NBC's AMERICA'S GOT TALENT Matches Year Ago Debut

The ninth season debut of "America's Got Talent" (3.0/9 in 18-49, 11.9 million viewers overall from 8-10:01 p.m. ET) finished within a tenth of a rating point in 18-49 of last year's premiere (which was boosted by a "Voice" lead-in and ran from 9-11 p.m. on June 4, 2013, 3.1/9). In total viewers, this is the best "AGT" premiere in three years, up +6% versus last year (11.911 million last night vs. 11.222 million with a "Voice" lead-in last year, and biggest since 15.280 million on May 31, 2011).

The "Talent" debut is up +20% versus last summer's finale in 18-49 (3.0/9 vs. 2.5/7 from 9-11 on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013) and up +4% in total viewers (11.911 million vs. 11.492 million).

"AGT" won the slot among the Big 4 in every key measure. In 18-49, "Talent" topped ABC's season premiere of "Extreme Weight Loss" by 131% (3.0/9 vs. 1.3/4). "Talent" is matching the slot's ABC-CBS-Fox ratings combined, with its 3.0 equaling the results of ABC's original "Extreme Weight Loss" (1.3), Fox's original reality (0.5) and CBS's encore dramas (1.2).

The premiere of "The Night Shift" (1.6/5 in 18-49, 7.8 million viewers overall from 10:01-11 p.m. ET) won the slot among ABC, CBS and NBC in every key measure.

In total viewers, this is the biggest audience for an NBC drama in the time period since Feb. 4 (7.792 million for "Chicago Fire"). In 18-49, "The Night Shift" finished within 0.3 or 16% of the most recent "Chicago Fire" rating in the slot (1.6 vs. 1.9 on May 13).

In Late-Night Metered Markets Tuesday night:

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 2.4/6 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 1.9/5 with an encore; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.8/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 0.9/4 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.4/2 with an encore; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.1/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/2 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" (1.0/4 with an encore). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 in 18-49 with an encore) topped "Late Late Show" (0.2/1 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 0.2/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

For the Week:

NBC has won the Primetime week of May 19-25 in adults 18-49, led the season finale of "The Voice," as well as top performances by Monday's "The Maya Rudolph Show," Thursday's season premiere of "Last Comic Standing" and Wednesday season finales of "Law & Order: SVU" and "Chicago P.D." According to "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research, NBC has averaged a 1.5 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49 and 5.6 million viewers overall for the week.

Versus the same week last year, NBC is up +7% in adults 18-49 (to a 1.5 rating from a 1.4) and up +13% in total viewers (5.6 million vs. 5.0 million). NBC matched or topped the year-ago week in every key ratings measure.

Tuesday's "Voice" season finale ranked #2 in adults 18-49 among Primetime broadcasts for the week on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, and additionally finished #1 on those nets in adults 25-54 and teens 12-17. Also ranking among the week's top 25 Primetime shows on the Big 4 were: Monday's "The Voice" (#3), Monday's "The Maya Rudolph Show" (tied for #9), Tuesday's 8-9 p.m. ET "Voice" encore (tied for #12), Thursday's season debut of "Last Comic Standing" (tied for #15) and Wednesday's season finales of "Law & Order: SVU" and "Chicago P.D." (tied for #19).

In addition to winning the week in adults 18-49, NBC ranked #1 among the Big 4 nets in adults 25-54 and tied for #1 with ABC in adults 18-34.

Through 35 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 18-34 and 18-49 (tied with Fox), men 25-54 and all key adult-female demos. It's the first time NBC has ranked #1 in 18-49 at this pint in the broadcast year in 10 years (since the 2003-04 season).

NBC's 2.7 rating in adults 18-49 is the network's top average at this point in the season in four years (since a 2.7 in 2009-10).

Versus one year ago, NBC is up +17% for the broadcast year to date in adults 18-49 (2.7 vs. 2.3).

In total viewers, NBC ranks #2 for the broadcast year with an average of 9.2 million viewers, which is its biggest overall audience 35 weeks into the season in eight years (since 2005-06, 9.7 million). Versus one year ago, NBC is up +33% season to date in total viewers (9.3 million vs. 6.9 million). It's the first time NBC has ranked higher than #4 in total viewers at this point in the season in 10 years (since running #2 at this point in the 2003-04 season).

WEEKLY RESULTS
Adults 18-49, L+SD
Net... Week 35, 2012-13... Week 35, 2013-14...Diff
NBC...1.4...1.5...Up 7%
CBS...1.2...1.1... Down 8%
ABC...1.4...1.3... Down 7%
Fox...1.4...1.3... Down 7%

Total Viewers, L+SD
Net... Week 35, 2012-13... Week 35, 2013-14...Diff
NBC...4.972 million ...5.632 million...Up 13%
CBS...6.234 million...5.319 million...Down 15%
ABC...6.437 million ...6.501 million...Up 1%
Fox...4.326 million ...5.126 million...Up 18%

SEASON AVERAGES
Adults 18-49, "Most Current"
Net... STD '12-13... STD '13-14...Diff
NBC...2.3...2.7...Up 17%
CBS...2.9...2.4...Down 17%
ABC...2.2...2.1...Down 5%
Fox...2.5...2.4...Down 4%

Total Viewers, "Most Current"
Net... STD '12-13... STD '13-14...Diff
NBC...6.944 million ...9.211 million...Up 33%
CBS...11.750 million...10.636 million... Down 9%
ABC...7.865 million ...7.603 million...Down 3%
Fox...7.001 million ...7.318 million...Up 5%

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.