Season Premieres of NBC's AGT & 'AMERICAN NINJA' Rank #1 & 2 Among Big 4

Season premieres of "America's Got Talent" and "American Ninja Warrior" have finished #1 and #2 in adults 18-49 among primetime entertainment telecasts on the Big 4 networks for the week of May 23-29, according to "live plus same day" figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Excluding sports, Tuesday's "Talent" debut ranked #1 among prime programs on ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in 18-49 for the week, while the Wednesday "Ninja" premiere ranked #2, Tuesday's "Maya & Marty" debut finished #5 and Wednesday's "Night Shift" premiere and Friday's "Dateline NBC" tied for #10.

"Talent" also finished #1 for the week among Big 4 non-sports telecasts in adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and most other key demographics, plus teens 12-17 and kids 2-11.

NBC ranked #1 or tied for #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX on five of the five nights last week that did not include NBA FINALS coverage on ABC.

For the week, NBC ranked #2 among the Big 4 behind only NBA-boosted ABC in every key demographic - adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54.

Season to date, NBC is running within 0.1 of a rating point of #1 of Super Bowl-boosted CBS in adults 18-49 and is tied for #1 in adults 18-34 and women 18-49..

NBC's total-viewer average of 8.015 million is the network's highest at this point in a season without a SUPER BOWL or Olympic boost since 2006-07 (8.704 million).

Primetime averages for the week of May 30-June 5 in adults 18-49 are: ABC, 2.2 rating, 8 share; NBC, 1.1/4; Fox, 0.8/3; CBS, 0.7/3; and CW, 0.3/1. In overall total viewers, the weekly averages were: ABC, 6.8 million; CBS, 4.9 million; NBC, 4.6 million; Fox, 2.8 million; and CW, 1.0 million.

"Most current" averages for the season to date are: CBS, 2.2/8; NBC, 2.1/7; Fox, 1.9/6; ABC, 1.9/6; and CW, 0.8/3. In overall total viewers, the season averages are: CBS, 10.7 million; NBC, 8.0 million; ABC, 6.8 million; Fox, 5.7 million; and CW, 2.0 million.

NBC highlights for the week of May 30-June 5:

Monday

NBC won the night among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49, as well as adults 25-54 and all key adult-male demos with NBC Sports coverage of Stanley Cup Final hockey, featuring the San Jose Sharks at the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 1 (1.4/5 in 18-49, 4.1 million viewers overall from 8:11-11 p.m. ET).

Tuesday

NBC won Tuesday night among the Big 4 in every key measure, as the #1 and #2 shows of the night in all key demographics, "America's Got Talent" and "Maya & Marty," swept six of six half-hours among the Big 4 in adults 18-49

The season premiere of "America's Got Talent" (2.6/10 in 18-49, 11.7 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) grew +24% versus last summer's finale in 18-49 (2.6 vs. 2.1 from 9-11 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015), and retained 100% of the show's year-ago debut (2.6/9 from 8-10:01 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26, 2015). In total viewers, "Talent" jumped +20% versus last summer's finale (11.7 million vs. 9.7 million) and was up +5% versus the show's year-ago premiere (11.1 million). "Talent" equaled its highest Tuesday 18-49 rating in two years (since June 3, 2014, 2.9) and also attracted its biggest overall Tuesday audience in two years (since May 27, 2014, 12.0 million). Additionally, it was the second-most-watched "Talent" premiere in five years (since 2011, 15.3 million, trailing over that span only the 12.0 million in 2014). L+3: "Talent" increased by +23% in 18-49 (2.57 to 3.15) and 2.0 million viewers overall (11.7 million to 13.7 million) going from L+SD to L+3.

The debut of "Maya & Marty" (1.5/6 in 18-49, 6.3 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) won the time period among ABC, CBS and NBC in every key demo, winning the slot by a +50% margin among ABC, CBS and NBC (1.5 vs.1.0 for CBS's original "Person of Interest"). "Maya & Marty" ranked as the #2 show of the night on the Big 4 in every key demo, behind only "America's Got Talent." L+3: "Maya & Marty" grew by +13% in 18-49 (1.54 to 1.74) and 858,000 viewers overall (6.3 million to 7.1 million) going from L+SD to L+3.

Wednesday

NBC won Wednesday night among the Big 4 in every key measure, as debuts of "American Ninja Warrior" and "The Night Shift" sweep six of six half-hours among the Big 4 in adults 18-49.

The season premiere of "American Ninja Warrior" (1.7/7 in 18-49, 6.4 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) ranked as the #1 show of the night on the Big 4 networks in every key measure. "Ninja" retained 94% of last summer's premiere in 18-49 (1.7 vs. 1.8 on Monday, May 25, 2015) and grew +8% in total viewers (6.350 million vs. 5.865 million), to make this the most-watched "Ninja" season premiere ever. L+3: "Ninja" increased by +18% in 18-49 (1.73 to 2.04) and 820,000 viewers overall (6.4 million to 7.2 million) going from L+SD to L+3. The prior Sunday's "All Stars" special was the most time-shifted show of that night on the Big 4 in 18-49 rating (+0.36, from a 0.90 to a 1.26) and total viewers (+970,000, 3.3 million to 4.3 million). "All Stars" equaled the biggest "Ninja" L+3 18-49 lift to date (+0.36) and delivered the week's largest L+3 gain on any network in kids 2-11 (+0.48, from a 0.49 to a 0.97.

