THE VOICE Helps NBC Win Week in 18-49 Demo

NBC has finished #1 in the key adult 18-49 demographic for the second week of the 2014-15 primetime television season, with the network's "Sunday Night Football" and "The Voice" accounting for three of the top five primetime shows on the Big 4 networks last week.

According to "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research, NBC averaged a 2.7 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49 and 9.0 million viewers overall for the Sept. 29-Oct. 5 week. The 9.0 million makes this NBC's most-watched week two of a new season in seven years, since averaging 9.2 million during the fall of 2007.

Note that #2 CBS was boosted this week by a Sunday NFL overrun and the addition of Thursday NFL football, which itself was boosted by NFL Network viewership (1.2 rating in 18-49, 2.591 million viewers overall Thursday night) that was added into CBS's averages. Those extra NFL Network viewers increased CBS's weeklong average by 0.2 of a point in adults 18-49 (to a 2.5 from a 2.3) and by 353,000 persons in total viewers (11.362 vs. 11.009).

NBC won week two among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, all key adult-female demos, men 18-34 and men 18-49. Versus week two last year, NBC finished within a tenth of a rating point in adults 18-49 (2.7 vs. 2.8) and was up +3% in total viewers (9.0 million vs. 8.7 million).

NBC's "Sunday Night Football" was the week's #1 primetime telecast on the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49, as well as total viewers, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and all key adult-male demos. The Tuesday edition of "The Voice" ranked #4 in adults 18-49, Monday's "Voice" was #5, Monday's "The Blacklist" ranked #12 and Tuesday's "Chicago Fire" tied for #20. Rankings exclude sports pre- and post-game shows.

For the season, NBC ranks #1 among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 and all other key demographics.

In total viewers, NBC is #2 for the season, up 3% versus last season, to NBC's highest average at this point in the season in seven years (since averaging 9.6 million at this point in 2006).

WEEKLY RESULTS
Adults 18-49, L+SD
Net... Week 2, 2013-14... Week 2, 2014-15...Diff
NBC...2.8...2.7...Down 4%
CBS...2.5...2.5... Even
ABC...2.1...2.0... Down 5%
Fox...1.8...1.2... Down 33%

Total Viewers, L+SD
Net... Week 2, 2013-14... Week 2, 2014-15...Diff
NBC...8.727 million ...8.988 million...Up 3%
CBS...10.850 million...11.362 million...Up 5%
ABC...7.373 million ...7.464 million ...Up 1%
Fox....4.823 million ...3.411 million...Down 29%

SEASON AVERAGES
Adults 18-49, "Most Current"
Net... STD '13-14... STD '14-15...Diff
NBC...2.9...2.8...Down 3%
CBS...2.4...2.4...Even
ABC...2.2...2.1...Down 5%
Fox...2.0...1.6...Down 20%

Total Viewers, "Most Current"
Net... STD '13-14... STD '14-15...Diff
NBC...9.220 million ...9.498 million...Up 3%
CBS...10.613 million...11.112 million... Up 5%
ABC...7.683 million ...7.864 million...Up 2%
Fox...5.429 million ...4.326 million...Down 35%

NOTE: All ratings are based on viewership data from Nielsen Media Research.

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