NBC Wins Primetime Week of July 2-9 In 18-49, Total Viewers and Every Other Key Measure

NBC has claimed the primetime ratings week of July 2-8 among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49, total viewers and every other key ratings measure, according to "live plus same day" figures from Nielsen Media Research.

In total viewers, Wednesday's "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular," Thursday's "Little Big Shots" and Tuesday's encore "America's Got Talent" accounted for three of the week's five most-watched shows for the week, ranking respectively #2, #3 and #5.

With 7.4 million viewers, Wednesday's "Macy's" special delivered its biggest overall audience since 2012.

In adults 18-49, NBC's schedule accounted for eight of the week's top 20 primetime telecasts on ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX - the "Macy's" special (tied for #3), Tuesday's "Talent" encore (tied for #5), "LBS," Wednesday's "Macy's" encore and Saturday's NASCAR race from Daytona (all tied for #11) and Monday's "Ninja" rebroadcast, Tuesday's "World of Dance" encore and Sunday's "Talent" rebroadcast (all tied for #14).

NBC's weeklong win in total viewers is the network's first in that category since the PyeongChang Olympics in February and first time without boosts from Olympics or NFL coverage since the week of Aug. 28-Sept. 3, 2017. In addition to winning among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 and total viewers, NBC also took the week in adults, men and women 18-34; men and women 18-49; and adults, men and women 25-54.

In adults 18-49, NBC is dominating the current primetime season, with leads over #2 ABC and CBS of +0.6 of a rating point or +43% (2.0 vs. 1.4 each). The +43% advantage is the best for any #1 network at this point in the season in the history of Nielsen's current people-meter sample, which dates back to the fall of 1987.

Season to date, NBC also ranks #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in every other key demographic - adults, men and women 18-34; men and women 18-49; and adults, men and women 25-54. In total viewers, NBC is running within 131,000 persons of #1, NBC's most competitive position at this point in the season in 16 years, since 2001-02. Even excluding all sports, NBC is running closer to CBS at this point in the season in total viewers than it's been in 15 years, since 2003-04 (currently within 1.430 million total viewers of CBS excluding sports, best since the gap was 621,000 in 2002-03).

Counting entertainment programming only, NBC ranks #1for the season in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 and is also #1 or tied for #1 among men and women 18-49; women 25-54, and adults 18-34.

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 41 Averages

Adult 18-49 Rating, "live plus same day," June 18-24

NBC...0.7

CBS...0.6

ABC...0.6

Fox...0.4

CW...0.2

Total Viewers

NBC...4.1 million

NBC...4.0 million

ABC...3.1 million

Fox...1.6 million

CW...0.7 million

Season-to-Date Averages

Adult 18-49 Rating, "Most Current"

NBC...2.0

ABC...1.4

CBS...1.4

Fox...1.3

CW...0.6

Total Viewers

CBS...8.4 million

NBC...8.3 million

ABC...5.9 million

Fox...4.5 million

CW...1.6 million

NBC highlights for the week of July 2-8:

Monday

"Running Wild with Bear Grylls," featuring Scott Eastwood (0.6/3 in 18-49, 3.1 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) tied for #1 in the slot among the Big 4 networks in men 25-54 and tied for #2 in adults 18-49. Despite the week's holiday distractions, "Running Wild" retained 100% of the prior week's 18-49 rating (0.6 vs. 0.6) and 99% in total viewers (3.1 million vs. 3.2 million).

"Live Plus Three Day" Ratings: "Running Wild" increased by +8% in 18-49 (from 0.64 rating to a 0.69) and +240,000 viewers overall (3.1 million to 3.4 million) going from "live plus same day" Nielsens to L+3.

A rebroadcast of "American Ninja Warrior" (0.7/3 in 18-49, 3.2 million viewers overall from 9-11 p.m. ET) tied for #1 for its second hour from 10-11 p.m. among ABC, CBS and NBC versus original competition in adults 18-49 and ranked #1 outright versus that original competition in adults 25-54.

Tuesday

NBC's encore lineup ranked #1 Tuesday night in every key measure, winning six of six half-hours in adults 18-49.

A rebroadcast of "America's Got Talent" (1.1/6 in 18-49, 6.3 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) ranked as the #1 show of the night on ABC, CBS, NBC or FOX in 18-49 and total viewers and every other key ratings measure and finished #1 in the timeslot among the Big 4 networks in 18-49, total viewers and every other key ratings measure.

