With "Sunday Night Football," two "Voice" telecasts and "Adele Live in New York City" accounting for four of the week's top five primetime programs on the Big 4 networks, NBC has won the ratings week of Dec. 14-20 in adults 18-49, while ranking #1 or tied for #1 among those networks in all other key demographics. According to "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research, NBC averaged a 2.0 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49 and 7.7 million viewers overall for the week.
NBC has now won 12 of the season's first 13 weeks in 18-49 and finished #1 or tied for #1 for 23 of the last 24 weeks, trailing over that span only
FOX the week it aired five
WORLD SERIES games.
For the season, NBC's +17% lead in adults 18-49 is the biggest for any network through 13 weeks of the season in the past 13 years, since
NBC held an +18% margin in the fall of 2002. Season to date,
NBC leads in 18-49 with a 2.8 rating and
CBS ranks #2 with a 2.4 ("most current").
For the week, "Sunday Night Football" ranked #1 among primetime shows on ABC, CBS,
NBC and
FOX in adults 18-49, the Monday edition of "The Voice" was #3, Monday's "Adele Live in New York City" ranked #4 and Tuesday's "Voice" finale finished #5. Rankings exclude sports pre- and post-game shows.
Sunday's Cardinals-Eagles "Sunday Night Football" also ranked #1 for the week in total viewers, adults 25-54, adults 18-34, all key adult-male demos, women 18-34, teens 12-17 and kids 2-11. "SNF" has finished #1 in both 18-49 and total viewers every week this season (L+SD).
Through the opening 13 weeks of the 2015-16 season,
NBC ranks #1 among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 and all other key demos, while placing #2 in total viewers.
NBC is running within 0.1 of a point of its year-ago season average in adults 18-49 (2.8 vs. 2.9, "most current") and is up +1% in total viewers (9.9 million vs. 9.8 million), making this NBC's most-watched season at this point in nine years (since averaging 10.3 million through 13 weeks in 2006-07).
Primetime averages for the week of Dec. 14-20 in adults 18-49 are: NBC, 2.0 rating, 7 share; CBS, 1.8/6; ABC, 1.0/3; Fox, 0.9/3 and CW, 0.3/1. In overall total viewers, the weekly averages were: CBS, 8.9 million; NBC, 7.7 million; ABC, 4.6 million; Fox, 2.9 million; and CW, 1.1 million.
"Most current" averages for the season to date are: NBC, 2.8/9; CBS, 2.4/8; Fox, 2.1/7; ABC, 2.1/7; and CW, 0.8/3. In overall total viewers, the season averages are: CBS, 11.4 million; NBC, 9.9 million; ABC, 7.6 million; Fox, 6.2 million; and CW, 2.0 million.
NBC highlights for the week of Dec. 14-20:
Monday
NBC ranked #1 Monday night among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 and all other key measures as "The Voice" and "Adele Live in New York City" ranked as the #1-2 shows of the night on the Big 4 in every key measure. It was the 20thMonday in a row
NBC has ranked #1 or tied for #1 among ABC, CBS,
NBC and
FOX in 18-49 and was NBC's most-watched Monday night (13.1 million) since Aug. 25, 2014 (Emmys, 15.6 million).
"The Voice" (3.2/10 in 18-49, 14.0 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) jumped +23% versus the final competition episode of the prior cycle (3.2 vs. 2.6 on May 18) and +24% in total viewers (14.0 million vs. 11.3 million), and versus the same night last year was up +14% in 18-49 (3.2 vs. 2.8 on Dec. 15, 2014) and +16% in total viewers (14.0 million vs. 12.1 million). It was the show's most-watched live performance show ever. Week to week, the Monday "Voice" grew +14% (3.2 vs. 2.8) to its highest Monday rating since Nov. 9 and by +15% in total viewers (14.0 million vs. 12.2 million) to its top total-viewer delivery on any night of the week since Tuesday, March 3 (15.5 million).
"Live Plus Three Day" Ratings: "The Voice" increased by +14% in 18-49 rating going from "live plus same day" to "live plus three day" Nielsens (from a 3.23 rating to a 3.69) and by 1.4 million viewers overall (from 14.0 million to 15.4 million).
Upscale: Monday's "Voice" is delivering a solidly upscale audience, indexing at a 115 among adults 18-49 living in homes with $100K+ incomes ("most current," including L+3, 100 represents an average concentration of those homes).
The
NBC Special "Adele Live in New York City" (3.0/10 in 18-49, 11.3 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) ranked as the highest-rated primetime music special on the broadcast networks in 18-49 in 10 years, since NBC's "Eagles Farewell Tour" on Wednesday June 1, 2005 (3.1, excludes music award shows and New Year's Eve specials). In total viewers, it was the top broadcast music special since Feb. 9, 2014 (CBS's "Beatles Grammy Salute," 14.0 million). It was NBC's most-watched concert special (excluding award shows) in 12 years, since "Cher: Farewell Tour" on Tuesday, April 8, 2003 (16.6 million), as well as the network's most-watched 10-11 p.m. telecast on any night of the week since the second season premiere of "The Blacklist" on Sept. 22, 2014 (12.6 million). In 18-49, it was NBC's highest rating in the hour since the "Blindspot" series premiere (3.1 on Sept. 21). L+3: "Adele" grew by +16% in 18-49 (3.00 to 3.49) and 1.8 million viewers (11.3 million to 13.1 million) going from L+SD to L+3. With its L+3 boost, "Adele" became the top-rated music special on the broadcast networks in 11 years, since the Nov. 24, 2004 Tim McGraw "Here and Now" special on
NBC (3.7).
Tuesday
NBC won Tuesday among the Big 4 networks in all key demographics.
