NBC Wins Primetime Week in All Key Measures

Fueled by "NBC Sunday Night Football," which was the #1 primetime program of the week in all key measures, and with solid ratings from "Fear Factor," an "SNL" Christmas Special and four nights of "Who's Still Standing," NBC won the week of December 19-25 in adults 18-49, total viewers and all other key measures, averaging a 2.2 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49 and 7.2 million viewers overall, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

NBC ranked #1 in primetime among the broadcast networks this week in all key ratings measures – adults, men and women 18-49, 18-34 and 25-54, as well as total viewers.

This week's "NBC Sunday Night Football" telecast, in which the Green Bay Packers secured home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with their dominating 35-21 victory over the Chicago Bears, was the #1 primetime program of the week in all key demographic measures – adults, men and women 18-49, 18-34 and 25-54. And, with an average 24.0 million viewers, "Sunday Night Football" was the #1 primetime program of the week in total viewers. Sunday's Packers-Bears match-up attracted the biggest overall viewership for an NFL game played on Christmas night since 1995.

Also ranking among the top programs of the week in the key demographic of adults 18-49 were NBC's Monday "Fear Factor" (#6), the Tuesday special "Saturday Night Live Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas" (#11, tie), Tuesday's telecast of "Who's Still Standing" (#16, tie) and Wednesday's "Who's Still Standing" (#19) (Rankings exclude NFL pre- and post-game telecasts).
Primetime averages for the week of December 19-25 in adults 18-49 were NBC (2.2/7), Fox (1.7/5), CBS (1.4/4), ABC (1.3/4) and CW (0.3/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were NBC (7.2 million), CBS (6.9 million), Fox (5.5 million), ABC (4.4 million) and CW (1.0 million).
NBC highlights for the week of December 19-25:

* On Monday, "Fear Factor" ranked #1 among the broadcast networks in the 9 p.m. ET hour in adults 18-49 and other key measures.

* Versus NBC's average in the time period earlier this season prior to "Fear Factor," this week's telecast was up 67 percent in adults 18-49 and 49 percent in total viewers.

* Also on Monday, "Rock Center with BrIan Williams" reported its highest ratings to date in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54. Week to week, "Rock Center" grew 9 percent in adults 18-49 and 6 percent in total viewers, and versus two weeks earlier, "Rock Center" was up 33 percent in 18-49 and 24 percent in total viewers

* Additionally on Monday, the premiere of "Who's Still Standing" grew from its first half-hour to its second by 21 percent in adults 18-49. And, in a competitive time period, "Who's Still Standing" improved by 8 percent in total viewers versus NBC's season average for the slot.

* On Tuesday, night two of "Who's Still Standing" grew versus Monday's debut telecast by 27 percent in adults 18-49 to deliver NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this time period since November 29. "Who's Still Standing" again generated dramatic growth from its first half-hour to its second, posting gains of 24 percent in adults 18-49 and 28 percent in adults 25-54.

* Tuesday's "Who's Still Standing" finished within a tenth of a rating point of the time-period lead in adults 18-49 and ranked #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW in adults 18-34.

* Also on Tuesday, an encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas" won its two-hour time period against all broadcast and cable competition in adults 18-49 and other key demographic measures.

* NBC ranked #1 in primetime Tuesday night versus all broadcast and cable competition in adults 18-49 and other key measures.

* On Wednesday, night three of "Who's Still Standing" improved on NBC's season averages in the time period by 13 percent in adults 18-49 and 22 percent in total viewers. "Who's Still Standing" ranked #2 in the time period in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, total viewers and other key measures, behind only the final competition episode of Fox's "X Factor."

* For the third night in a row, "Who's Still Standing" built significantly from half-hour to half-hour, growing 20 percent in adults 18-49, 22 percent in adults 25-54 and 17 percent in total viewers.

* On Thursday, night four of "Who's Still Standing" delivered a season high for NBC in the time period in total viewers.

* For the fourth night in a row, "Who's Still Standing" built substantially from half-hour to half-hour, gaining 23 percent in adults 18-49, 25 percent in adults 25-54 and 16 percent in total viewers.

* On Saturday, Christmas Eve, an encore telecast of the 1946 movie classic "It's a Wonderful Life" unwrapped a Saturday primetime win for NBC, delivering the highest adult 18-49 rating and biggest overall viewership for any theatrical motion picture aired on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox this season

* "It's a Wonderful Life" presented NBC with its highest 18-49 rating for a non-sports Saturday in more than three years, since November 2008.

* NBC won Saturday night in adults 18-49, total viewers and virtually all other key measures.

* On Sunday, NBC Sports' "Sunday Night Football" telecast of the Chicago Bears at the Green Bay Packers propelled NBC to a Sunday primetime win in every key ratings measure – adults, men and women 18-49, 18-34 and 25-54, as well as total viewers.

* NBC more than tripled its closest primetime rival Sunday night in adults 18-49 rating and came close to quadrupling its closest competitor in total viewers.

