NBC Dominates Ratings Week with Seven of Nine Most-Watched Primetime Shows

NBC has dominated the ratings week of Nov. 28-Dec. 4 with seven of the nine most-watched primetime shows on the Big 4 networks - two NFL telecasts, "Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love," two editions of "The Voice," "This Is Us" and "Christmas in Rockefeller Center."

NBC won the week in every key measure and also ranked #1 in adults 18-49 and total viewers counting only entertainment programming (in averages that exclude live news and sports), according to "live plus same day" ratings from Nielsen Media Research.

With a 2.7 rating in 18-49 and 10.6 million viewers overall, this is NBC's top in-season week in the past year (since Nov. 23-29, 2015, 3.2 in 18-49, 10.9 million viewers overall).

NBC won the week in total viewers versus #2 CBS by a +57% margin (10.6 million vs. 6.7 million), NBC's biggest margin for a first-place finish over second place, excluding SUPER BOWL and Olympics weeks, in 19 years (since a +63% advantage the week of Oct. 20-26, 1997), and second biggest in people meter history (going back to September 1987).

Excluding Fox's WORLD SERIES weeks, this is the highest rated in-season week in 18-49 for any network since ABC's week of the Academy Awards, Feb. 22-28 (2.7).

In total viewers, NBC dominated the top 10 list of primetime programs on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, with "Thursday Night Football" (#1), "Sunday Night Football" (#2), Wednesday's "Christmas of Many Colors" (#5), Tuesday's "Voice" (#6), Tuesday's "This Is Us" (#7), Wednesday's "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" (#8) and Monday's "Voice" (#9). Rankings exclude sports pre- and post-game shows.

In adults 18-49, NBC was boosted by top-20 rankings for Thursday and Sunday football (#1, #2), "This Is Us" (tied for #5), Monday and Tuesday "Voice" (#10, tied for #11), "Christmas of Many Colors" (tied for #14), "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" (tied for #14) and Tuesday's "Chicago Fire" (tied for #14).

Season to date, NBC ranks #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in adults 18-49 and every other key demographic (including a tie in men 18-34 with World Series-boosted Fox).

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 and every key adult-female demo (including a tied in women 18-34).

Photo by: Jonathan Orenstein/NBC

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