The third season debut of "The Night Shift" (1.1/4 in 18-49, 4.8 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) won the time period among ABC, CBS and NBC in every key category. "Night Shift" finished within 8% of where the show left off with its second-season finale in both 18-49 (1.1 vs. 1.2 on Monday, May 18, 2015, with a "Voice" lead-in) and total viewers (4.8 million vs. 5.2 million). L+3: "Night Shift" grew by +27% in 18-49 (1.05 to 1.33) and 1.2 million viewers overall (4.8 million to 6.0 million) going from L+SD to L+3.

Thursday

"Strong" (0.6/3 in 18-49, 2.7 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) grew +3% week to week in total viewers (2.647 million vs. 2.567 million) to hit a six-week high (best since April 21, 3.1 million).

"Game of Silence" (0.5/2 in 18-49, 2.3 million viewers overall from 9-11 p.m. ET) grew from its first hour to its second by 0.1 of a point or +25% (0.4 to 0.5). L+3: "Game of Silence" increased by +51% in 18-49 (0.45 to 0.68) and +1.0 million in total viewers (2.3 million to 3.3 million) going from L+SD to L+3. The +51% gain in 18-49 tied for the biggest lift Thursday night on the Big 4 nets.

Friday

NBC won Friday night among the Big 4 in adults 18-49.

An encore telecast of "America's Got Talent" (0.9/4 in 18-49, 4.6 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) tied as the #2 show of the night on the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49, behind only "Dateline NBC." The "Talent" rebroadcast ranked #1 or tied for #1 in the the slot among those nets in every key demographic.

"Dateline NBC" (1.1/4 in 18-49, 1.5 in adults 25-54, 4.9 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) finished as the #1 show of the night on the Big 4 in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and other key demos, hitting its highest Friday ratings in adults 18-49 and 25-54 since Feb. 26 (1.2 in 18-49, 1.8 in 25-54) and biggest overall Friday audience since March 25 (5.0 million). "Dateline" grew +22% week to week in 18-49 (1.1 vs. 0.9 for a 9-11 p.m. telecast on May 27) and +15% in 25-54 (1.5 vs. 1.3). Upscale: "Dateline" delivers a solid upscale audience, indexing at a 110 among adults 18-49 living in homes with $100K+ incomes. The prior week's edition was the night's most upscale telecast on the Big 4, indexing at a 111.

Saturday

NBC tied for the nightlong win among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 and ranked #1 outright among those nets in adults 25-54.

"Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (0.5/2 in 18-49, 3.3 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) tied for the time-period win among the Big 4 in 18-49 and won the slot outright among those nets in adults 25-54 and total viewers. [[["Dateline Mystery" grew steadily throughout its two-hour telecast, increasing by +75% from its first half-hour to its fourth in 18-49 (0.4 to 0.7) and +51% or 1.3 million persons in total viewers (2.7 million to 4.0 million).

A rebroadcast of "Maya & Marty" (0.5/2 in 18-49, 2.0 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) ranks #2 in the hour among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults 18-49 and total viewers, while tying for #1 among those nets in adults 18-34.

Sunday

"Dateline: On Assignment" (0.5/2 in 18-49, 4.1 million viewers overall from 7-8 p.m.) grew week to week by +25% or 0.1 of a point in adults 18-49 (0.5 vs. 0.4), +50% in adults 25-54 (0.9 vs. 0.6) and +27% in total viewers (4.1 million vs. 3.2 million), to hit a three-week high in total viewers (best since May 15, 4.3 million). Excluding that telecast, which was boosted by a Players Championship golf overrun, this was the most-watched "Dateline: On Assignment" to date. Upscale: "Dateline: On Assignment" is delivering a strong upscale audience, indexing at a 127 among adults 18-49 living in home with $100K+ incomes ("most current," including L+3). The prior week's edition was the night's most upscale telecast on the Big 4, indexing at a 134 (L+SD).

An encore telecast of "American Ninja Warrior" (0.8/2 in 18-49, 2.9 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) grew +50% from its first half-hour to its fourth in 18-49 (0.6 to 0.9). The "Ninja" rebroadcast finished within 0.1 of the prior Sunday's original "All-Star" special in 18-49 (0.8 vs. 0.9 from 9-11 p.m. on May 29).

The finale of "Game of Silence" (0.6/2 in 18-49, 2.4 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) grew +20% or 0.1 of a point versus its prior original on its regular night of Thursday (0.6 vs. 0.5 from 9-11 p.m. on June 2) and was up +6% in total viewers (2.4 million vs. 2.3 million). "Silence" ranked #2 in the hour among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults 18-49.

Photo credit: Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC

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