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 19-25:

On Monday, December 19 at 8 p.m. ET, the premiere of "Who's Still Standing" (1.5 rating, 4 share in adults 18-49, 5.6 million viewers overall) grew from its first half-hour to its second by 21 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.7 from a 1.4) and by 7 percent in total viewers (5.8 million vs. 5.4 million). In a competitive time period versus ESPN's Steelers-49ers "Monday Night Football," Fox's season finale of "Terra Nova," CBS's encores of "How I Met Your Mother" and"2 Broke Girls" and ABC's holiday specials, "Who's Still Standing" was up 8 percent in total viewers versus NBC's season average for the time period (5.556 million vs. 5.151 million).

Monday at 9 p.m. ET, "Fear Factor" (2.5/6 in 18-49, 6.4 million viewers overall) ranked #1 among the broadcast networks in the hour in adults 18-49 and other key measures. Despite tough competition from ESPN's strong Steelers-49ers "Monday Night Football," Fox's season finale of "Terra Nova," CBS's encores of "Two and a Half Men" and "Mike and Molly" and ABC's "You Deserve It," "Fear Factor" built on its lead-in by 67 percent in 18-49 rating and 14 percent in total viewers. "Fear Factor" grew from its first half-hour to its second by 8 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 2.6 rating from a 2.4) and 10 percent in adults 18-34 (2.2 vs. 2.0).

Versus NBC's average in this time period earlier this season prior to the debut of "Fear Factor," this week's telecast was up 67 percent in adults 18-49 (with a 2.5 rating vs. a 1.5, "live plus same day") and up 49 percent in total viewers (6.371 million vs. 4.281 million).

Monday at 10 p.m. ET, "Rock Center with BrIan Williams" (1.2/3 in 18-49, 4.3 million viewers overall) reported its highest ratings to date in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 (a 1.5). Week to week, "Rock Center" was up 9 percent in 18-49 rating (1.2 vs. 1.1) and 6 percent in total viewers (4.258 million vs. 4.003 million). Versus two weeks prior, "Rock Center" was up 33 percent in 18-49 rating (1.2 vs. 0.9) and 24 percent in total viewers (4.258 million vs. 3.421 million).

On Tuesday, December 20 at 8 p.m. ET, night two of "Who's Still Standing" (1.9/6 in 18-49, 5.8 million viewers overall) grew versus Monday's debut telecast by 27 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 1.9 rating from a 1.5) and 5 percent in total viewers (5.837 million vs. 5.573 million). "Who's Still Standing" delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this time period since November 29.
"Who's Still Standing" finished within a tenth of a rating point of the time-period lead in adults 18-49 and ranked #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW in adults 18-34.

Who's Still Standing" grew 0.4 of a rating point or 24 percent in adults 18-49 from its first half-hour to its second (to a 2.1 rating from a 1.7). "Who's Still Standing" also generated substantial increases from half-hour to half-hour in all other key ratings categories, including a gain of 0.5 of a rating point or 28 percent in adults 25-54 (to a 2.3 rating from a 1.8).

Tuesday from 9-11 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas" (2.1/6 in adults 18-49, 5.8 million viewers overall) won its two-hour time period against all broadcast and cable competition in adults 18-49 and other key demographic measures. The special tied for the #1 rating of the night in adults 18-49 (tied with CBS's "NCIS: LA" encore).

For its second hour from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Saturday Night Live Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas" ranked #1 among the broadcast networks in virtually all key demographic measures, including adults, men and women 18-49, adults 18-34 and adults 25-54.

NBC ranked #1 in primetime Tuesday night versus all broadcast and cable competition in adults 18-49 and other key measures.

On Wednesday, December 21 from 8-9 p.m. ET, night three of "Who's Still Standing" (1.7/5 in adults 18-49, 5.7 million viewers overall) improved on NBC's season averages in the time period by 13 percent in 18-49 rating (1.7 vs. 1.5) and 22 percent in total viewers (5.658 million vs. 4.624 million). "Who's Still Standing" ranked #2 in the time period in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, total viewers and other key measures, behind only the final competition episode of Fox's "X Factor."

For the third night in a row, "Who's Still Standing" built significantly from half-hour to half-hour, growing 20 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 1.8 rating from aa1.5), 22 percent in adults 25-54 (to a 2.2 from a 1.8) and 17 percent in total viewers (to 6.1 million from 5.2 million).

Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "A Michael Bublé Christmas" averaged a 1.0/3 in adults 18-49 and 4.3 million viewers overall, growing from its first half-hour to its second by 19 percent in total viewers (to 4.699 million from 3.953 million).

Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.0/3 in 18-49, 4.0 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in the hour among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.

On Thursday, December 22 at 8 p.m. ET, night four of "Who's Still Standing" (1.5/5 in 18-49, 5.2 million viewers overall) delivered a season high for NBC in the hour in total viewers, despite competition from Fox's finale of "The X Factor," CBS's encores of "Big Bang Theory" and ABC's Christmas specials.

For the fourth night in a row, "Who's Still Standing" built substantially from half-hour to half-hour, growing 23 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 1.6 rating from a1.3), 25 percent in adults 25-54 (to a 2.0 from a 1.6) and 16 percent in total viewers (to 5.617 million from 4.851 million).

