NBC Wins Primetime For Final Week Of 2010

Led by two primetime NFL telecasts, which were the #1 and #2 programs of the week in adults 18-49 and other key measures, NBC won the week of December 27-January 2 in adults 18-49, total viewers and virtually all other key measures, averaging a 2.9 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49 and 8.5 million viewers overall, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research. This marks NBC's third weekly victory in the last four weeks in the key demographic of adults 18-49.

For the week, NBC also ranked #1 in adults, men and women 18-34, men and women 18-49 and adults and men 25-54.

Tuesday's special edition of "NBC Sunday Night Football," featuring the Minnesota Vikings 24-14 upset of the Philadelphia Eagles, was the #1 program of the week in all key demographic measures - adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54. With an average 23.7 million viewers, Tuesday's "Sunday Night Football" game was also the #1 primetime program of the week in total viewers.

The regular Sunday edition of "NBC Sunday Night Football," in which the Seattle Seahawks beat the St. Louis Rams 16-6 to clinch the NFC West title, was the #2-ranked teleCast of THE week in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. With an average 19.4 million viewers, Sunday's game was the most-watched final regular season primetime NFL telecast since 1997 (Patriots-Dolphins on ABC, December 22, 1997).

Primetime averages for the week of December 27-January 2 in adults 18-49 were NBC (2.9/8), CBS (1.7/5), Fox (1.6/5), ABC (1.5/5) and CW (0.4/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were NBC (8.5 million), CBS (8.4 million), ABC (5.4 million), Fox (4.9 million) and CW (1.1 million).

Season-to-date through 15 weeks, NBC ranks #2 in adults 18-49, up from a #4 ranking at this same point last season, with a 2.8 rating in that key demographic, up 4 percent versus the first 15 weeks last season (2.8 vs. 2.7). NBC also ranks #2 in adults 25-54 season-to-date, up 3 percent in 25-54 rating versus the first 15 weeks last year (3.2 vs. 3.1). NBC ranks #3 in total viewers season to date, up 5 percent year to year through the first 15 weeks of the season (8.070 million vs. 7.670 million).

NBC highlights for the week of December 27-January 2

* On Tuesday, a special Tuesday edition of "NBC Sunday Night Football," featuring the Minnesota Vikings at the Philadelphia Eagles, fueled a dominant primetime victory in all key measures. The game, which was originally scheduled to be played on Sunday but was delayed by the NFL due to severe weather in Philadelphia, led NBC on Tuesday to a convincing win in adults, men and women 18-49; adults, men and women 18-34; and adults, men and women 25-54, as well as total viewers

* Tuesday's Vikings-Eagles game was up 17 percent in 18-49 rating and 25 percent or 4.7 million persons in total viewers versus last year's Week 16 game, which aired on a Sunday.

* NBC's margin of victory on Tuesday night was decidedly lopsided. In adults 18-49, NBC more than quadrupled its closest primetime competitor and topped The Combined results of CBS, Fox, ABC and CW. In total viewers, NBC also topped the viewership for CBS, ABC, Fox and CW combined in primetime.

* Fueled by football, NBC posted the highest Tuesday primetime averages for any network so far this season in numerous key measures, including adults 18-49 and total viewers.

* On Wednesday, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" ranked #1 in the 10 p.m. ET time period among the broadcast networks in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54, total viewers and other key measures. "SVU" built on its lead-in by 60 percent in 18-49 rating and by 49 percent or more than 2.2 million persons in total viewers.

* On Thursday, an encore telecast of "The Office" ranked #1 in its time period among ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW in adults 18-49 and other key demographics. This week's encore telecast of "The Office" surged versus the prior week by 60 percent in adults 18-49 and 35 percent in total viewers.

* Also on Thursday, encore telecasts of NBC's other Thursday comedies - "Community," "30 Rock" and "Outsourced" - all posted solid gains versus the prior week's rebroadcasts in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.

* On Saturday, NBC Sports' coverage of the NHL Winter Classic game featuring the Washington Capitals at the Pittsburgh Penguins iced a Saturday primetime victory in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and all key adult-male demographics.

* On Sunday, the "NBC Sunday Night Football" teleCast of THE St. Louis Rams at the Seattle Seahawks propelled NBC to a convincing primetime victory in all key measures - adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, as well as total viewers. NBC's margin of victory over the #2 network in primetime Sunday night was 57 percent in 18-49 rating and 45 percent in total viewers.

* Sunday's Rams-Seahawks game was up 13 percent in 18-49 rating and 19 percent or more than 3.0 million persons in total viewers versus the "Sunday Night Football" game that aired during the same week last year.

