Summer Olympics Coverage Keeps NBC Untouchable in Ratings

NBC (29.22 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 9.3, #1) was untouchable once again on Sunday with its mix of "Michael Phelps: America's Golden Champion" (20.47 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.9, #2) and its "2012 Summer Olympics" (32.14 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 10.5, #1) coverage.

Here are the other highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (2.71 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #2) then claimed a distant silver with its all-repeat lineup of "American Dad" (1.56 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T13), "The Cleveland Show" (1.73 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T10), "The Simpsons" (2.93 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.3, #7), another "The Simpsons" (3.31 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T5), "Family Guy" (3.34 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T5) and another "Family Guy" (3.39 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4)

Next up was CBS (4.63 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3) and its combination of "60 Minutes" (6.53 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #8), "Big Brother 14" (5.85 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.1, #3), "Hawaii Five-0" (2.88 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.5, #15) and "The Mentalist" (3.28 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T13).

And finally, a repeat of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (3.88 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #9) and new episodes of "Secret Millionaire" (3.82 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T10) and "Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition" (2.50 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.7, #12) on ABC (3.18 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) closed out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+25.00% - 60 Minutes
+16.67% - Big Brother 14
-46.67% - Secret Millionaire (vs. 7/15/12)
-50.00% - Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition (vs. 7/15/12)
Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
-16.67% - 60 Minutes (vs. 60 Minutes (Repeat))
-20.00% - Secret Millionaire (vs. Ty's Great British Adventure 2011)
-22.22% - Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition (vs. Take the Money and Run (Repeat)/Body of Proof (Repeat))
-25.00% - Big Brother 14
Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (8/7/11):

CBS (6.63 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1) snagged the top spot on Sunday with its mix of "60 Minutes" (8.70 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T4), "Big Brother 13" (7.76 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #1), "Same Name" (5.05 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #2) and "CSI: Miami" (5.01 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T4).

ABC (3.97 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T2) then claimed the silver with its combination of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (5.30 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3), "Ty's Great British Adventure 2011" (3.83 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T8), "Take the Money and Run" (3.11 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T10) and "Body of Proof" (3.64 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T10).

Next up was FOX (2.79 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T2) with repeats of "American Dad" (1.71 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T13) and "Family Guy" (2.36 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T6) followed by the "2011 Teen Choice Awards" (3.17 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T6).

And finally, NBC (2.93 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) closed out the evening with "Dateline NBC" (3.18 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #15), a repeat of "It's Worth What?" (2.72 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T13), a new "The Marriage Ref" (3.12 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T10) and a second new "The Marriage Ref" (2.71 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T8).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Same Name (14.3%), The Marriage Ref (11.1%), Big Brother 13 (0.0%).

Source: Nielsen Media Research

Photo by: Paul Drinkwater/NBC

 

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