NBC Wins Opening 2 Tuesdays of Season for 1st Time in 8 Years

For the first time in eight years, NBC has won the opening two Tuesdays of the season among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49. Last night, NBC swept all six half-hours among those networks with the #1 show of the night, "The Voice," teamed with "Chicago Fire," which is currently reporting series-record ratings.

NBC also swept the Monday half-hours among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in 18-49 and has now won 12 of 12 half-hour among those networks so far this week.

From 8-10:01 p.m. ET, "The Voice" (4.6 rating, 13 share in adults 18-49, 14.2 million viewers overall from 8-10:01 p.m. ET) is #1 for the two-hour time period in adults 18-49, and virtually all other key demographics and is the #1 show of the night in 18-49 and other measures. Versus last week's fast-affiliate ratings, "The Voice" is even in 18-49 (4.6 vs. 4.6) and up slightly in total viewers (14.150 million vs. 14.137 million). Official nationals for last Tuesday were 4.7/13 and 14.351 million.

From its first half-hour to its fourth, "The Voice" grew 1.8 rating points or 53% in 18-49 rating (to a 5.2 from a 3.4) and up 42% or nearly 4.9 million persons in total viewers (16.5 million vs. 11.7 million).

"Chicago Fire" (2.8/8 in 18-49, 9.000 million viewers from 10:01-11 p.m. ET) once again dominated the 10 p.m. ET slot among ABC, CBS and NBC in 18-49, with a 40% margin of victory over CBS's #2 "Person of Interest" (2.8 vs. 2.0). "Chicago Fire" also led The Hour among those networks in adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and all key adult-female demos.

Pending updates, "Chicago Fire" is currently delivering series record ratings, topping last week's 2.7 rating in 18-49 and 8.899 million viewers overall in official nationals (in these preliminary fast-affiliate ratings, last week's results were a 2.8 in 18-49 and 9.254 million viewers overall).

"Chicago Fire" beat results for its second episode of last season by 87% in 18-49 rating (2.8 vs. 1.5 on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012) and by 54% in total viewers (9.000 million vs. 5.849 million). The 2.8 rating is NBC's top 18-49 result in this time period with in-season regular programming since May 24, 2011 ("The Voice"). In its first two weeks, "Chicago Fire" has now delivered NBC's two top 18-49 and total-viewer results in this slot with in-season regular programming since that date.

Note that in "Live Plus Three Day" ratings last week: "Chicago Fire" added 30% or 0.80 of a point to its next-day "live plus same day" 18-49 rating (to a 3.47 in L+3 from a 2.67 in L+SD) and in total viewers, added 31% or 2.740 million persons (11.639 million vs. 8.899 million).

NBC is up 73% Versus the second Tuesday of last season in 18-49 (with a 3.8 rating vs. a 2.2 on Oct. 2, 2012) and up 106% in total viewers (12.470 million vs. 6.053 million).

In Late-Night Metered Markets Tuesday night:

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.9/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.7/7; 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 with Jay Leno," 1.0/5; "Late Show," 0.7/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.7/4.

From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.1/4 in metered-market households and a 0.3/2 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.6/6 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.7/5 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.5/4 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

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."

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