NBC's SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL Ranks #1 Among Big 4 Primetime Telecasts

NBC has finished #2 among adults 18-49 for the primetime ratings week of Oct. 26-Nov. 1 among the Big 4 networks, trailing only Fox, which was boosted last week by five nights of WORLD SERIES coverage.

NBC's "Sunday Night Football" ranked #1 for the week of Oct. 26-Nov. 1 among primetime shows on ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in adults 18-49, total viewers and every other key measure, plus kids 2-11 and teens 12-17 (rankings exclude sports pre- and post-game shows).

Joining Sunday's Packers-Broncos game among the week's Top 20 primetime telecasts on the Big 4 were Monday's "Voice" (tied for #9), Tuesday's "Voice" (#11), Monday's "Blindspot" (tied for #14) and Tuesday's "Chicago Fire" (tied for #18).

According to "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research, NBC averaged a 2.3 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49 and 8.2 million viewers overall for the week.

NBC ranked #2 among the Big 4 networks behind only FOX (which ran 80% sports coverage in primetime last week) in all key demographics - adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54. Versus the same week last year, NBC was up +10% in adults 18-49 (with a 2.3 rating vs. a 2.1), up +8% in total viewers (8.2 million vs. 7.6 million) and also up in viewership versus the year-ago week in every other key measure.

NBC has won five of six weeks so far during the 2015-16 primetime Nielsen season in the key 18-49 demo and has been #1 or tied for #1 during 16 of the last 17 weeks (L+SD).

Through the opening six weeks of the 2015-16 season, NBC ranks #1 among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 and every other key demo (including a tie for #1 in women 18-34) and is #2 in total viewers.

NBC is running within a tenth of a rating point of its year-ago season average in adults 18-49 (2.8 vs. 2.9, "most current") and within 1% in total viewers (9.6 million vs. 9.7 million). NBC is up versus last season in men 18-49 (2.8 vs. 2.7) and men 25-54 (3.4 vs. 3.3).

Primetime averages for the week of Oct. 26-Nov. 1 in adults 18-49 are: Fox, 3.6/12; NBC, 2.3/7; CBS, 2.0/6; ABC, 1.5/5; and CW, 0.6/2. In overall total viewers, the weekly averages were: Fox, 13.0 million; CBS, 9.7 million; NBC, 8.2 million; ABC, 6.0 million; and CW, 1.5 million.

"Most current" averages for the season to date are: NBC, 2.8/9; CBS, 2.5/8; Fox, 2.3/8; ABC, 2.1/7; and CW, 0.7/2. In overall total viewers, the season averages are: CBS, 11.8 million; NBC, 9.6 million; ABC, 7.8 million; Fox, 7.1 million; and CW, 1.7 million.

NBC highlights for the week of Oct. 26-Nov. 1:

Monday

NBC finished #1 for Monday night among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49, as well as adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and all key adult-female demos. It's the 13thMonday in a row that NBC has ranked #1 or tied for #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in 18-49.

"The Voice" (3.1/9 in 18-49, 11.9 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) grew week to week by +3% in 18-49 (3.1 vs. 3.0) and +4% in total viewers (11.9 million vs. 11.4 million) and tied for the slot win among the Big 4 in adults 25-54 and adults 18-34.

"Live Plus Three Day" Ratings: "The Voice" increased by +22% in 18-49 rating going from "live plus same day" to "live plus three day" Nielsens (from a 3.11 rating to a 3.79) and by 2.0 viewers overall (from 11.9 million to 13.9 million).

"Live Plus Seven Day" Ratings: So far this season, Monday's "Voice" has grown in L+7 vs. L+SD by +26% in 18-49 rating (from a 3.36 to a 4.23) and 2.5 million viewers overall (12.1 million to 14.6 million).

Upscale: Monday's "Voice" is delivering a solidly upscale audience, indexing at a 114 among adults 18-49 living in homes with $100K+ incomes ("most current," including L+3, 100 represents an average concentration of those homes). This week's telecast was the night's most upscale show on the Big 4 (116 index, L+SD).

"Blindspot" (2.1/7 in 18-49, 7.9 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) retained 100% of the prior week's 18-49 rating and was up in total viewers (+1%, 7.9 million vs. 7.8 million), adults 25-54 and men 25-54. In the time period, "Blindspot" ranked #1 among the ABC-CBS-NBC dramas in adults, men and women 18-49; adults and women 18-34; and adults, men and women 25-54, and was up +31% versus NBC's average in the slot last season in adults 18-49 (2.1 vs. 1.6). In its six weeks, "Blindspot" has delivered NBC's six highest adult 18-49 ratings in the slot, excluding sports, in the last 11 months (since Nov. 17, 2014, 2.2 with "The Blacklist"). Upscale: "Blindspot" is generating a strong upscale audience, indexing at a 125 among adults 18-49 living in home with $100K+ incomes.

