NBC Shares Primetime Ratings for Week of 12/25-12/31

NBC has averaged a 0.8 rating in adults 18-49 and 3.9 million viewers overall for the primetime week of Dec. 25-31, according to "live plus same day" figures from Nielsen Media Research.

NBC's lineup for the week included seven shows in the top 20 among primetime programs on the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 (excluding sports pre- and post-game shows).

That list of top-20 shows featured a Dec. 25 encore of the animated "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," #5; Tuesday's encore of "Ellen's Game of Games," tied for #9; Christmas night's telecast of the 2000 "Grinch" feature film, tied for #9; Wednesday's encore of "The Wall," #13; Friday's "Dateline NBC" rebroadcast, tied for #14; Tuesday's encore of "Better Late Than Never," tied for #14; and Saturday's "Dateline Mystery," tied for #19

NBC is dominating the current primetime season in adults 18-49, with a lead over #2 FOX and CBS of +0.6 of a rating point or +35% (2.3 vs. 1.7). The +35% advantage is the best for any #1 network at this point in the season in the 30-year history of Nielsen's current people-meter sample.

In total viewers, NBC currently ranks #2 and is running within 712,000 persons of #1 CBS (9.5 million vs. 8.8 million through 14 weeks). It's NBC's second-smallest deficit behind CBS in total viewers at this point in the season in the last 16 years (since 2001-02, 587,000 viewers), trailing over that span only the year-ago gap of 227,000.

Season to date, NBC is running #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in adults 18-49 and every other key demographic. Counting entertainment programming only, NBC leads the season in adults 18-49, and also ranks #1 or tied for #1 among the Big 4 in adults 25-54, adults 18-34 and all key adult-female demos.

Weekly ratings are "live plus same day" figures from Nielsen Media Research unless otherwise noted. Season-to-date ratings are averages of "live plus seven day" data except for the two most recent weeks, which are "live plus same day."

Week 14 Averages

Adult 18-49 Rating, "live plus same day," Dec. 25-31

ABC...1.2

Fox...0.9

CBS...0.9

NBC...0.8

CW...0.3

Total Viewers

CBS...5.7 million

ABC...4.5 million

NBC...3.9 million

Fox...3.3 million

CW...0.9 million

Season-to-Date Averages

Adult 18-49 Rating, "Most Current"

NBC...2.3

Fox...1.7

CBS...1.7

ABC...1.5

CW...0.6

Total Viewers

CBS...9.5 million

NBC...8.8 million

ABC...6.2 million

Fox...5.8 million

CW...1.8 million

NBC highlights for the week of Dec. 25-31:

Monday

NBC ranked #1 excluding sports on Christmas night among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49, total viewers and every other key category.

An encore telecast of the 1966 animated special "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (1.6/6 in 18-49, 5.3 million viewers overall from 8-8:30 p.m. ET) finished as the #1 non-sports show of the night in 18-49, growing +23% versus the special's prior telecast in 18-49 (1.6 vs. 1.3 from 8-8:30 on Friday, Nov. 24).

The 2000 feature film "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (1.3/5 in 18-49, 4.0 million viewers overall from 8:30-11 p.m. ET) ranked #1 excluding sports in its two-and-a-half-hour time period among the Big 4 networks in 18-49 and total viewers. The 1.3 makes this NBC's top-rated movie of 2017 in 18-49.

Tuesday

NBC won Tuesday night among the Big 4 networks in every key demographic (including a tie in men 18-34).

An encore telecast of "Ellen's Game of Games" (1.3/5 in 18-49, 6.0 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) ranked as the #1 show of the night on the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49, retaining 83% of the episode's original run in total viewers (6.0 vs. 7.2 million at 10:01 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 18 following the "Voice" performance finale).

A rebroadcast of "Better Late Than Never" (0.9/3 in 18-49, 4.1 million viewers overall from 9-10 p.m. ET) won the slot among the Big 4 networks in every key demographic (including a tie in men 18-34) and retained 90% of the episode's first-run rating in 18-49 (0.9 vs. 1.0 from 10:01-11 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 11 following "The Voice").

An encore "Chicago Med" averaged a 0.5/2 in 18-49 and 2.8 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET.

Wednesday

NBC finished #1 Wednesday night among the Big 4 networks in 18-49 and total viewers.

"The Wall" (1.0/4 in 18-49, 5.5 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) ranked as the #1 show of the night on the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 and total viewers, increasing by +11% versus "The Wall's" prior telecast in this timeslot in 18-49 (1.0 vs. 0.9 on Nov. 22) and +1.0 million persons or +22% in total viewers (5.5 million vs. 4.5 million)."The Wall" grew from its first half-hour to its second in every key measure. L+3: "The Wall" increased by +9% in 18-49 (1.03 to 1.12) and +439,000 viewers overall (5.5 million to 5.9 million) going from L+SD to L+3 Nielsens, for the biggest increases of the night on the Big 4 in 18-49 rating (tie) and total viewers. Upscale: "The Wall" delivers a solid upscale audience, last season indexing at a 109 among adults 18-49 living in homes with $100K+ incomes (with 100 representing an average concentration of those homes).