An encore recap edition of "The Voice" (1.8/6 in 18-49, 8.5 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) grew versus the comparable telecast from the prior cycle by +13% in 18-49 (1.8 vs. 1.6) and +8% in total viewers (8.5 million vs. 7.8 million).
The fall finale of "The Voice" (2.9/9 in 18-49, 12.7 million viewers overall from 9-11 p.m. ET): equaled its prior finale in 18-49 (2.9 vs. 2.9 on Tuesday, May 19) and grew +10% in total viewers (12.7 million vs. 11.6 million). Despite competition from the Republican debate on CNN, "Voice" generated NBC's biggest overall audience in the time period in the past year, since Dec. 16, 2014 (12.880 million) and highest 18-49 rating in the slot since Sept. 29 (3.0), while also growing +32% versus NBC's time-period average this season in 18-49 (2.9 vs. 2.2, L+SD) and +43% in total viewers (12.7 million vs. 8.844 million). In 18-49, "The Voice" scored the show's highest Tuesday rating since Sept. 29 (3.7). Versus the year-ago finale, "The Voice" held 88% in 18-49 (2.9 vs. 3.3 on Dec. 16, 2014) and retained 99% in total viewers (12.7 million vs. 12.9 million). "The Voice" was the #1 show of the night in adults 18-49 and all other key demographics. L+3: "The Voice" increased by +17% in 18-49 (2.91 to 3.41) and 1.6 million viewers (12.7 million to 14.3 million) going from L+SD to L+3. In L+3, the "Voice" finale was up +3% versus the prior finale in the spring (3.41 vs. 3.30). Upscale: Tuesday's "Voice" is delivering a solidly upscale audience, indexing at a 117 among adults 18-49 living in homes with $100K+ incomes ("most current," including L+3).
Wednesday
A rebroadcast of "Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas" (0.8/3 in 18-49, 3.0 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) [[[tied for the #1 primetime telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks among kids 2-11 (with a 0.8 rating, tied with CBS's "Survivor"). The holiday special was up versus the its prior encore last Christmas by 0.5 of a point in 18-49 (0.8 vs. 0.3 at 9 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014) and by 1.9 million persons in total viewers (3.0 million vs. 1.1 million).
An encore "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (0.7/2 in 18-49, 3.4 million viewers overall from 9-10 p.m. ET) grew from its first half-hour to its second by 0.1 of a point or +14% in 18-49 (0.7 to 0.8) and +16% in total viewers (3.1 million to 3.6 million).
A rebroadcast "Chicago P.D." (0.9/3 in 18-49, 4.6 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) grew versus last season's initial encore by +13% in 18-49 (0.9 vs. 0.8 on Oct. 29, 2014) and +14 in total viewers (4.6 million vs. 4.0 million). The "P.D." encore outrated ABC's original "Nashville: On the Road" special in the time slot in all key measures.
Thursday
An encore telecast of "How Murray Saved Christmas" (0.5/2 in 18-49, 2.2 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) grew versus the special's prior rebroadcast (0.5 vs. 0.3 at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014 and 2.2 million vs. 1.4 million in total viewers).
A rebroadcast of "Kelly Clarkson's Cautionary Christmas Music Tale" (0.6/2 in 18-49, 3.5 million viewers overall from 9-10 p.m. ET) built on its lead-in by 0.1 of a point or +20% in adults 18-49, +29% in adults 25-54 (0.9 vs. 0.7) and +60% in total viewers.
A special "Running Wild with Bear Grylls," featuring President Barack Obama (0.9/3 in 18-49, 3.5 million viewers overall from 9-10 p.m. ET) was up in total viewers by +25% versus the show's most recent regular telecast (3.548 million vs. 2.831 million on Sept. 7), making this the most-watched "Running Wild" since Aug. 10 (3.841 million). "Running Wild" built on its 18-49 lead-in by +50%.
Friday
NBC ranked #1 Friday night in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers.
"Caught on Camera with Nick Cannon" (0.7/3 in 18-49, 3.4 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) outdelivered each of its prior four telecasts in 18-49 and total viewers (Saturday editions on Dec. 12, June 20, April 11 and March 7) and matched NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the hour since Oct. 16 (0.8).
"Dateline NBC" (1.1/4 in 18-49, 5.7 million viewers overall from 9-11 p.m. ET) tied for the #1 rating of the night on the Big 4 in adults 18-49 and ranked #1 outright for the night on the Big 4 in adults 25-54 (1.6). "Dateline" delivers its most-watched telecast since Oct. 2 (5.7 million) and equaled its season high in adults 25-54. "Dateline" was the #1 newsmagazine of the night in every key measure. L+3: The previous week's "Dateline" increased by +24% in 18-49 rating (from a 0.91 to a 1.13) and 915,000 viewers overall (4.1 million to 5.1 million) going from L+SD to L+3.
Saturday
An encore telecast of "The Wiz Live!" averaged a 0.4/2 in 18-49 and 1.6 million viewers overall from 8-10:58 pm. ET.
Sunday
NBC Sports coverage of Arizona Cardinals-Philadelphia Eagles "Sunday Night Football" (6.1/19 in 18-49, 18.1 million viewers overall from 8:31-11:11 p.m. ET) led
NBC to nightlong wins in all key measures, with the network taking the night by a +50% margin in adults 18-49 (5.1 vs. 3.4 for #2 CBS).
Through the opening 15 weeks of the NFL season (17 telecasts), NBC's "Sunday Night Football" is averaging 22.7 million viewers - the best viewership for the NFL's broadcast primetime package at this point in the season in 19 years (23.0 million for
ABC in 1996), and up +5% from last year at this time (21.5 million viewers). "SNF" is averaging an 8.1 rating in the adult 18-49 demographic, up +4% versus last season at this point (7.8).
