NBC has won the opening week of the new primetime season for a fourth consecutive year, leading Week 1 of the 2014-15 campaign among the Big 4 networks in the key 18-49 demographic, plus adults 25-54, adults 18-34 and every other key demographic.
According to "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research,
NBC averaged a 2.7 rating, 9 share in adults 18-49 and 8.9 million viewers over all for the week of Sept. 21-27.
NBC's "Sunday Night Football" is the #1 primetime telecast of the week on the Big 4 in adults 18-49, total viewers, adults 25-54, adults 18-34 and all key adult-male demos.
Also ranking in the top 10 among the week's Big 4 primetime programs in adults 18-49 were both the Tuesday and Wednesday editions of "The Voice" (tied for #5) and Monday's premiere of "Blindspot" (#9, and the week's top-rated new program). Joining those shows in the Top 25 were Tuesday's "Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris" (tied for #23) and Thursday's series debut of "Heroes Reborn" (#25). Rankings exclude sports pre- and post-game shows.
It's the 12thconsecutive week
NBC has ranked #1 or tied for #1 among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49, the longest unbeaten streak for any network in six years, since
FOX won 17 weeks in a row in 2009 from the week of Feb. 2 to the week of May 25, 2009. The 12-week streak is also NBC's longest in 12 years, since the network finished #1 or tied for #1 for 16 consecutive weeks in 2003 from the week of May 26 through the week of Sept. 8, 2003.
NBC's premiere-week win in the key 18-49 demo follows the network's second consecutive season-long win, with a 2014-15 victory that
NBC accomplished with or without its boost last season from February's Super Bowl.
NBC also ranked #1 or tied for #1 for the 2014-15 season in adults 25-54, adults 18-34 and all key adult-male demos, including an outright win over
CBS in adults 25-54.
Primetime averages for the week of Sept. 21-27 in adults 18-49 are: NBC, 2.7/9; CBS, 2.5/8; ABC, 1.7/6; Fox, 1.6/5; and CW, 0.3/1. In overall total viewers, the weekly averages were: CBS, 10.9 million; NBC, 8.9 million; ABC, 6.9 million; Fox, 4.2 million; and CW, 1.0 million.
NBC highlights for the week of Sept. 21-27:
Monday
NBC dominated the opening night of the 2015-16 season in adults 18-49 among the Big 4 networks, while ranking #1 among those nets in every key measure. It's the fourth consecutive year
NBC has led the season's opening night, the longest streak of premiere Monday victories in people meter history.
The season premiere of "The Voice" (3.5/11 in 18-49, 12.4 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) jumped +21% versus the show's spring finale (3.5 vs. 2.9 from 9-11 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, 2015) and was up +7% in total viewers (12.4 million vs. 11.6 million). "The Voice" delivered its highest Monday 18-49 rating since March 9 and most-watched Monday episode since March 16 (12.6 million). "The Voice" won the time period among the Big 4 in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and other key measures.
"Live Plus Three Day" Ratings: "The Voice" increased by +21% in 18-49 rating going from "live plus same day" to "live plus three day" Nielsens (from a 3.54 rating to a 4.28) and by 2.0 viewers overall (from 12.4 million to 14.4 million).
"Blindspot" (3.1/10 in 18-49, 10.6 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) was NBC's highest-rated series premiere in the last two years in 18-49 and total viewers (since "The Blacklist," 3.8/10 in 18-49, 12.6 million viewers overall on Sept. 23, 2014). The "Blindspot" debut beat its ABC-CBS time-period competition combined in every key demographic and grew versus NBC's new-drama premiere in the same time period last fall by +41% in 18-49 (3.1 vs. 2.2 for "State of Affairs" on Nov. 17, 2014) and by +22% in total viewers (10.6 million vs. 8.7 million). "Blindspot" gave
NBC its highest 18-49 and total-viewer results for any regularly scheduled scripted series, premiere or otherwise on any night of the week, in the past year (since the season-two premiere of "The Blacklist," 3.5 in 18-49, 12.6 million viewers overall on Sept. 22, 2014) and scored the top rating in the time period for any regular ABC,
CBS or
NBC program, premiere or otherwise, in the past year (also since the Sept. 22, 2014 "Blacklist"). "Blindspot" retained 82% of The Voice's 9:30-10 p.m. ET rating, the highest retention for a post-Voice drama debut to date, above "Revolution" (80%), "State of Affairs" (73%), "The Blacklist" (68%), "Believe" (63%), and "Smash" (49%).