L+3: "Blindspot" grew by +62% in 18-49 rating going from L+SD to L+3 ratings (2.15 to 3.49) and by 4.1 million viewers overall (7.9 million to 12.0 million). The total-viewer increase of 4.116 million was the biggest lift of the night, ahead of "Big Bang Theory" (+3.968 million) and "Supergirl" (+3.169 million). The prior week's "Blindspot" L+3 increase (4.402 million), was broadcast television's biggest lift of the week in L+3 total viewers. L+7: "Blindspot" has increased by +71% this season in 18-49 rating (from a 2.65 to a 4.54) and more than 5.7 million viewers overall (9.3 million to 15.1 million) going from L+SD to L+7.

Tuesday

"Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris" (1.1/3 in 18-49, 4.2 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) retained 92% of the prior week's rating in adults 18-49, (1.1 vs. 1.2) and grew +13% in women 18-34 (0.9 vs. 0.8). L+3: "Best Time" increased by +11% in 18-49 (1.06 to 1.18) and 285,000 viewers (4.2 million to 4.5 million) going from L+SD to L+3. L+7: "Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris" has grown +21% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.65 to a 2.00) and 861,000 viewers overall (5.5 million to 6.3 million) this season going from L+SD to L+7. Upscale: "Best Time Ever" is delivering a strong upscale audience, indexing at a 119 among adults 18-49 living in homes with $100K+ incomes.

"The Voice" (2.6/8 in 18-49, 10.2 million viewers overall from 9-10 p.m. ET) ranked as the #1 entertainment telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 and most other key demos, and grew versus the prior week by +7% in adults 18-34 (1.6 vs. 1.5) and +10% women 18-34 (2.2 vs. 2.0). "Voice" won the 9 p.m. hour among entertainment programs on ABC, CBS and NBC by a +63% margin in 18-49 (2.6 vs. 1.6 for CBS's "NCIS: New Orleans"). L+3: Tuesday's "Voice" grew by +27% in 18-49 (2.59 to 3.30) and more than 2.0 million viewers (10.2 million to 12.3 million) going from L+SD to L+3. L+7: Tuesday's "Voice" has increased this season by +26% in 18-49 rating (from a 3.40 to a 4.27) and 2.5 million viewers overall (12.4 million to 14.9 million) going from L+SD to L+7. Upscale: Tuesday's "Voice" is delivering a solidly upscale audience, indexing at a 116 among adults 18-49 living in homes with $100K+ incomes.

"Chicago Fire" (1.9/6 in 18-49, 7.8 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) hit season highs, growing +19% week to week in 18-49 (1.9 vs. 1.6) and +2% in total viewers (7.8 million vs. 7.6 million) to capture its top results since April 7 in both measures. Excluding Fox's World Series, "Chicago Fire" won the slot among the ABC, CBS and NBC dramas in adults 18-49, to secure its 11thconsecutive time-period win versus the slot's ABC and CBS competition when in original, dating back to last March. L+3: "Chicago Fire" grew by +50% in 18-49 (1.92 to 2.88) and 3.1 million viewers (7.8 million to 10.9 million) going from L+SD to L+3. In L+3, the 2.88 is "Chicago Fire's" highest 18-49 rating since March 10, allowing it to move past L+SD leader "NCIS" as the #1 drama of the night in 18-49. L+7: "Chicago Fire" has grown by +61% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.79 to a 2.88) and 3.4 million viewers overall (7.4 million to 10.8 million) going from L+SD to L+7.

Wednesday

"The Mysteries of Laura" (1.0/3 in 18-49, 6.3 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) finished within 0.1 of its week-earlier rating in 18-49 (1.0 vs. 1.1) and equaled its prior-week rating in adults 18-34 and all key adult-female demos. L+3: "Laura" increased by +28% in 18-49 rating going from L+SD to L+3 Nielsens (1.03 to 1.32) and by 1.4 million viewers overall (from 6.4 million to 7.8 million). L+7: "The Mysteries of Laura" has increased this season by +41% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.13 to a 1.59) and 1.8 million viewers overall (7.1 million to 8.9 million) going from L+SD to L+7. Upscale: "Laura" is delivering a solidly upscale audience, indexing at a 114 among adults 18-49 living in homes with $100K+ incomes.

