NBC's 4th OF JULY FIREWORKS Up 6% in Ratings

NBC is #1 for the night on ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in 18-49 and total viewers, with the #1 and #2 shows of the night, the 8-10 p.m. ET "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular" and the 10-11 p.m. recap special.

From 8-10 p.m. ET, "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular" (1.5/7 in 18-49, 7.1 million viewers overall) rocketed to the night's #1 results in 18-49 and total viewers and won the time period among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in every ratings category. This year's 8-10 p.m. coverage is currently running within 0.3 of a point of last year's 1.8 in 18-49 for a 9-10 p.m. telecast and within 1.0 million persons of last year's 8.116 million overall viewership.

Comparing this year's second hour from 9-10 p.m. ET to last year's 9-10 telecast, the 2013 special is currently up 6% in 18-49 rating (with a 1.9 vs. a 1.8) and up 9% in total viewers (8.835 million vs. 8.116 million).

Pending updates, the 8.835 million from 9-10 p.m. ET is the biggest "Macy's" audience in that hour in 13 years, since 8.847 million in 2000, the first year NBC televised the "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular." .

From its first half-hour to its fourth, the Macy's 8-10 p.m. ET telecast grew by 167% (to a 2.4 rating from a 0.9). In total viewers, the growth was 109% or 5.6 million persons (10.8 million vs. 5.2 million).

The annual special, hosted by Nick Cannon of "America's Got Talent," featured performances by Mariah Carey, Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, Cher, Pitbull and Selena Gomez.

From 10-11 p.m. ET, a recap telecast of "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular" (1.3/6 in 18-49, 5.5 million viewers overall) ranked #1 among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults 18-49, total viewers and all other key demographics. The 10 p.m. "Macy's" encore trails only the 8-10 p.m. original among the night's Primetime telecasts on ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in 18-49 and total viewers.

Pending updates, the 10 p.m. recap is up versus last year's encore by 8% in 18-49 rating (with a 1.3 vs. a 1.2) and 13% in total viewers (5.488 million vs. 4.876 million).

In the 10:30 lead-in to local news, the "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular" recap delivered a 70 percent margin of victory among ABC, CBS and NBC in the key news demo of adults 25-54 (with a 1.7 rating vs. a 1.0 for CBS's second-place "Elementary" encore). The "Macy's" recap led the 10:30 half-hour among ABC, CBS and NBC in all other key demos.

NBC is #1 for the night among ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and CW in adults 18-49, total viewers and all other key categories.

Note that some local-market 4th of July preemptions on all networks were included in these preliminary fast-affiliate ratings but will be excluded from official national ratings.

In Late-Night Metered Markets Thursday night:

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.2/6 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 1.7/5 with an encore; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.8/5 with an encore.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.7/4 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.3/2 with an encore; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3 with an encore.

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" (1.1/4 in metered-market households with an encore) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (0.9/3 with an encore). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/2 in 18-49 with an encore) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2 with an encore).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.7/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.2/2 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.

Photo by Virginia Sherwood/NBC

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