An encore "World of Dance" (0.7/4 in 18-49, 3.7 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) won the timeslot among ABC, CBS and NBC in all key demographics and was the #2 telecast of the night in adults 18-49 behind only "America's Got Talent."

Wednesday

NBC dominated primetime with the "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks® Spectacular" and the 10 p.m. "Macy's" recap giving NBC convincing primetime wins among the Big 4 networks in every key ratings measure.

"Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular" (1.2/7 in 18-49, 7.4 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) grew year to year in total viewers by +1.0 million persons or +16% (7.4 million vs. 6.4 million), making this the most-watched annual "Macy's 4th of July" special since 2012 (8.1 million). "Macy's" was the #1 show of the night on ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in adults 18-49, total viewers and all other key measures. The special generated growth throughout its two hours, with this track: 0.9, 1.1, 1.2, 1.7, with increases of +89% from its first half-hour to its fourth in 18-49 rating (0.9 to 1.7) and +71% or more than +4.2 million persons in total viewers (6.0 million vs. 10.2 million). In the 9-10 p.m. hour, "Macy's" topped "Big Brother" head to head by a +56% margin in 18-49 (1.4 vs. 0.9) and +4.7 million viewers overall (8.7 million vs. 3.9 million).

A recap telecast of "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular" (0.8/5 in 18-49, 4.5 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) ranked #1 for the hour among ABC, CBS and NBC in every key ratings demographic (including a tie in women 25-54).

Thursday

"Little Big Shots" (0.8/4 in 18-49, 6.5 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) ranked as the #1 show of the night on cable or broadcast in total viewers, with the show's most-watched episode since Sunday April 8 (6.7 million). "LBS" also equals its highest 18-49 rating since that same date (0.9). Versus NBC's average in the timeslot last summer, this week's "LBS" is up +2.5 million persons or +62% in total viewers (6.512 million vs. 4.019 million, L+SD excluding sports). L+3: "Little Big Shots" increased by +6% in 18-49 (0.83 to 0.88) and +533,000 viewers overall (6.5 million to 7.0 million) going from L+SD to L+3 Nielsens.

"Marlon" (0.6/3 in 18-49, 3.0 million viewers overall from 9-9:30 p.m. ET) set a new season high in total viewers, topping the prior high of 2.9 million for the June 14 season premiere. In 18-49, "Marlon" maintained a 0.6 in 18-49 for a third straight week. L+3: "Marlon" grew by +23% in 18-49 going from L+SD to L+7 (0.64 to 0.79) and +326,000 viewers overall (3.0 million to 3.3 million).

A second episode of "Marlon" (0.6/3 in 18-49, 2.3 million viewers overall from 9:30-10 p.m. ET) represented the fourth straight 9:30 "Marlon" this summer to maintain a 0.6 in 18-49 and the third in a row to maintain 100% of its lead-in.L+3: The 9:30 "Marlon" increased by +29% in 18-49 (0.56 to 0.72) and +370,000 viewers overall (2.3 million to 2.7 million) going from L+SD to L+7.

An encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (0.5/2 in 18-49, 2.5 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) tied for the timeslot lead among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54.

Friday

NBC's encore lineup won the night in adults 18-49.

An encore telecast of "American Ninja Warrior" (0.5/3 in 18-49, 2.8 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) tied for the timeslot win in adults 18-49 versus competition that included original programming on ABC and Fox.

A rebroadcast of "Dateline NBC" (0.6/3 in 18-49, 0.8 in adults 25-54, 3.1 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) tied as the #1 show of the night on the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54. L+3: The prior Friday's "Dateline" increased by +30% in 18-49 (0.71 to 0.92) and more than +1.0 million viewers overall (3.9 million to 4.9 million) going from L+SD to L+3 Nielsens, for the biggest L+3 lift of the night in total viewers. Upscale: Friday's "Dateline" is delivering a solid upscale audience, indexing at a 114 among adults 18-49 in $100K+ homes.

Saturday

NBC Sports 7:54-11:15 p.m. ET coverage of NASCAR Cup Series racing from Daytona (0.8/5 in 18-49, 4.4 million viewers overall) won the night among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in 18-49, total viewers and every other key ratings measure. The primetime average of an 0.8 rating in 18-49 is the highest for any Big 4 network on a Saturday since ABC's 1.9 with NBA Playoffs on May 5.