Ratings reflect "live plus same day" data unless otherwise noted. Season-to-date figures are averages of "live plus seven day" data except for the two most recent weeks, which are "live plus same day."

Additional NBC highlights for the week of December 27-January 2:

On Monday, Dec.27, encore telecasts of "Chuck" averaged a 0.6 rating, 2 share in adults 18-49 and 2.7 million viewers at 8 p.m. ET, a 0.6/2 in 18-49 and 2.1 million viewers at 9 p.m. and a 0.6/2 and 1.8 million viewers overall at 10 p.m.

On Tuesday, Dec. 28, a special Tuesday edition of "NBC Sunday Night Football," in which the Minnesota Vikings upset the Philadelphia Eagles 24-14, fueled a dominant primetime victory in all key measures. The game, which was originally scheduled to be played on Sunday but was delayed by the NFL due to severe weather in Philadelphia, led NBC on Tuesday to a convincing win in adults, men and women 18-49; adults, men and women 18-34; and adults, men and women 25-54, as well as total viewers.

For its full duration, The Vikings-Eagles NFL game averaged an 8.1/23 in adults 18-49, 23.7 million viewers overall and a 13.8/23 household rating/share from 8:07-11:22 p.m. ET. "NBC Sunday Night Football" was the #1 teleCast of THE night in adults 18-49, total viewers, household rating and other key measures. Competition included CBS's teleCast of THE "Kennedy Center Honors" and encores of CBS's "NCIS," ABC's "Rudolph's Shiny New Year," "No Ordinary Family" and "Detroit 1-8-7" and Fox's "Glee."

Tuesday's Vikings-Eagles game was up 17 percent in 18-49 rating and 25 percent or 4.7 million persons in total viewers versus last year's Week 16 game, which featured an NFC East matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins and which averaged 6.9/19 in 18-49 and 19.0 million viewers overall on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009.

NBC's margin of victory on Tuesday night was decidedly lopsided. In adults 18-49, NBC more than quadrupled its closest primetime competitor (7.8 vs. a 1.6 for second-place CBS) and topped The Combined results of CBS, Fox (1.3), ABC (1.0) and CW (0.3). In total viewers, NBC also topped the viewership for CBS, ABC, Fox and CW combined in primetime.

Also on Tuesday from 8-8:07 p.m. ET, "NBC NFL Pre Kickoff" averaged a 4.5/15 in 18-49, 14.5 million viewers overall and an 8.7/15 in households.

NBC posted the highest Tuesday primetime averages for any network so far this season in numerous key measures, including adults 18-49 and total viewers.

On Wednesday, Dec. 29 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Undercovers" averaged a 0.9/3 in 18-49 and 4.4 million viewers overall. Versus the prior week, "Undercovers" grew by 5 percent in total viewers (4.4 million vs. 4.2 million).

Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" averaged a 1.0/3 in 18-49 and 4.6 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its second, "SVU" grew by 11 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.0 from a 0.9) and by 14 percent in total viewers (to 4.9 million from 4.3 million).

Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET, a second rebroadcast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.6/5 in 18-49, 6.8 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in the time period among the broadcast networks in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54, total viewers and other key measures. "SVU" built on its lead-in by 60 percent in 18-49 rating and by 49 percent or more than 2.2 million persons in total viewers.

From its first half-hour to its second, "SVU" increased by 13 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.7 from a 1.5), 10 percent in 25-54 rating (to 2.2 from 2.0) and 10 percent in total viewers (to 7.1 million from 6.5 million). In the 10:30 p.m. lead-in to local news, "SVU" locked up a 16 percent advantage in the key news demo of adults 25-54 (2.2 vs. a 1.9 for CBS's second-place "Defenders" rebroadcast). "SVU" ranked #1 in the 10:30-11 p.m. half-hour among ABC, CBS and NBC in every key ratings category - adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 - plus total viewers.

On Thursday, Dec. 30 from 8-8:30 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Community" averaged a 0.8/3 in 18-49 and 2.7 million viewers overall. Versus the prior Thursday, "Community" was up 14 percent in 18-49 rating (0.8 vs. 0.7) and 16 percent in total viewers (2.7 million vs. 2.3 million).

Thursday from 8:30-9 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "30 Rock" delivered a 1.1/4 in 18-49 and 2.9 million viewers overall. Versus the prior Thursday, "30 Rock" was up 38 percent in 18-49 rating (1.1 vs. 0.8) and 9 percent in total viewers (2.9 million vs. 2.6 million). In the time period, "30 Rock" ranked #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW in adults 18-34.

