NBC Dominates Primetime Ratings Week of July 30-Aug. 5

NBC has dominated the primetime ratings week of July 30-Aug. 5 with the highest 18-49 and total-viewer averages for any network since ABC was boosted by the NBA FINALS eight weeks ago.

According to "live plus same day" figures from Nielsen Media Research, NBC won the week in every key measure, led by top-10 results in 18-49 among primetime shows on the Big 4 networks from "America's Got Talent," the "NFL Hall of Fame Game," "American Ninja Warrior, " "World of Dance" and "Making It."

It's the eighth week in a row NBC has ranked #1 or tied for #1 in 18-49 and the network's fifth consecutive weeklong win in total viewers.

"Talent" once again finished #1 for the week in 18-49 and total viewers and was joined among top-10 primetime programs on the Big 4 networks by Thursday's "NFL Hall of Fame Game" (#3) and Monday's "American Ninja Warrior," Tuesday's premiere of "Making It" and Wednesday's "World of Dance" (all tied for #7), excluding Thursday's pre-game NFL show, which would tied for #4 for the week if included.

The broad-based hit "America's Got Talent" ranked #1 for the week in total viewers over all primetime programs on broadcast and cable by a margin of +4.3 million viewers (11.8 million vs. 7.5 million for CBS' #2 encore of "60 Minutes"). "Talent" also ranked #1 for the week on the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, adults 50-and-older, teens 12-17 and kids 2-11. The Bears-Ravens "NFL Hall of Fame Game" ranked #1 among adults 18-34 and all key adult-male demos.

NBC's 1.0 rating for the week in 18-49 is the highest for any network since ABC, boosted by the NBA Finals, averaged a 1.8 for the week of June 4-10. NBC's 4.7 million average for the past week is also the highest for any net since that June 4-10 week for ABC (6.3 million).

In adults 18-49, NBC is dominating the current primetime season, with leads over #2 ABC and CBS of +0.5 of a rating point or +36% (1.9 vs. 1.4 each). The +36% advantage ties as the best for any #1 network at this point in the season in the history of Nielsen's current people-meter sample, which dates back to the fall of 1987.

Season to date, NBC also ranks #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in every other key demographic - adults, men and women 18-34; men and women 18-49; and adults, men and women 25-54. In total viewers, NBC is running within 80,000 persons of #1, NBC's most competitive position at this point in the season in 16 years, since 2001-02. Even excluding all sports, NBC is running closer to CBS at this point in the season in total viewers than it's been in 15 years (currently within 1.282 million total viewers of CBS excluding sports, best since the gap was 568,000 in 2002-03).

Counting entertainment programming only, NBC ranks #1 for the season in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 and is #1 or tied for #1 men 18-49, women 18-49 and women 25-54.

Weekly ratings are "live plus same day" figures from Nielsen Media Research unless otherwise noted. Season-to-date ratings are averages of "live plus seven day" data except for the two most recent weeks, which are "live plus same day."

Week 45 Averages

Adult 18-49 Rating, "live plus same day," July 30-Aug. 5

NBC...1.0

CBS...0.6

ABC...0.6

Fox...0.5

CW...0.2

Total Viewers

NBC...4.7 million

CBS...3.8 million

ABC...3.1 million

Fox...1.9 million

CW...0.8 million

Season-to-Date Averages

Adult 18-49 Rating, "Most Current"

NBC...1.9

ABC...1.4

CBS...1.4

Fox...1.3

CW...0.5

Total Viewers

CBS...8.1 million

NBC...8.0 million

ABC...5.7 million

Fox...4.4 million

CW...1.6 million

NBC highlights for the week of July 30-Aug. 5:

Monday

NBC wins Monday night in total viewers for the network's first Monday total-viewer victory since June 4 (with Stanley Cup Final hockey).

"American Ninja Warrior" (1.1/5 in 18-49, 5.3 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) delivered the show's most-watched episode since its season premiere on Wednesday, May 30 (5.4 million) and equaled the show's top 18-49 rating since Wednesday, June 6 (1.2), growing +11% week to week in 18-49 (1.1 vs. 1.0) and +4% in total viewers (5.3 million vs. 5.1 million). "Ninja" was the #2 show of the night in adults 18-49 and total viewers.

