NBC Wins the Primetime Ratings Week in All Key Demos

With Saturday's NBC Sports coverage of the Packers-Cardinals NFL playoff game ranking as the #1 primetime telecast on the Big 4 networks in every key measure, NBC has won the ratings week of Jan. 11-17 in adults 18-49 and all other key demographics (including a tie in women 25-54). According to "live plus same day" results from Nielsen Media Research, NBC averaged a 2.6 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49 and 9.6 million viewers overall for the week.

NBC has now won 15 of the season's first 17 weeks in 18-49 (L+SD) and finished #1 or tied for #1 for 26 of the last 28 weeks. It's the first time any network has won as many as 15 of a season's first 17 weeks in 18 years, since NBC took 16 of 17 (including a tie) in 1997-98, "Seinfeld's" final season.

NBC leads the season by the biggest margin for any network at this point in 14 years and is the only network among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX that's up versus last season in 18-49 or total viewers.

Joining Saturday football among the Top 30 primetime programs on the Big 4 in adults 18-49 last week were Sunday's NBC NEWS SPECIAL "Democratic Debate" (#7), Wednesday's "Law & Order: SVU" (tied or #8), Wednesday's "Chicago P.D." (tied or #8), Thursday's "Blindspot" (tied for #23), Tuesday's NBC News analysis of the STATE OF THE UNION (tied for #23) and Monday's "Superstore" (tied for #26). Rankings exclude sports pre- and post-game shows.

Saturday's Packers-Cardinals NFL telecast ranked #1 among primetime shows on ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in every key measure - adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, as well as total viewers - plus kids 2-11 and teens 12-17.

For the season, NBC is leading by a +17% margin in adults 18-49 (2.7 vs. a 2.3 for #2 CBS), up from a year-ago lead of +4%, for the biggest margin through 17 weeks of the season for any network since NBC's +18% lead at this point in 2001-02.

NBC is up +4% versus its year-ago season average in adults 18-49 (2.7 vs. 2.6, "most current") and up +3% in total viewers (9.4 million vs. 9.1 million), and is the only Big 4 network improving on its year ago results in either category.

Through the opening 17 weeks of the 2015-16 season, NBC ranks #1 among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 and all other key demos, while placing #2 in total viewers.

Primetime averages for the week of Jan. 11-17 in adults 18-49 are: NBC, 2.6 rating, 8 share; CBS, 2.3/7; Fox, 1.3/4; ABC, 1.0/3 and CW, 0.4/1. In overall total viewers, the weekly averages were: CBS, 10.6 million; NBC, 9.6 million; Fox, 4.2 million; ABC, 3.9 million; and CW, 1.2 million.

"Most current" averages for the season to date are: NBC, 2.7/9; CBS, 2.3/8; Fox, 2.0/7; ABC, 1.9/6; and CW, 0.7/2. In overall total viewers, the season averages are: CBS, 11.1 million; NBC, 9.4 million; ABC, 6.9 million; Fox, 5.9 million; and CW, 1.8 million.

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