NBC's AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR Delivers Show's Biggest Overall Audience

"American Ninja Warrior" (1.9/6 in 18-49, 6.1 million viewers overall from 9-11 p.m. ET) is currently delivering the show's biggest overall audience in more than two years (since June 4, 2012, 6.8 million), pending updates. "Ninja" is currently winning the slot among the Big 4 in every key measure.

"American Ninja Warrior" is currently running within a tenth of a point of the #1 18-49 rating of the night on the Big 4 (1.9 vs. 2.0 for Fox's "MasterChef" at 8 p.m.), pending updates, and is #1 for the night on those nets in adults 18-34 and tied for #1 in adults 25-54.

"American Ninja Warrior" grew consistently through its two-hour slot, with this half-hour track: 1.7, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Ninja" is currently showing growth of +24% in 18-49 rating and +17% in total viewers (6.5 million vs. 5.5 million).

"Running Wild with Bear Grylls" (1.2/4 in 18-49, 4.3 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) is currently tied for #2 in the time period among the Big 4 in adults 18-49 and 25-54, pending updates, and is #2 outright among those nets in men 18-49 and 25-54. "Running Wild" is currently up +9% versus the year-ago "Get Out Alive with Bear Grylls" in 18-49 (1.2 vs. 1.1 from 9-10 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 19, 2013) and up +25% in total viewers (4.258 million vs. 3.413 million), pending updates.

In Late-Night Metered Markets Monday Night:

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 2.9/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.1/5; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/4 with an encore.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 1.2/6; "Late Show," 0.4/2; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.4/2 with an encore.

From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.0/3 in metered-market households and a 0.2/1 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Seth Meyers" (1.1/4 in metered-market households with an encore) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.0/3 with an encore). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/4 in 18-49 with an encore) topped "Late Late Show" (0.2/2 with an encore).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.6/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

For the Week:

NBC has won the Primetime week of Aug. 11-17 among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49, marking the ninth time this summer NBC has finished #1 or tied for #1 among those nets. That makes it the only Big 4 net to have won more than two weeks since the close of the traditional season. For the week, NBC averaged a 1.1 rating, 4 share in adults 18-49 and 4.9 million viewers overall for the week, according to "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Tuesday's "America's Got Talent" tied for #3 among Primetime programs on the Big 4 last week in adults 18-49 and teamed with the Wednesday edition to generate the #1 and #2 results on those nets in total viewers and adults 25-54.

Joining the Tuesday "Talent" in the top 25 for the week among Primetime shows on the Big 4 in adults 18-49 were Wednesday's "Talent" (tied for #6), Monday's "Running Wild with Bear Grylls" (tied for #9), Monday's "American Ninja Warrior" recap (tied for #13), Thursday's "Last Comic Standing" (tied for #13), Friday's "Dateline NBC" rebroadcast (tied for #21) and Wednesday's "Talent" encore (tied for #21).

NBC matched its 18-49 rating for the same week last year (1.1 vs. 1.1) and was up +20% versus the year-ago week in total viewers (4.9 million vs. 4.1 million). In addition to leading the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49, NBC also ranked #1 among those nets for the week in adults 25-54, adults 18-34 (tied with Fox) and all key adult-female demos.

Through 47 weeks of the 2013-14 broadcast year, NBC ranks #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, adults 18-34 (tied with Fox), men 18-49 (tied with Fox), men 25-54 and all key adult-female demos. It's the first time NBC has ranked #1 in adults 18-49 at this point in the season in 10 years (since the 2003-04 season).

Versus one year ago, NBC is up +14% for the broadcast year to date in adults 18-49 (2.4 vs. 2.1).

In total viewers, NBC ranks #2 for the broadcast year with an average of 8.3 million viewers, which is its biggest overall audience 47 weeks into the season in eight (since 2005-06, 8.9 million). Versus one year ago, NBC is up +25% season to date in total viewers (8.3 million vs. 6.6 million).

WEEKLY RESULTS
Adults 18-49, L+SD
Net... Week 47, 2012-13... Week 47, 2013-14...Diff
NBC...1.1...1.1...Even
CBS...1.1...1.0... Down 9%
ABC...1.0...1.0... Even
Fox...1.3...1.0... Down 23%

Total Viewers, L+SD
Net... Week 47, 2012-13... Week 47, 2013-14...Diff
NBC...4.066 million ...4.892 million...Up 20%
CBS...5.380 million...5.400 million...Up 0.4%
ABC...4.116 million ...3.852 million...Down 6%
Fox....3.696 million ...3.014 million...Down 18%

SEASON AVERAGES
Adults 18-49, "Most Current"
Net... STD '12-13... STD '13-14...Diff
NBC...2.1...2.4...Up 14%
CBS...2.4...2.1...Down 12%
ABC...2.1...2.0...Down 5%
Fox...2.2...2.1...Down 5%

Total Viewers, "Most Current"
Net... STD '12-13... STD '13-14...Diff
NBC...6.619 million ...8.301 million...Up 25%
CBS...10.259 million...9.454 million... Down 8%
ABC...7.180 million ...7.010 million...Down 2%
Fox...6.162 million ...6.383 million...Up 4%

NOTE: All ratings are "live plus same day" from Nielsen Media Research unless otherwise indicated. Season figures are averages of "live plus seven day" data except for the two most recent weeks, which are "live plus same day."

To post a comment, you must register and login.