With two primetime NFL games, "This Is Us," "Hairspray Live!" and two editions of "The Voice" accounting for six of the week's top nine ratings among Big 4 primetime telecasts in the key adult 18-49 demographic, NBC has dominated the ratings week of Dec. 5-11, winning among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in 18-49, total viewers and every other key ratings measure and growing versus the same week last year in all those categories.
NBC won Wednesday night in 18-49, total viewers and all other key measures (including ties in men 18-49 and men 25-54), scoring as the first network this season to beat FOX in 18-49 on a Wednesday that included an original "Empire." "Hairspray Live!" (2.3/8 in 18-49, 9.0 million viewers overall from 8-10:54 p.m. ET) jumped +77% versus NBC's Wednesday season average in 18-49 (2.3 vs. 1.3) and +49% versus NBC's Wednesday season average in total viewers (9.0 million vs. 6.1 million). "Hairspray" generated NBC's highest 18-49 average in for an in-season Wednesday in two years (since Nov. 12, 2012, 2.3), and the last time NBC topped "Hairspray's" 2.3 for an in-season Wednesday, excluding Olympics, was Dec. 4, 2013. Versus last year's "The Wiz Live!," "Hairspray" grew by +14% among female teen viewers (with a 3.3 rating versus a 2.9 on Dec. 3, 2015) and +24% in women 18-24 (3.6 vs. 2.9), while matching "Wiz" among teens 12-17 (2.2 vs. 2.2). "Hairspray Live!" delivered NBC's best Wednesday with entertainment programming among female teens 12-17 (3.3 rating) in 13 years, since May 28, 2003 (3.4 with "Law & Order" and the debut of "Fame"); the network's best Wednesday with entertainment programs among females 18-24 (3.6) in 12 years, since May 5, 2004 (the day before the "Friends" series finale, with "Friends" encores and a two-hour "Friends"-themed "Dateline NBC"); and NBC's best in-season Wednesday night with entertainment shows among teens 12-17 (2.2) in 14 years, since Nov 20, 2002 (2.4 for "Ed," "The West Wing" and "Law & Order"). It was also the best night for any broadcast net (excluding live sports and news) among female teens 12-17 and women 18-24 since ABC's Oscars on Feb. 28. L+3: "Hairspray Live!" grew by +20% in adults 18-49 (from a 2.30 rating to a 2.76) and +1.5 million viewers overall (9.0 million to 10.5 million) going from L+SD to L+3Photo by: Justin Lubin/NBC
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