UPDATE: SOUND OF MUSIC is NBC's Biggest Thursday Since 'ER' Finale

NBC's live broadcast of THE SOUND OF MUSIC has proven to be a ratings bonanza for the network! The presentation earned a 10.9 rating/18 share in the household overnights from 8-11 p.m., a result which far exceeded all expectations. No doubt, the huge response from TV viewers proves that a live television presentation has both value and relevance in 2013 and will surely pave the way for future live programming events.

According to NBC and today's Nielsen Ratings report:

"The Sound of Music Live!" (4.6/13 in 18-49 and 18.470 million viewers overall) dominated the night with NBC's best 18-49 Thursday average, excluding sports, since the night of the "ER" finale (5.2, April 2, 2009). In total viewers, this is NBC's best Thursday average excluding sports since May 13, 2004 ("Frasier" finale night, 22.597 million viewers).

NBC won its fifth night in a row among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in 18-49 (12/1-5). It's the first time since June 2002 that NBC has won five nights in a row, excluding Olympics (since a six-night streak June 2-7, 2002; NBC's last in-season five-night streak was May 1-5, 2002).

The top local market in metered market households came in Carrie Underwood's home state, with Oklahoma City giving the three-hour special a 20.7/28. NBC ranked #1 in primetime in all 56 metered markets.

With an +84% advantage over 2nd place CBS in A18-49 and excluding sports, this is NBC's best Thursday night dominance opposite all original broadcast competition since 10/4/01 (+161% vs. 2nd place CBS).

Sound of Music Live led Big Bang in the 8pm half-hour (17.560 million vs. 15.261 million), marking the first time a show has topped Big Bang in P2+ head-to-head in strict half-hour data since American Idol did it on 5/10/12 (13.711 million vs. 13.668 million).

At the conclusion of the show, ratings were still high, with a 10.5/17 at 10:30 p.m., marking a first-place finish in each of the six half-hours as follows:

8:00 p.m.: 10.9/18
8:30 p.m.: 11.5/18
9:00 p.m.: 11.3/18
9:30 p.m.: 11.2/18
10:00 p.m.: 10.5/17
10:30 p.m.: 10.0/17

The broadcast marks an enormous win for both NBC and the future of live television! For the 2012/2013 season, a ratings point equals approximately 1.142 million viewers.

NBC's "The Sound of Music Live!", aired Thursday, Dec. 5 (8 PM ET), and starred Grammy winner Carrie Underwood as 'Maria,' Audra McDonald ("Private Practice"), who has won five Tony Awards and two Grammys, as Mother Abbess; Stephen Moyer ("True Blood"), as Capt. Georg von Trapp; Tony Award winner Christian Borle ("Smash"), who portrayed von Trapp family friend Max Detweiler; and Tony winner Laura Benanti ("Go On"), who took on the role of Elsa Schrader, the captain's one-time fiancee.

The NBC television event, included studio recordings for all of the musical numbers that were performed by the cast members in the live broadcast, including Rodgers and Hammerstein favorites "The Sound of Music," "My Favorite Things," "Do-Re-Mi," "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" and "Climb Ev'ry Mountain," among others.

Executive producers for the telecast were Neil Meron and Craig Zadan ("Smash," "The Academy Awards"). Directors are Rob Ashford ("Evita") and Beth McCarthy-Miller ("30 Rock"). David Chase ("Cinderella") served as musical director.

Photo credit: Will Hart/NBC

Source: TVMediainsights.com