"Chicago P.D." (1.5/4 in 18-49, 6.1 million viewers overall from 9-11 p.m. ET) tied for #1, excluding sports, among the Big 4 from 9-11 p.m. in adults 18-49. "Chicago P.D." grew week to week by +7% in adults 18-49 (1.5 vs. 1.4) and equaled its highest 18-49 rating since the show's season premiere on Sept. 30 (1.7). "Chicago P.D." has now finished #1 or tied for #1 in 18-49 versus the 10-11 p.m. ET ABC and CBS drama competition with its last 21 regular-slot originals, dating back to November 2014. L+3: "Chicago P.D." grew by +51% in 18-49 rating going from L+SD to L+3 Nielsens (1.48 to 2.23) and by 2.6 million viewers overall (from 6.1 million to 8.7 million). L+7: "Law & Order: SVU" has grown by +68% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.66 to a 2.79) and 2.9 million viewers overall (7.3 million to 10.2 million) going from L+SD to L+7.

Thursday

"Heroes Reborn" (1.0/4 in 18-49, 3.9 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) retained 91% of the previous week's adult 18-49 rating (1.0 vs. 1.1), retained 100% in adults 25-54 (1.4 vs. 1.4), women 18-34 (0.5 vs. 0.5) and women 18-49 (1.0 vs. 1.0) and grew week to week by 8% in women 25-54 (1.4 vs. 1.3) and +4% in total viewers (3.9 million vs. 3.8 million). These numbers will increase dramatically with time-shifting and viewing on alternate platforms -- the prior week's "Heroes Reborn" added more than 900,000 full-episode views (P2+) in seven days on NBC.com and Hulu (924,281). Among adults 18-49, last week's episode grew by +101% (to a 2.3 rating) via 3 days of time-shifting and 7-day alternate-platform viewership (1.12 rating to a projected 2.25 rating in TAMi estimates). L+3: The prior week's "Heroes Reborn" grew by +70% in 18-49 rating going from L+SD to L+3 Nielsens (1.12 to 1.90) and by 1.7 million viewers overall (from 3.8 million to 5.5 million). L+7: "Chicago P.D." has grown by +64% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.56 to a 2.56) and more than 3.1 million viewers overall (6.6 million to 9.7 million) going from L+SD to L+7. L+7: "Heroes Reborn" has increased this season by +77% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.57 to a 2.78) and 2.6 million viewers overall (5.1 million to 7.7 million) going from L+SD to L+7.

"The Blacklist" (1.5/5 in 18-49, 7.0 million viewers overall from 9-10 p.m. ET) grew +7% week to week in 18-49 (1.5 vs. 1.4) and +5% I total viewers (7.0 million vs. 6.7 million) to equal the show's 18-49 high since its Oct. 1 season premiere (1.8) and deliver its most-watched episode since that same date (7.8 million). "Blacklist" ranked as the #1 scripted show of the night in men 18-49 (1.4) and men 25-54 (1.9). These numbers will increase dramatically with time-shifting and viewing on alternate platforms: in adults 18-49, the prior week's episode grew by +89% (to a 2.7 rating) via 3 days of time-shifting and 7-day alternate-platform viewership (1.43 rating to a projected 2.70 rating in TAMi estimates). L+3: The previous week's "Blacklist" grew by +80% in 18-49 rating going from L+SD to L+3 Nielsens (1.43 to 2.57) and by 4.1 million viewers overall (from 6.7 million to 10.8 million). L+7: "The Blacklist" is increasing by +102% this season in 18-49 rating (from a 1.57 to a 3.17) and more than 5.1 million viewers overall (7.2 million to 12.4 million) going from L+SD to L+7. Upscale: "Blacklist" is the season's most upscale drama on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox, and is the #2 primetime series overall on those nets, indexing at a 155 among adults 18-49 living in homes with $100K+ incomes ("most current" including L+3).

"The Player" (0.7/2 in 18-49, 3.9 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) retained 88% of the previous week's rating in adults 18-49 (0.7 vs. 0.8) and grew week to week in men 18-34 (0.4 vs. 0.3). These L+SD numbers will increase substantially with time-shifting and viewing on alternate platforms -- in adults 18-49, the previous week's episode grew by +66% (to a 1.3 rating) via 3 days of time-shifting and 7-day alternate-platform viewership (0.80 rating to a projected 1.33 rating in TAMi estimates). L+3: The prior week's "Player" increased by +54% in 18-49 rating going from L+SD to L+3 Nielsens (0.80 to 1.23) and by 1.6 million viewers overall (from 4.2 million to 5.8 million). L+7: "The Player" has grown by +67% in 18-49 rating (from a 0.93 to a 1.55) and more than 2.5 million viewers overall (4.5 million to 6.8 million) going from L+SD to L+7.

