For NBC, one big
night and new hopes
Super Bowl and 'Voice' season debut bump it ahead of ABC
By Toni Fitzgerald
Feb 8, 2012
With the most-watched TV program in history and a postgame show that performed better than anyone predicted, NBC surged into sole possession third place for the season this week.
The Super Bowl was obviously responsible for the big ratings, but the network hopes that it's a starting point for a much-improved spring on the strength of the hit reality show "The Voice."
Season to date through Sunday, NBC is averaging a 2.7 adults 18-49 rating and 7 share, according to Nielsen, up from a 2.5/7 the previous week. That's 13 percent ahead of fourth-place ABC, whose season average dipped a tenth of a point to settle at 2.4/7.
Both networks are still well behind the season leaders. Fox is in first with a 3.3/9 and CBS is second with a 3.1/8.
NBC lagged behind the other networks last fall, when its ratings were off 7 percent from last year. The Super Bowl gave it a tremendous boost.
The game averaged a 40.5 rating, as well as a record 111.3 million total viewers. That lifted NBC to a 7.7/20 for the week, its best showing since the last time it carried the Super Bowl three years ago.
What's more promising in the long term for NBC is its Monday night lineup, which got a big boost from the Super Bowl as well.
The season two premiere of "Voice" aired in the hour after the game, averaging a 16.3 rating, the best for any non-sports show in six years.
That momentum carried into Monday night, when "Voice" regularly airs, as the show averaged a 6.6 rating, NBC's best non-sports, non-special rating since a September 2007 episode of "Heroes."
That in turn lifted the much-hyped premiere of "Smash" to a 3.8 at 10 p.m., NBC's best drama premiere in four years.
The strong combination of shows gave NBC its highest-rated Monday night with regularly scheduled programming in eight years.
That's promising for a network that hasn't competed for the nightly lead on any night except Sunday, when it airs "Sunday Night Football," this season.
If "Voice" and "Smash" can keep up the strong numbers, that could be the start of a turnaround for long-lagging NBC, which hasn't finished above third place in eight seasons.
***
In broadcast ratings for the week ended Feb. 5:
Among adults 18-49, NBC was first for the week with a 7.7 average rating and a 20 share, followed by Fox at 2.4/6, CBS at 1.8/5, ABC at 1.5/4 Univision at 1.4/4, CW at 0.7/2, Telemundo at 0.5/1, ION and TeleFutura at 0.3/1 and Azteca and Estrella at 0.1/0.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (18-49s): 1. NBC's "Super Bowl XLVI" 40.5; 2. NBC's "Super Bowl Post" 30.1; 3. NBC's "The Voice" 16.3; 4. Fox's American Idol-Wednesday" 6.0; Tie-5. Fox's "American Idol-Thursday" and CBS's "The Big Bang Theory" 5.5.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (total viewers): 1. NBC's "Super Bowl XLVI" 111.34 million; 2. NBC's "Super Bowl Post" 76.80 million; 3. NBC's "The Voice" 37.61 million; 4. Fox's American Idol-Wednesday" 18.48 million; 5. Fox's "American Idol-Thursday" 17.41 million.
Top five time-shifted English-language Big Five shows (18-49s, by Live+SD versus Live+7 playback, week ended Jan. 8): 1. ABC's "Modern Family" 2.7 increase (up 52.9 percent); 2. ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" 1.7 increase (up 48.6 percent); 3. CBS's "The Big Bang Theory" 1.6 increase (up 30.2 percent); 4. Fox's "New Girl" 1.5 increase (up 44.1 percent); 5. NBC's "The Office" 1.4 increase (up 46.7 percent).
Show on the rise: NBC's "Super Bowl XLVI," Sunday 7 p.m. Easy pick--with 111.34 million total viewers the game is the most-watched program in U.S. TV history.