L+3: "Blindspot" grew by +43% in 18-49 rating going from L+SD to L+3 ratings (3.11 to 4.45) and by 4.6 million viewers overall (10.6 million to 15.2 million). In L+3 total viewers, "Blindspot" rose to rank #1 among the night's dramas and #1 among the night's new programs, surpassing "Scorpion" (14.2 million) among dramas and "Life in Pieces" (13.1 million) among new shows. In L+3 18-49 rating, "Blindspot" ranked behind just two
NBC drama telecasts all last season (the "Blacklist" season premiere, 4.96; the "Blacklist" post-Super Bowl telecast, 9.81) and was NBC's first drama debut to grow from a "Voice" lead-in in L+3 in both 18-49 and total viewers. In L+3 total-viewers increases, the gain of +4.6 million viewers was the largest L+3 lift at that point on any broadcast or cable network in nearly six months, since "The Walking Dead" on March 29 (+4.7 million). The 18-49 increase of +1.34 is the biggest for a broadcast debut since "Empire" (Jan. 7, +1.48) and NBC's biggest for a series debut in three years, since "Revolution" (Sept. 17, 2012, +1.36).
Tuesday
NBC won Tuesday night in all key demographics, and took the opening two nights of the new season in adults 18-49 for a third year in a row. That tied ABC's three-year streak of 20 years earlier ('93-94 thru '95-96) as the longest such stretch in people meter history.
"The Voice" (3.5/12 in 18-49, 12.3 million viewers overall from 8-10:01 p.m. ET) ranked as the #1 show of the night in adults 18-49 and most other key demos. "The Voice" retained 100% of the prior night's season-premiere rating in 18-49 (3.5 vs. 3.5) and held 99.8% in total viewers (12.3 million vs. 12.4 million). It was just the second time to date that the debut of the Tuesday "Voice" retained 100% of the show's Monday premiere in 18-49. Tuesday's "Voice" increased by +21% versus the show's spring finale in 18-49 (3.5 vs. 2.9 from 9-11 p.m. on May 19) and scored NBC's top rating in the time period in six months (since March 10, 3.8). L+3: "The Voice" grew by +19% in 18-49 rating going from L+SD to L+3 Nielsens (3.49 to 4.16) and by more than 1.9 million viewers overall (from 12.3 million to 14.3 million). L+7: Last season, Tuesday's "Voice" grew by +24% in 18-49 rating (3.15 to 3.90) and more than 1.9 million viewers overall (12.1 million to 14.0 million) going from L+SD to L+7.
"Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris" (2.1/7 in 18-49, 5.9 million viewers overall from 10:01-11 p.m. ET) jumped +17% from Week 1 to Week 2 in 18-49 (2.1 vs. 1.8), despite facing dramatically increased competition in Week 2 from ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" and CBS's debut of "Limitless." Note that during the prior fall, 21 of 22 new series launches on the Big 4 declined or were flat from their premieres to Week 2. "Best Time" matched NBC's 18-49 high in the slot, excluding "The Voice," in 10 months (since Nov. 11, 2014, 2.2). "Best Time" won the hour in adults 18-49, as well as adults 25-54 (tie), adults 18-34 and other key demos and was up +24% versus NBC's adult 18-49 average in the time period last season (2.1 vs. 1.7, non-sports L+SD). L+3: "Best Time Ever" grew by +18% in 18-49 rating going from L+SD to L+3 Nielsens (2.09 to 2.47) and by 877,000 viewers overall (from 5.9 million to 6.8 million).