Thursday from 9-9:31 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "The Office" (1.6/5 in adults 18-49, 3.8 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in the time period among ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW in adults 18-49. "The Office" was also #1 in adults, men and women 18-34, men 18-49 and men 25-54 and tied for #1 in women 18-49.

This week's encore telecast of "The Office" surged by 60 percent in 18-49 rating versus the prior week's rebroadcast (1.6 vs. 1.0) and grew by 35 percent in total viewers (3.8 million vs. 2.8 million).

Thursday, from 9:31-10 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "Outsourced" delivered a 1.2/4 in 18-49 and 3.2 million viewers overall. Versus the prior Thursday, "Outsourced" was up 50 percent in 18-49 rating (1.2 vs. 0.8) and 35 percent in total viewers (3.222 million vs. 2.382 million). "Outsourced" ranked #2 in the time period among ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW in adults 18-49 and #1 in adults, men and women 18-34.

Thursday from 10-10:30 p.m. ET, a second rebroadcast of "Outsourced" (1.2/4 in 18-49, 3.2 million viewers overall) retained 100 percent of its 18-49 lead-in from the 9:30 p.m. encore. "Outsourced" was up 33 percent in 18-49 rating versus the 0.9 posted by an "Office" rebroadcast in this half-hour the prior Thursday. In the time period, "Outsourced" ranked #2 among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults 18-49 and #1 in adults, men and women 18-34.

Thursday from 10:30-11 p.m. ET, an encore of "The Office" logged a 1.2/4 and 2.7 million viewers overall. In the half-hour, "The Office" ranked #2 among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults 18-49 and #1 in adults, men and women 18-34.

On Friday, December 31 from 8-9 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of Minute To Win It" (1.0/4 in 18-49, 3.7 million viewers overall) ranked #2 among ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW in adults, men and women 18-49 and was tied for #1 in adults 18-34.

Friday from 9-10 p.m. ET, a second rebroadcast of "Minute To Win It" (0.9/3 in 18-49, 3.9 million viewers overall) ranked #2 or tied for #2 in adults 18-49 and adults 18-34 among ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW and was #1 in women 18-34.

Friday from 10-11 p.m. ET, the primetime portion of "New Year's Eve with Carson Daly" (1.2/5 in 18-49, 3.9 million viewers overall) finished #2 among ABC, CBS and NBC in the hour in adults, men and women 18-49 and adults, men and women 18-34.

The primetime segment of "New Year's Eve with Carson Daly" matched its year-ago rating in adults 18-49 and was up 15 percent in total viewers versus last year's telecast (3.860 million vs. 3.365 million). .

On Saturday, January 1, NBC Sports' coverage of the NHL Winter Classic game featuring the Washington Capitals at the Pittsburgh Penguins iced a Saturday primetime victory in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and all key adult-male demographics. For its full duration, hockey coverage averaged a 1.9/5 in adults 18-49, 4.5 million viewers overall and a 2.3/4 household rating/share from 8-11 p.m. ET.

On Sunday, Jan. 2 the "NBC Sunday Night Football" teleCast of THE St. Louis Rams at the Seattle Seahawks propelled NBC to a convincing primetime victory in all key measures - adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, as well as total viewers.

For its full duration, the Rams-Seahawks NFL game averaged a 6.9/17 in adults 18-49, 19.4 million viewers overall and an11.3/18 household rating/share from 8:31-11:16 p.m. ET.

Sunday's Rams-Seahawks game was up 13 percent in 18-49 rating and 19 percent or more than 3.0 million persons in total viewers versus the "Sunday Night Football" game that aired during the same week last year (a 6.1/15 in 18-49 and 16.333 million viewers overall for the Bengals-Jets match-up on January 3, 2010).

NBC's margin of victory over the #2 network in primetime Sunday night was 57 percent in 18-49 rating (a 5.8 vs. a 3.7 for Fox) and 45 percent or more than 5.1 million persons in total viewers (16.5 million vs. 11.4 million for CBS).

Also on Sunday, "Football Night in America 2" from 7:30-7:56 p.m. ET averaged a 2.3/5 in 18-49, 6.3 million viewers overall and a 3.7/6 household rating/share. "Football Night in America 3" from 7:56-8:22 p.m. averaged a 4.0/11 in 18-49, 11.5 million viewers overall and a 6.7/11 in households. From 8:22-8:31 p.m., "NBC Sunday Night Football Pre Kickoff" delivered a 5.1/14 in 18-49, 15.1 million viewers overall and an 8.7/14 in households. Note: "Football Night in America" from 7-7:30 p.m. ET was sustaining programming and does not figure in the nightly or weekly primetime averages.

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