17; Tuesday's 9:30 encore of "Betty White's Off Their Rockers," tied for #20; Wednesday's "Whitney," tied for #20; Wednesday's "Guys With Kids," tied for #25; and Tuesday's "Parenthood," tied for #25. Rankings exclude sports pre- and post-game shows.

NBC NFL coverage has delivered the #1 primetime rating of the week in adults 18-49 during all 15 weeks of the television season to date and has been #1 in total viewers for 13 of 15 weeks and the last 10 in a row.

Primetime averages for the week of December 31-January 6 in adults 18-49 are: NBC, 2.7/8; Fox, 2.3/6; CBS, 1.6/4; ABC, 1.4/4; and CW, 0.4/1. In overall total viewers, the weekly averages were: NBC, 8.4 million; CBS, 8.3 million; Fox, 6.8 million; ABC, 5.1 million; and CW, 1.2 million.

Season to date averages through eight weeks are: NBC, 3.1/9; CBS, 2.7/8; Fox, 2.4/7; ABC, 2.3/6; and CW, 0.7/2. In overall total viewers, the season averages are: CBS, 11.2 million; NBC, 8.8 million; ABC, 8.1 million; Fox, 6.7 million; and CW, 1.9 million.

NBC highlights for the week of December 31-January 6

Monday: The primetime segment of "NBC's New Year's Eve with Carson Daly" (1.2/4 in 18-49, 3.8 million viewers overall) grew versus last year's primetime telecast by 33 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.2 from a 0.9) and by 24 percent in total viewers (3.776 million vs. 3.053 million).

Tuesday: NBC ranked #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX Tuesday night in 18-49 as the 9:30 p.m. ET encore of "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" and "Parenthood" ranked as the #1 and #2 shows of the night on those networks.

The 9:30 "Off Their Rockers" (1.8/4 in 18-49, 5.7 million viewers overall) set series records for an encore in 18-49 and total viewers and was the top original or rebroadcast "Off Their Rockers" in 18-49 since the show's regular-slot debut last year (1.9 from 8-8:30 on Wednesday, April 4, 2012). It's the #3 "Rockers" ever in 18-49 behind only that regular-slot debut and a special preview on January 16, 2012 following a Betty White 90th birthday special. In total viewers, the 9:30 rebroadcast was the top "Rockers," original or encore, since April 25, 2012.

At 10, "Parenthood" (1.7/5 in 18-49, 5.4 million in total viewers) ranked #1 in The Hour among ABC, CBS and NBC in 18-49 and all other key demographics.

Wednesday: NBC won Wednesday among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in 18-49 and total viewers as "Chicago Fire" and "Law & Order: SVU" delivered the #1 and 2 ratings of the night on ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in both categories.

At 8 p.m. ET, "Whitney" (1.8/5 in 18-49, 5.0 million viewers overall) scored its highest 18-49 rating since its Wednesday debut on Jan. 11, 2012 and at 8:30, "Guys With Kids" (1.7/5 in 18-49, 4.4 million viewers overall) set a regular-slot series high in 18-49.

At 9, "Law & Order: SVU" (2.2/6 in adults 18-49, 7.7 million viewers overall) locked up its highest 18-49 rating since Nov. 30, 2011 and delivered its biggest overall audience since January 11, 2012.

At 10, "Chicago Fire" (2.4/7 in adults 18-49, 8.5 million viewers overall) delivered series records and led The Hour among ABC, CBS and NBC in every key ratings category. Versus its prior original, "Chicago Fire" was up 26 percent in 18-49 (2.4 vs. 1.9 on Dec. 19).

Friday: Dateline NBC" (1.5/4 in 18-49, 5.7 million viewers overall from 9-11 p.m. ET) grew to a 1.8/5 in 18-49 and 6.6 million for its second hour from 10-11 to rank #1 for that hour among non-sports programs on ABC, CBS and NBC in adults, men and women 18-49; adults, men and women 25-54 and other key demos.

Saturday: NBC Sports' coverage of The Vikings-Packers NFL Wild Card playoff game (10.5/30 in 18-49, 30.3 million viewers overall, 17.3 rating, 28 share in households) propelled NBC to a dominant Saturday primetime victory in all key measures. It's the fourth straight year NBC's coverage of the Saturday primetime Wild Card game has delivered more than 30 million viewers.

The 30.276 million viewers for Saturday's game virtually matched the prior week's 30.281 million for the record-breaking Cowboys-Redskins "Sunday Night Football" telecast on December 30, which generated the biggest overall audience for a primetime telecast, excluding Olympics, since the Academy Awards averaged 39.3 million viewers on ABC February 26, 2012.

Sunday: A Sunday premiere of "The Biggest Loser" (3.0/8 in 18-49, 7.0 million viewers overall) scored gains versus the show's year-ago premiere of 25 percent in 18-49 rating (with a 3.0 vs. a 2.4) and 6 percent in total viewers (6.995 million vs. 6.589 million). It was the show's highest 18-49 rating since the season finale on May 24, 2011 (3.1/8). Excluding sports and Golden Globes, it was NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the slot since May 22, 2011.

The Sunday season debut of "Dateline NBC" (1.5/4 in 18-49, 5.9 million viewers overall) jumped versus last year's debut by 25 percent in 18-49 rating (1.2). It was the top "Dateline" Sunday rating since February 12, 2012 (1.6 from 7-9 p.m.). From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Dateline NBC" grew by 100 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.8 from a 0.9).

Ratings reflect "live plus same day" data from Nielsen Media Research 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."

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