Wednesday
The second season debut of "The Mysteries of Laura" (1.2/4 in 18-49, 7.1 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) captured the show's highest 18-49 and total-viewer results since Feb. 25 in 18-49 (1.4 in 18-49 and 7.6 million viewers overall with an episode featuring Eric McCormack). Excluding that Feb. 25 telecast, "Laura" scored its 18-49 high since Jan. 7 (1.3) and biggest overall audience since Dec. 10. "The Mysteries of Laura" was up +9% versus its season finale in 18-49 (1.2 vs. 1.1) and up +20% versus what the show averaged in last May's sweep (1.2 vs. 1.0). L+3: "Laura" increased by +22% in 18-49 rating going from L+SD to L+3 Nielsens (1.22 to 1.58) and by 1.5 million viewers overall (from 7.1 million to 8.6 million). L+7: Last season, "Laura" originals grew by +33% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.22 to a 1.62) and more than 1.7 million viewers overall (7.4 million to 9.2 million) going from L+SD to L+7.
The 17thseason premiere of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.8/6 in 18-49, 8.3 million viewers overall from 9-11 p.m. ET) grew +29% versus its season finale in 18-49 (1.8 vs. 1.4) and +19% in total viewers (8.3 million vs. 7.0 million), despite facing Fox's season premiere of "Empire" from 9-10 p.m. "Law & Order: SVU" delivered its most-watched non-crossover episode in the past year, since Sept. 24, 2014 (10.1 million) and equaled it highest 18-49 rating, excluding crossovers, since that same year-ago date (2.2). For its second hour from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: SVU" ranked #1 among ABC,
CBS and
NBC in total viewers. L+3: "SVU" grew by +27% in 18-49 rating going from L+SD to L+3 Nielsens (1.77 to 2.64) and by more than 2.2 million viewers overall (from 8.3 million to 10.5 million). L+7: Last season, "SVU" originals increased by +70% in 18-49 rating (1.61 to 2.74) and 2.9 million viewers overall (7.3 million to 10.2 million) going from L+SD to L+7.
Thursday
NBC jumped +31% vs. last year's premiere Thursday in 18-49, to a 1.7 from last year's 1.3. Excluding sports and nights of live Broadway musicals, the 1.7 matches NBC's highest Thursday average since the night of the "Office" finale (May 16, 2013, 2.2).
"Heroes Reborn" (2.0/6 in 18-49, 6.1 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) matched NBC's highest-rated Thursday drama premiere in six years, since "Southland" (3.1 on April 9, 2009), tying "Awake" (2.0 on March 1, 2012) over a span covering 12
NBC Thursday drama debuts. In total viewers, it's the most-watched
NBC Thursday drama premiere in the three-and-a-half years since "Awake" (6.3 million). "Heroes Reborn" increased by +25% on last season's premiere in the same slot (2.0 vs. 1.6 for "Biggest Loser" from 8-10 on Sept. 11, 2014) and captured NBC's highest rating in the slot, excluding sports, since "Peter Pan Live!" (2.6 from 8-10 on Dec. 4, 2014). The last time
NBC equaled the 2.0 of "Heroes Reborn" on a Thursday from 8-10 p.m. with all regularly scheduled programming was three-and-a-half years ago on March 15, 2012. With a 2.1 rating among men 18-49, is NBC's top drama debut in that demo without a "Voice" lead-in in more than four years (since "The Cape" on Jan. 9, 2011, 2.8). L+3: "Heroes Reborn" grew by +60% in 18-49 rating going from L+SD to L+3 Nielsens (1.96 to 3.14) and by 2.6 million viewers overall (from 6.1 million to 8.7 million).
