NBC Wins Premiere Week in 18-49 for 4th Straight Year

NBC has won the opening week of the new primetime season for a fourth consecutive year, leading the initial seven-night results for the 2014-15 season among the Big 4 networks in the key 18-49 demographic, as well as adults 25-54 and adults 18-34.

It's the 12th consecutive 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.

Note on Year-to-Year Comparisons: Keep in mind that for premiere week this year, CBS benefited from the high-rated Sunday NFL overrun, while last year, FOX received that significant boost.

Highlights of NBC's premiere week include:

The network's top-rated series premiere in two years with Monday's "Blindspot."

The net's biggest 18-49 time-shifting/VOD growth from "live plus same day" to "live plus three day" results for a series debut in three years from "Blindspot."

The top Monday "Voice" in 18-49 since March 9.

Growth from Week 1 to Week 2 for "Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris," something only 1 of 22 fall series premieres on the Big 4 networks accomplished last year.

The best "Mysteries of Laura" since February.

The most-watched non-crossover "SVU" in the past year.

"Heroes Reborn" matching NBC's top Thursday drama debut in six years.

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.

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

NOTE: All ratings are based on viewership data from Nielsen Media Research.

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