Thursday from 9-9:31 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "The Office" averaged a 0.9/2 in 18-49 and 2.2 million viewers overall. Note that on average this season, "Office" originals have been adding 43 percent to their next-day "live plus same day" 18-49 ratings when Nielsen reports additional time-shifted viewing in "live plus seven day" ratings.

Thursday at 9:31 ET, a rebroadcast of "Whitney" averaged a 0.7/2 in adults 18-49 and 1.9 million viewers overall. On average this season, first-run episodes of "Whitney" have been adding 34 percent to their next-day "live plus same day" 18-49 ratings when Nielsen reports additional time-shifted viewing in "live plus seven day" ratings.

At 10 p.m. ET, "Prime Suspect" (1.0/3 in adults 18-49, 4.4 million viewers overall) grew week to week by 11 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.0 from a 0.9) and 20 percent in total viewers (4.442 million vs. 3.703 million). "Prime Suspect" built on its lead-in by 43 percent in 18-49 rating and 132 percent in total viewers to rank #2 in the hour among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. Note that on average this season, original episodes of "Prime Suspect" have been adding 36 percent to their next-day "live plus same day" 18-49 ratings when Nielsen reports additional time-shifted viewing in "live plus seven day" ratings.

On Friday, December 23 at 8 p.m. ET, "Chuck" (1.0/4 in 18-49, 3.3 million viewers overall) grew week to week by 11 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.0 from a 0.9) to match a season high in that measure. "Chuck" ranked #2 in the hour among ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW in adults 18-49 and other key measures. Note that on average this season, "Chuck" originals have been adding 43 percent to their next-day "live plus same day" 18-49 ratings when Nielsen reports additional time-shifted viewing in "live plus seven day" ratings.

Friday at 9 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Grimm" averaged a 0.8/3 in 18-49 and 2.9 million viewers overall. So far this season, first-run episodes of "Grimm" have been adding an average 55 percent to their next-day "live plus same day" 18-49 rating when Nielsen reports time-shifted "live plus seven day" results.
Friday from 10-11 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "Dateline NBC" averaged a 0.8/3 and 3.1 million viewers overall.

On Saturday, December 24 from 8-11 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of the 1946 movie classic "It's a Wonderful Life" (1.5/5 in 18-49, 4.8 million viewers overall) led NBC to a Saturday primetime win, delivering the highest adult 18-49 rating and biggest overall viewership for any theatrical motion picture aired on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox this season. The last feature film to score a higher 18-49 rating and attract a bigger overall viewership was ABC's telecast of "The Ten Commandments" on April 23 (also a 1.5 rating in adults 18-49 and 6.7 million viewers overall).

"It's a Wonderful Life" scored NBC's highest 18-49 rating for a non-sports Saturday in more than three years, since November 8, 2008. In total viewers, it was NBC's top Saturday since March 5. From its first half-hour to its sixth, "It's a Wonderful Life" increased by 73 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 1.9 rating from a 1.1) and by 51 percent or 2.0 million persons in total viewers (to 5.9 million from 3.9 million).

NBC ranked #1 among the broadcast networks Saturday night in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54, total viewers and virtually all other key measures.

This marks NBC's 32nd primetime telecast of "It's a Wonderful Life," directed by Frank Capra and starring Jimmy Stewart, since the movie was brought to broadcast network television in 1994. In 2006, the American Film Institute named "It's a Wonderful Life" the most inspiring movie of all time in its list of America's 100 Most Inspiring Movies.

On Sunday, December 25, the "NBC Sunday Night Football" telecast of the Chicago Bears at the Green Bay Packers propelled NBC to a Sunday primetime win in adults 18-49, total viewers and all other key measures. For its full duration, the Bears-Packers game averaged a 7.7/23 in adults 18-49, 24.0 million viewers overall and a 12.6/24 household rating/share from 8:31-11:05 p.m. ET. Sunday's Packers-Bears game attracted the biggest overall viewership for an NFL game played on Christmas night since 1995 (Cowboys-Cardinals on ABC, 25.4 million)

NBC ranked #1 in primetime Sunday night in all key ratings measures – adults, men and women 18-49, 18-34 and 25-54, as well as total viewers. NBC more than tripled its closest primetime rival in 18-49 rating (6.3 vs. a 2.0 for ABC) and came close to quadrupling its closest competitor in total viewers (20.2 million vs. 5.5 million for ABC).

Also on Sunday, "Football Night in America 2" from 7:30-8:04 p.m. ET averaged a 1.8/7 in 18-49, 6.6 million viewers overall and a 3.6/8 household rating/share. "Football Night in America 3" from 8:04-8:22 p.m. delivered a 4.5/16 in 18-49, 14.7 million viewers overall and a 7.5/16 in households. From 8:22-8:31 p.m., "NBC Sunday Night Football Pre Kickoff" averaged a 5.7/19 in 18-49, 18.7 million viewers overall and a 9.6/20 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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