Friday

"Undateable" (0.7/3 in 18-49, 2.6 million viewers overall from 8-8:30 p.m. ET) maintained 100% week to week in adults 18-49, despite this week's WORLD SERIES competition (0.7 vs. 0.7) and was up +1% in total viewers (2.602 million vs. 2.577 million). L+3: The prior week's "Undateable" grew by +31% in 18-49 (0.68 to 0.89) going from L+SD to L+3 and by 442,000 viewers overall (2.6 million to 3.0 million). L+7: "Undateable" has increased by +33% this season in 18-49 rating (from a 0.82 to a 1.09) and 583,000 viewers overall (2.7 million to 3.3 million) going from L+SD to L+7. Upscale: The prior week's "Undateable" tied as the top scripted show of the night in education level on the Big 4, indexing at a 113 among adults 18-49 with four or more years of college (L+SD).

"Truth Be Told" (0.7/3 in 18-49, 2.2 million viewers overall from 8:30-9 p.m. ET) grew week to week by 0.1 of a point or +17% in 17-49 (0.7 vs. 0.6), to retain 100% of its lead-in from "Undateable" in adults 18-49, up from last week's 86% and 78% two weeks ago. L+3: The previous week's "Truth Be Told" increased by +26% in 18-49 (0.58 to 0.73) going from L+SD to L+3 and by 352,000 viewers overall (2.2 million to 2.6 million). L+7: "Truth Be Told" has grown by +31% this season in 18-49 rating (from a 0.74 to a 0.97) and 491,000 viewers overall (2.6 million to 3.1 million) going from L+SD to L+7.

The fifth season debut of "Grimm" (1.1/4 in 18-49, 4.0 million viewers overall from 9-10 p.m. ET), facing WORLD SERIES competition, maintained 100% of last May's season finale in adults 18-49 (1.1 vs. 1.1 on May 15) and grew versus the show's May sweep average by +10% (1.1 vs. 1.0). "Grimm" equaled the show's high since Feb. 6 in 18-49 (1.2) and built on this week's 18-49 lead-in by 57%. L+7: "Grimm" first-runs grew by +83% last season in 18-49 rating (from a 1.15 to a 2.10) and 2.6 million viewers overall (4.8 million to 7.4 million) going from L+SD to L+7.

"Dateline NBC" (0.8/3 in 18-49, 3.3 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) held steady or grew half-hour to half-hour in every key measure, despite the 10 p.m. hour. L+3: The prior week's "Dateline" grew by +27% in 18-49 (0.95 to 1.21) going from L+SD to L+3 and by 770,000 viewers overall (4.6 million to 5.4 million). L+7: Friday's "Dateline NBC" has increased by +30% this season in 18-49 rating (from a 1.00 to a 1.30) and 1.0 million viewers overall (5.0 million to 6.0 million) going from L+SD to L+7.

Saturday

"Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (0.6/2 in 18-49, 3.9 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) grew from its first half-hour to its fourth by +40% in adults 18-49 (from a 0.5 rating to a 0.7), +43% in adults 25-54 (0.7 to 1.0) and +37% or 1.2 million persons in total viewers (3.2 million to 4.4 million).

An encore telecast of "SNL Halloween" (0.7/3 in 18-49, 3.1 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) retained 100% of the prior week's "Saturday Night Live" rating in this time period and grew +6% in total viewers (3.1 million vs. 2.9 million), making this the most-watched "SNL" encore in the 10 p.m. hour since Oct. 3 (3.5 million).

Sunday

NBC Sports coverage of Green Bay Packers-Denver Broncos "Sunday Night Football" (8.2/22 in 18-49, 23.0 million viewers overall from 8:31-11:18 p.m. ET) led NBC to nightlong wins in every key demographic, taking the night by a +17% margin in adults 18-49 (6.9 vs. 5.9 for #2 Fox, which was boosted by both the deciding game of the WORLD SERIES and an NFL overrun featuring the Seattle Seahawks and the Dallas Cowboys). The 23.0 million viewers made it the most-watched primetime telecast on the Big 4 networks in the past four weeks, since the Oct. 4 "SNF" Cowboys-Saints game averaged 24.2 million. It's the most-watched "Sunday Nigh Football" game to face WORLD SERIES competition to date, over the six years "SNF" has aired against the World Series, and it's also the top overall viewership for an NFL primetime game in the league's eighth week in 22 years (since Vikings-Bears on ABC's MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL in 1993, 23.3 million).

Through the opening eight weeks of the NFL season (nine telecasts), NBC's "Sunday Night Football" is averaging 23.6 million viewers - the best viewership for the NFL's broadcast primetime package at this point in the season in 19 years (23.9 million for ABC in 1996), and up +8% from last year at this time (21.8 million viewers). "SNF" is averaging an 8.7 rating in the adult 18-49 demographic, +6% versus last season at this point (8.32).

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