NBC's AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR Delivers Monday's Top Hour

By: Caryn Robbins Sep. 09, 2014

Facing competition from ESPN's season premiere of "Monday Night Football," "American Ninja Warrior" (1.7/5 in 18-49, 5.2 million viewers overall from 9-11 p.m. ET) grew by +33% from its first hour to its second in adults 18-49 (to a 2.0 rating from a 1.5) to deliver the top-rated hour of the night on the Big 4.

"American Ninja Warrior" grew dramatically from its first hour to its second in every key measure, including gains of +46% in adults 18-34 (to a 1.9 rating from a 1.3) and +58% in men 18-34 (1.9 vs. 1.2).

"American Ninja Warrior" won its second hour from 10-11 p.m. among ABC, CBS and NBC in every key demo and prevailed in adults 18-49 by a margin of +43% (with a 2.0 rating vs. a 1.4 for CBS's second-place "Under the Dome").

Note that last night's conclusion to the Las Vegas finals of "American Ninja Warrior" will be followed next week by an 8-11 p.m. ET "USA vs. the World" telecast.

"Running Wild with Bear Grylls" (1.1 rating, 3 share in adults 18-49, 3.8 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) jumped week to week by +22% in 18-49 rating (to a 1.1 from a 0.9), despite last night's "Monday Night Football" competition. The 1.1 for "Running Wild" matches the show's top rating since Aug. 11 (1.5). Last night's episode featured Deion Sanders.

In Late-Night Metered Markets Monday Night:

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 2.5/6; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 1.8/5; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.7/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 1.1/5; "Late Show," 0.3/1; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/2.

From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.1/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/2 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Seth Meyers" (1.1/4 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (0.9/3). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.2/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.6/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

For the Week:

NBC has dominated the primetime ratings week of Sept. 1-7, led by big Thursday and Sunday NFL season-opening telecasts of "Sunday Night Football," which propelled NBC to the highest adult 18-49 weekly average for any network since the Sochi Olympics and biggest week in total viewers since the Academy Awards.

Also ranking in the week's top 10 were NBC's "America's Got Talent" and "American Ninja Warrior."

For the week, NBC also ranked #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in total viewers, adults 25-54, adults 18-34 and all other key ratings categories.

The special Thursday "NFL Kickoff" coverage and the Sunday debut of "Sunday Night Football" generated the #1 and #2 primetime ratings of the week on those nets in every key category - adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, plus total viewers.

Versus the same week a year ago, NBC was up +3% in adults 18-49 (to a 3.6 rating from a 3.5) and up +10% in total viewers (11.1 million vs. 10.0 million).

NBC's 3.6 rating for the week is the highest for any network since NBC earned a 4.2 for the week of Feb. 17-23 during the Sochi Olympics. NBC's 11.1 million viewers overall for the week is the highest for any network since ABC averaged 11.6 million during the week of the Academy Awards, Feb. 24-March 2.

Excluding Olympic weeks, the 3.6 is NBC's highest weeklong rating in two years (since the week of Sept. 3-9, 2012, 3.7). In total viewers, excluding Olympic and SUPER BOWL weeks, it's NBC's most-watched week in three years (since Sept. 5-11, 2011, 11.121 million viewers)

NBC won the week by a +100% margin over #2 FOX in 18-49 (with a 3.6 rating vs. a 1.8), NBC's biggest margin excluding Olympic and SUPER BOWL weeks in three years (since the week of Sept. 5-11, 2011, +138%). In total viewers, the network's margin of +87% (11.1 million vs. 5.9 million for CBS) is NBC's biggest advantage excluding Olympic and SUPER BOWL weeks in four years (since Sept. 6-12, 2010, +88%).

NBC's win marks the 12th time this summer the network has finished #1 or tied for #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in 18-49 rating, making NBC the only Big 4 network to have won more than three weeks since the close of the traditional season (L+SD).

Top-rated NBC primetime shows for the week of Sept. 1-7 in adults 18-49 include the Thursday and Sunday editions of "Sunday Night Football" (#1 and #2 respectively), the Wednesday telecast of "America's Got Talent" (tied for #7), Monday's "American Ninja Warrior" (tied for #9), Tuesday's "America's Got Talent" (tied for #11), Saturday's Michigan-Notre Dame COLLEGE FOOTBALL (#13), Wednesday's "Talent" encore (tied for #23) and Tuesday's "Food Fighters" (tied for #23). Rankings exclude all sports pre- and post-game shows.

Through 50 weeks of the 2013-14 broadcast year, NBC ranks #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, adults 18-34 (tied with Fox), men 18-49 (tied with Fox), men 25-54 and all key adult-female demos. It's the first time NBC has ranked #1 in adults 18-49 at this point in the season in 10 years (since the 2003-04 season).

Versus one year ago, NBC is up +14% for the broadcast year to date in adults 18-49 (2.4 vs. 2.1).

In total viewers, NBC ranks #2 for the broadcast year with an average of 8.3 million viewers, which is its biggest overall audience 50 weeks into the season in six years (since 2007-08, 8.5 million). Versus one year ago, NBC is up +25% season to date in total viewers (8.3 million vs. 6.6 million).

WEEKLY RESULTS
Adults 18-49, L+SD
Net... Week 50, 2012-13... Week 50, 2013-14...Diff
NBC...3.5...3.6...Up 3%
CBS...1.2...1.1... Down 8%
ABC...1.0...1.0... Even
Fox...1.8...1.8... Even

Total Viewers, L+SD
Net... Week 50, 2012-13... Week 50, 2013-14...Diff
NBC...10.013 million ...11.060 million...Up 10%
CBS...5.734 million...5.924 million...Up 3%
ABC...4.148 million ...3.722 million ...Down 10%
Fox....4.904 million ...4.999 million...Up 2%

SEASON AVERAGES
Adults 18-49, "Most Current"
Net... STD '12-13... STD '13-14...Diff
NBC...2.1...2.4...Up 14%
CBS...2.4...2.0...Down 17%
ABC...2.0...1.9...Down 5%
Fox...2.2...2.1...Down 5%

Total Viewers, "Most Current"
Net... STD '12-13... STD '13-14...Diff
NBC...6.626 million ...8.272 million...Up 25%
CBS...10.020 million...9.272 million... Down 7%
ABC...7.028 million ...6.863 million...Down 2%
Fox...6.022 million ...6.225 million...Up 3%

NOTE: All ratings are "live plus same day" from Nielsen Media Research unless otherwise indicated. Season figures are averages of "live plus seven day" data except for the two most recent weeks, which are "live plus same day."