"Live Plus Three Day" Ratings: "Ninja" increased by +14% in 18-49 (from a 1.08 rating to a 1.23) and +488,000 viewers overall (5.3 million to 5.8 million) going from "live plus same day" Nielsens to L+3.

Upscale: "Ninja" is delivering a solid upscale audience, generating a 119 index among adults 18-49 living in homes with $100K+ incomes (with 100 representing an average concentration of those homes, according to "most current" Nielsens, including L+3).

"Dateline NBC" (0.8/4 in 18-49, 1.2 in 25-54, 4.6 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) won the timeslot among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults, men and women 18-49; adults, men and women 25-54; and total viewers. "Dateline" maintained 100% week to week in 18-49 (0.8 vs. 0.8) and adults 25-54 (1.2 vs. 1.2) and grows in total viewers (4.618 million vs. 4.558 million). L+3: "Dateline" increased by +18% in 18-49 going from L+SD to L+3 (0.82 to 0.97) and +880,000 viewers overall (4.6 million to 5.5 million).

Tuesday

NBC ranked #1 Tuesday night versus the Big 4 competition combined in adults 18-49, total viewers and every other key measure, winning six of six half-hours in 18-49 and total viewers.

"America's Got Talent" (2.1/10 in 18-49, 11.8 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) generated television's most-watched telecast in total viewers in six weeks, since the June 19 "AGT" (11.9 million), and equaled television's #1 adult 18-49 rating since that same June 19 "Talent" (2.2). This week's "AGT" beat the timeslot's Big 4 competition combined by +62% in adults 18-49 (2.1 vs. a combined 1.3) and also topped ABC, CBS and FOX combined in total viewers and every other key category. Week to week, "Talent" grew +5% in 18-49 (2.1 vs. 2.0) and +1% in total viewers (11.827 million vs. 11.682 million). L+3: "Talent" increased by +24% in 18-49 (2.11 to 2.61) and +2.2 million viewers overall (11.8 million to 14.0 million) going from L+SD to L+3, for the biggest L+3 lifts of the night in 18-49 rating and percentage, as well as total viewers. L+7: "America's Got Talent" has increased by +39% this summer in 18-49 rating going from L+SD to L+7 (from a 2.19 to a 3.09) and +3.1 million viewers overall (11.6 million to 14.7 million). With the addition of 35-day linear and projected non-linear ratings, "Talent's" 18-49 figure grows to a 4.45. Upscale: "Talent" is generating a strong upscale audience, indexing at a 111 among adults 18-49 living in homes with $100K+ incomes.

The debut of "Making It" (1.1/5 in 18-49, 5.2 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) ranks as the #1 most-watched series premiere on television so far this summer and tied as the #1 top-rated series premiere, equaling the June 13 debut of "Gordon Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell & Back," 1.1). "Making It" topped the timeslot's combined ABC-CBS competition by a +38% margin in adults 18-49 (1.1 vs. a combined 0.8), and beat the combined ABC-CBS competition in all key demographics. "Making It" was the #2 show of the night in 18-49 and total viewers, behind only "America's Got Talent." L+3: "Making It" grew by +23% in 18-49 (1.09 to 1.34) and +856,000 viewers overall (5.2 million vs. 6.0 million) going from L+SD to L+3.

Wednesday

NBC finished #1 Wednesday night in 18-49 and total viewers.

"World of Dance" (1.1/5 in 18-49, 5.3 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) grew +10% versus the prior week's Wednesday premiere in 18-49 (1.1 vs. 1.0) and +7% in total viewers (5.3 million vs. 5.0 million), to score NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the timeslot excluding "Macy's 4thof July Fireworks Spectacular" since June 13 (1.1). "World" won its two-hour 8-10 p.m. timeslot in adults 18-49 and dominated its second hour from 9-10 p.m. L+3: "World" increased by +33% going from L+SD to L+3 in 18-49 (1.09 to 1.45) and +1.1 million viewers overall (5.3 million vs. 6.4 million). L+7: "World of Dance" increases by +42% in 18-49 rating going from L+SD to L+7 (from a 1.43 to a 2.03). When 35-day linear and projected non-linear viewing is included, the "World" 18-49 rating increases to a 2.91.

