NBC's 'NINJA' Sets Season Highs Despite NBA Competition

By: Caryn Robbins Jun. 14, 2016

SPARTAN: ULTIMATE TEAM CHALLENGE (1.5/5 in 18-49, 4.9 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET): Outrates CBS's rival premiere of "Braindead" in every key measure and tops "Braindead" by a +114% margin in adults 18-49 (1.5 vs. 0.7).

Ranks #2 for the night among non-NBA telecasts on the Big 4 in every key measure, behind only "Ninja" and beats 10 of 11 alternative premieres on the Big 4 from last summer in 18-49.

Jumps +25% versus the comparable year-ago debut in the slot (1.5 vs. 1.2 on May 25, 2015 for "The Island," also following a "Ninja" lead-in) and +30% in total viewers (4.866 million vs. 3.749 million).

AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR (1.9/6 in 18-49, 6.8 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) sets season highs in 18-49 and total viewers, topping its two prior telecasts on Wednesday nights, despite last night's competition from ABC coverage of the NBA Finals.

Is the #1 non-NBA show of the night on the Big 4 networks in every key measure (adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, plus total viewers).

Grows +12% week to week in 18-49 (1.9 vs. 1.7) and +8% in total viewers (6.839 million vs. 6.350 million).

Note that the NBC station in San Francisco carried Major League Baseball.

NOTE: Primetime results are based on "fast affiliate time period" data from Nielsen Media Research. All ratings are "live plus same day" unless otherwise indicated.