An encore telecast of "Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love" (0.7/3 in 18-49, 4.4 million viewers overall from 9-11 p.m. ET) won the timeslot among the Big 4 networks in total viewers and tied for #1 in adults 18-49. Versus last year's "Christmas of Many Colors" encore, this rebroadcast grew +5% in total viewers (4.4 million vs. 4.3 million from 9-11 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 23, 2016) and finished within 0.1 of a point in 18-49 (0.7 vs. 0.8).

Thursday

An encore "Superstore" averaged a 0.5/2 in 18-49 and 2.7 million viewers overall from 8-8:30 p.m. ET).

A rebroadcast of "Will & Grace" averaged a 0.4/2 in 18-49 and 2.1 million viewers overall from 8:30-9 p.m. ET and a second encore telecast of "Will & Grace" earned a 0.4/2 in 18-49 and 2.3 million viewers overall from 9-9:31, to retain 100% of its lead-in in 18-49 and grow +5% in total viewers.

"Great News" (0.4/1 in 18-49, 1.7 million viewers overall from 9:30-10 p.m. ET) retained 100% of its prior original from the previous week in 18-49 (0.4 vs. 0.4 at 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 21). L+3: "Great News" increased by +23% in 18-49 (0.35 to 0.43) and +283,000 viewers overall (1,7 million to 2.0 million) going from L+SD to L+3 ratings, for the biggest 18-49 percentage increase of the night on the Big 4 networks. L+7: "Great News" has increased by +21% in 18-49 rating going from L+SD to L+7 (0.97 to a 1.17) and +614,000 viewers overall (3.9 million to 4.5 million). When projected 35-day non-linear viewing is included, the "Great News" 18-49 rating grows to a 1.37. Upscale: "Great News" is generating a strong upscale audience, indexing at a 128 among adults 18-49 living in homes with $100K+ incomes (with 100 representing an average concentration of those homes).

A rebroadcast of "Chicago Fire" (0.4/2 in 18-49, 2.4 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) retained 100% of its lead-in in 18-49.

Friday

NBC won the night among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 and total viewers and was #1 or tied for #1 among those nets in all other key categories.

A rebroadcast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" averaged a 0.5/2 in 18-49 and 3.2 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET.

An encore telecast of "Dateline NBC" (0.9/4 in 18-49, 1.2 in adults 25-54, 5.1 million viewers overall from 9-11 p.m. ET) was the #1 program of the night on the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers, while equaling the show's highest 18-49 rating since Nov. 3 (1.0) and delivering its most-watched telecast since Nov. 10 (5.2 million). L+3: The "Dateline" rebroadcast increased by +22% in 18-49 (0.87 to 1.06) and +771,000 viewers overall (5.1 million to 5.8 million) going from L+SD to L+3 Nielsens, for the biggest L+3 lifts of the night on the Big 4 in 18-49 and total viewers. L+7: Friday's "Dateline" is growing by +34% this season in 18-49 rating (from a 0.89 to a 1.19) and more than +1.1 million viewers overall (5.0 million to 6.1 million) going from L+SD to L+7. Upscale: Friday's "Dateline" is delivering a solid upscale audience, indexing at a 113 among adults 18-49 in $100K+ homes.

Saturday

NBC won Saturday primetime among the Big 4 in every key measure.

"Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (0.8/3 in 18-49, 1.1 in 25-54, 4.4 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) scored the show's highest 18-49 rating since April 9, 2016 (0.8), as well as its highest 25-54 rating since Jan. 28 (1.1) and its most-watched telecast since Feb. 11 (4.5 million). "Dateline Mystery" ranked as the #1 primetime show of the night on the Big 4 in 18-49, 25-54 and total viewers. Upscale: "Dateline Mystery" is generating a solid upscale audience, indexing at a 115 among adults 18-49 living in homes with $100K+ incomes (with 100 representing an average concentration of those homes)

"SNL Vintage" (0.7/3 in 18-49, 2.7 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET, with an encore of a Jan. 16, 2016 telecast of "Saturday Night Live" hosted by Adam Driver and featuring musical guest Chris Stapleton) scored a season high among the 10 "SNL Vintage" encores to air in this timeslot, while ranking #1 in the timeslot among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and other key demos. "SNL Vintage" was the #2 show of the night on the Big 4 in 18-49 behind only "Dateline Mystery."

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