NBC's RUNNING WILD WITH BEAR GRYLLS is #2 Reality Summer Launch

The debut of "Running Wild with Bear Grylls" (1.4/5 in 18-49, 4.6 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) ranked within a tenth of a point of ABC's "Rising Star" (1.5 from9-11 p.m. on Sunday, June 22), making it the #2 new Reality Show premiere this summer on the Big 4 among six to have debuted thurs far. "Running Wild" is also the #2 Reality Show series premiere on those networks this summer in total viewers (4.6 million vs. 5.2 million for "Rising Star").

· "Running Wild with Bear Grylls" is rating within a tenth of a point of the year-ago debut of "Get Out Alive with Bear Grylls" (1.5 from 9-10 on Monday, July 8, 2013), despite this year's earlier time period and lack of a "Ninja Warrior" lead-in, which the year-ago debuted benefited from.

· In total viewers, "Running Wild with Bear Grylls" is up +9% versus the debut of "Get Out Alive with Bear Grylls" (4.588 million vs. 4.226 million).

· "Running Wild with Bear Grylls" hit summer highs for NBC in the time period in 18-49 and total viewers, the network's top scores in the slot since "The Voice" aired in the time period on May 19. "Running Wild" grew from half-hour to half-hour by +15% in 18-49 (to a 1.5 from a 1.3).

· "American Ninja Warrior" (2.1/6 in 18-49, 5.8 million viewers overall from 9-11 p.m. ET) tied for the #1 rating of the night on the Big 4 in adults 18-49 and won the time period, beating ABC's combination of "Bachelorette" finale and "Bachelorette" reunion from 9-11 p.m. (with a 2.1 rating vs. a 2.0 for that two-hour time slot).

· Despite facing the "Bachelorette" finale, last night's "American Ninja Warrior" hit a two-year high with the show's top 18-49 rating since June 4, 2012 (2.2), which was the fourth "Ninja" telecast on NBC. Last night's edition is tied for the third-highest "Ninja Warrior" telecast ever on NBC. In total viewers, it was the #2 "Ninja Warrior" of the season to date, behind only last week's 5.817 million.

In Late-Night Metered Markets Monday Night:

· In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 2.4/6; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 1.8/5; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.5/6.

· In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 1.1/5; "Late Show," 0.3/1; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.9/4.

· From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.4/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 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) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (0.8/3). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.2/1).

· At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.6/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

For the Week:

· NBC has won the Primetime week of July 20-27 among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49, with the Tuesday and Wednesday editions of "America's Got Talent" tying as the #1 Primetime telecast of the week on those nets.

· Also ranking in the top 30 last week were "American Ninja Warrior," "Dateline NBC," "Hollywood Game Night," "Last Comic Standing," "Food Fighters" and "Taxi Brooklyn." NBC averaged a 1.2 rating, 4 share in adults 18-49 and 5.2 million viewers overall for the week, according to "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

· NBC finished up +9% versus the same week last year in 18-49 rating (with a 1.2 vs. a 1.1), while the other Big 4 nets were all down year-to-year. In total viewers, NBC was up +16% versus the same week last year (5.3 million vs. 4.5 million).

· This marks the 10th week in a row NBC has ranked #1 or tied for #1 in 18-49 among the Big 4 nets excluding networks boosted by the major sporting events the NBA Finals and the Baseball All-Star Game.

· The week's two editions of "America's Got Talent" were the top two telecasts last week on ABC, CBS, NBC or FOX in adults 18-49 as well as total viewers, adults 25-54, kids 2-11 and teens 12-17. Joining the pair of "Talent" telecasts among the top 30 programs on the Big 4 last week were "American Ninja Warrior" (#7), "Dateline NBC," "Hollywood Game Night" and "Last Comic Standing" (tied for #17) and "Food Fighters" and "Taxi Brooklyn" (tied for #25).

· In addition to leading the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 last week, NBC also ranked #1 among those nets in adults, men and women 25-54 and was #1 or tied for #1 in men and women 18-49 and women 18-34.

· Through 44 weeks of the 2013-14 broadcast year, NBC ranks #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, 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).

· NBC's 2.5 rating in adults 18-49 is the network's top average at this point in the season in four years (since a 2.5 in 2009-10).

· Versus one year ago, NBC is up +14% for the broadcast year to date in adults 18-49 (2.5 vs. 2.2).

· In total viewers, NBC ranks #2 for the broadcast year with an average of 8.5 million viewers, which is its biggest overall audience 44 weeks into the season in eight years (since 2005-06, 9.0 million). Versus one year ago, NBC is up +26% season to date in total viewers (8.5 million vs. 6.7 million). It's the first time NBC has ranked #2 in total viewers at this point in the season in 10 years.

WEEKLY RESULTS
Adults 18-49, L+SD
Net... Week 44, 2012-13... Week 44, 2013-14...Diff
NBC...1.1...1.2...Up 9%
CBS...1.2...1.0... Down 17%
ABC...1.0...0.9... Down 10%
Fox...1.3...1.0... Down 23%

Total Viewers, L+SD
Net... Week 44, 2012-13... Week 44, 2013-14...Diff
NBC...4.455 million ...5.166 million...Up 16%
CBS...5.630 million...5.353 million...Down 5%
ABC...3.762 million ...3.921 million...Up 4%
Fox...3.220 million ...2.798 million...Down 13%

SEASON AVERAGES
Adults 18-49, "Most Current"
Net... STD '12-13... STD '13-14...Diff
NBC...2.2...2.5...Up 14%
CBS...2.5...2.1...Down 16%
ABC...2.1...2.0...Down 5%
Fox...2.3...2.2...Down 4%

Total Viewers, "Most Current"
Net... STD '12-13... STD '13-14...Diff
NBC...6.725 million ...8.481 million...Up 26%
CBS...10.547 million...9.671 million... Down 8%
ABC...7.355 million ...7.162 million...Down 3%
Fox...6.355 million ...6.603 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.