"Reverie" (0.4/2 in 18-49, 2.1 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) grew for a second straight week in total viewers and maintained 100% week to week in 18-49, to maintain a steady 0.4 in 18-49 for a sixth telecast in a row. L+3: "Reverie" grew by +19% in 18-49 (0.40 to 0.50) and +632,000 viewers overall (2.1 million to 2.7 million) going from L+SD to L+3 Nielsens. Upscale: "Reverie" is delivering a solid upscale audience, indexing at a 105 among adults 18-49 living in homes with $100K+ incomes.

Thursday

NBC Sports coverage of Thursday's NFL Hall of Fame Game, featuring the Chicago Bears and the Baltimore Ravens (2.0/10 in 18-49, 6.8 million viewers overall from 8:10-11:07 p.m. ET) won the night in adults 18-49, total viewers and all other key measures, winning six of six primetime half-hours in both 18-49 and total viewers. It's the most-watched Thursday night for any network since an NBA FINALS telecast on ABC May 31 and the top-rated Thursday in 18-49 since an NHL Stanley Cup Final matchup on NBC June 7.

Friday

NBC's encore lineup finished #1 for the night among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49.

An encore telecast of "American Ninja Warrior" (0.5/3 in 18-49, 2.6 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) retained 100% of the prior week's rebroadcast in 18-49 (0.5 vs. 0.5) and was up +8% in total viewers (2.626 million vs. 2.423 million).

A rebroadcast of "Dateline NBC" (0.6/3 in 18-49, 0.9 in adults 25-54, 3.6 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) tied as the #1 show of the night on the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 with CBS' original "TKO" and ranked as the #1 show of the night outright on those nets in adults 25-54. "Dateline" finished #1 in the timeslot among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 and was the #1 newsmagazine of the night in 18-49, 25-54 and total viewers. "Dateline" maintained 100% of the previous week's encore in 18-49 (0.6 vs. 0.6) and grew +13% in 25-54 (0.9 vs. 0.8) and +19% in total viewers (3.553 million vs. 2.989 million).

Saturday

NBC tied for #1 Saturday night among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49. It was the fifth consecutive night NBC ranked #1 or tied for #1 among those nets in 18-49.

An encore telecast of "Making It" averaged a 0.2/1 in 18-49 and 1.1 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET.

"Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (0.4/2 in 18-49, 0.6 in 25-54, 2.4 million viewers overall from 9-11 p.m. ET) ranked as primetime's #1 telecast on the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Dateline" grew +67% in adults 18-49 (0.3 to 0.5), +75% in adults 25-54 (0.4 to 0.7) and +1.1 million persons or +60% in total viewers (1.8 million to 2.9 million). L+3: The previous week's "Dateline Mystery" grew by +15% in 18-49 (0.47 to 0.54) and +323,000 viewers overall (3.0 million to 3.3 million) going from L+SD to L+3. Nielsens. Upscale: "Dateline Mystery" is generating a solid upscale audience, indexing at a 117 among adults 18-49 living in homes with $100K+ incomes (with 100 representing an average concentration of those homes)

Sunday

A rebroadcast of "Making It" averaged a 0.3/2 in 18-49 and 1.6 million viewers overall from 7-8 p.m. ET.

An encore telecast of "America's Got Talent" (0.7/3 in 18-49, 3.4 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) grew 17% of the prior week's rebroadcast in this timeslot in 18-49 (0.7 vs. 0.6). The "Talent" encore increased by +40% from its first half-hour to its fourth in 18-49 (0.5 to 0.7) and by +36% in total viewers (2.8 million to 3.7 million).

"Shades of Blue" (0.5/2 in 18-49, 2.9 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) retained 100% week to week in 18-49 (0.5 vs. 0.5) and 96% in total viewers (2.833 million vs. 2.977 million. L+3: The prior week's "Shades of Blue" increased by +73% in 18-49 (0.49 to 0.85) and +1.8 million viewers overall (3.0 million to 4.8 million) going from L+SD to L+3 Nielsens, for the biggest L+3 lifts of the night on the Big 4 networks in 18-49 percentage and total viewers. L+7: "Shades of Blue" has grown by +2.2 million viewers overall going from L+SD to L+7 (3.2 million to 5.4 million). When 35-day linear and projected non-linear viewing is included, the "Shades" 18-49 rating increases to a 1.53.

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