"The Player" (1.2/4 in 18-49, 4.9 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) earned NBC's highest in-season 18-49 rating in the time period since the "Parenthood" finale (1.7 on Jan. 29) and was up +9% vs. NBC's prior drama debut in the slot in 18-49 (1.2 vs. 1.1 for "Allegiance," Feb. 5, 2015), despite facing stiff time-period competition from CBS's NFL football and ABC's season premiere of "How to Get Away with Murder." "The Player" topped NBC's time-period averages from last season by +20% in 18-49 (1.2 vs. 1.0, L+SD non-sports) and +17% in total viewers (4.9 million vs. 4.1 million). L+3: "The Player" incrased by +52% in 18-49 rating going from L+SD to L+3 Nielsens (1.16 to 1.76) and by more than 2.1 million viewers overall (from 4.9 million to 7.0 million).
Friday
An encore telecast of "Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris" (0.7/3 in 18-49, 3.0 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) equaled an 11-week time-period high for
NBC in adults 18-49, matching the net's best in the slot since July 10 (0.8 for an "America's Got Talent" encore). The "Best Time" encore held steady or grew half-hour to half-hour in every key measure.
"Dateline NBC" averaged a 1.0/4 in adults 18-49 and 5.1 million viewers overall from 9-11 p.m. ET. For its second hour from 10-11 p.m., "Dateline NBC" finished within 0.1 of a point of #1 among ABC,
CBS and
NBC in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 and tied for #1 among those nets from 10-11 in women 18-49 and women 25-54.
Saturday
An encore of "The Carmichael Show" averaged a 0.4/1 in 18-49 and 1.2 million viewers overall from 8-8:30 p.m. ET.
The
NBC Sports telecast of "Premier Boxing Champions," highlighted by heavyweight champion Deontay "The Bronze Bomber" Wilder making his second title defense, facing France's Johann "Reptile" Duhaupas (0.6/2) in 18-49, 2.2 million viewers overall from 8:30-11 p.m. ET), grew from its first half-hour to its fifth by +75% in 18-49 (0.4 to 0.7) and +61% in total viewers (1.5 million to 2.5 million).
Sunday
NBC Sports coverage of Denver Broncos-Detroit Lions "Sunday Night Football" (8.1/25 in 18-49, 22.1 million viewers overall from 8:31-11:44 p.m. ET) led
NBC to decisive Sunday wins in all key measures, taking the night among ABC, CBS,
NBC and
FOX by a +138% margin in adults 18-49 (6.9 vs. 2.9 for #2 CBS). The Broncos-Lions matchup topped by +12% the viewership for last year's Week 3 game (Steelers-Panthers, 19.8 million).
Through the opening three weeks of the NFL season (four telecasts),
NBC is averaging 25.6 million viewers - the best viewership for the NFL's broadcast primetime package at this point in the season in 21 years (25.9 million for
ABC in 1994), and up +10% from last year at this time (23.2 million viewers). For the first time in the 10-season history of "Saturday Night Football" on NBC, each of the first four games had a larger audience than the corresponding game the prior season. "SNF" is also averaging a 9.5 rating in the adult 18-49 demographic, + 7% versus last season at this point (8.9).
WEEKLY AVERAGES
Average rating, share and audience in each category
ADULTS 18-49
NBC 2.7/9, 3.4 million
CBS 2.5/8, 3.1 million
ABC 1.7/6, 2.1 million
Fox 1.6/5, 2.0 million
CW 0.3/1, 0.4 million
Each rating point equals 1.27 million viewers
ADULTS 25-54
NBC 3.3/10, 3.9 million
CBS 3.2/9, 3.8 million
ABC 2.1/6, 2.5 million
Fox 1.8/5, 2.1 million
CW 0.4/1, 0.5 million
Each rating point equals 1.20 million viewers
TOTAL VIEWERS
CBS 3.7/11, 10.9 million
NBC 3.0/9, 8.9 million
ABC 2.3/7, 6.9 million
Fox 1.4/4, 4.2 million
CW 0.4/1, 1.0 million
Each rating point equals 2.95 million viewers