Show on the decline: Fox's "The Finder," Thursday 9 p.m. The drama slipped 14 percent week-to-week among 18-49s from a 2.8 rating to a 2.4.
|
WEEKLY PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Feb. 5 |
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
NBC |
9.9 |
11390 |
16 |
7.4 |
21420 |
18 |
7.7 |
9820 |
20 |
|
CBS |
5.3 |
6130 |
9 |
2.9 |
8370 |
7 |
1.8 |
2240 |
5 |
|
FOX |
4.0 |
4630 |
6 |
2.3 |
6790 |
5 |
2.4 |
3060 |
6 |
|
ABC |
3.3 |
3760 |
5 |
1.8 |
5080 |
4 |
1.5 |
1960 |
4 |
|
UNI |
1.8 |
2040 |
3 |
1.2 |
3470 |
3 |
1.4 |
1800 |
4 |
|
CW |
1.0 |
1190 |
2 |
0.5 |
1560 |
1 |
0.7 |
860 |
2 |
|
ION |
0.7 |
830 |
1 |
0.4 |
1070 |
1 |
0.3 |
380 |
1 |
|
TEL |
0.6 |
720 |
1 |
0.4 |
1110 |
1 |
0.5 |
600 |
1 |
|
TF |
0.3 |
370 |
1 |
0.2 |
660 |
1 |
0.3 |
400 |
1 |
|
ETV |
0.1 |
120 |
0 |
0.1 |
210 |
0 |
0.1 |
110 |
0 |
|
AZA |
0.1 |
110 |
0 |
0.1 |
170 |
0 |
0.1 |
80 |
0 |
|
*
Each rating point is equivalent to 1 percent or
1. 147
million homes
Note: Viewing estimates include same day (3 a.m.-3 a.m.) DVR playback.
Source: Nielsen
|
|
SEASON-TO-DATE PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Feb. 5 |
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
CBS |
7.5 |
8580 |
12 |
4.1 |
12000 |
10 |
3.1 |
3960 |
8 |
|
FOX |
5.4 |
6140 |
9 |
3.1 |
9050 |
8 |
3.3 |
4180 |
9 |
|
ABC |
5.3 |
6110 |
9 |
2.9 |
8340 |
7 |
2.4 |
3120 |
7 |
|
NBC |
4.9 |
5610 |
8 |
2.8 |
8110 |
7 |
2.7 |
3510 |
7 |
|
UNI |
1.8 |
2100 |
3 |
1.2 |
3560 |
3 |
1.5 |
1880 |
4 |
|
CW |
1.2 |
1370 |
2 |
0.6 |
1780 |
2 |
0.8 |
990 |
2 |
|
ION |
0.7 |
810 |
1 |
0.4 |
1050 |
1 |
0.3 |
400 |
1 |
|
TEL |
0.7 |
780 |
1 |
0.4 |
1250 |
1 |
0.5 |
680 |
1 |
|
TF |
0.3 |
340 |
0 |
0.2 |
550 |
0 |
0.3 |
320 |
1 |
|
ETV |
0.1 |
140 |
0 |
0.1 |
230 |
0 |
0.1 |
120 |
0 |
|
AZA |
0.1 |
130 |
0 |
0.1 |
200 |
0 |
0.1 |
100 |
0 |
|
*
Each rating point is equivalent to one percent or
1. 147
million homes
Note: Season-to-date estimates are a weighted average and Live+7 data, except for the most recent two weeks which are based Live+SD viewing.
Source: Nielsen |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Feb. 5 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
SUPER BOWL XLVI(S) |
NBC |
47.0 |
71 |
53910 |
1 |
38.4 |
111346 |
|
2 |
SUPER BOWL POST(S) |
NBC |
33.7 |
51 |
38645 |
2 |
26.5 |
76803 |
|
3 |
VOICE |
NBC |
18.4 |
31 |
21156 |
3 |
13.0 |
37611 |
|
4 |
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY |
FOX |
10.6 |
17 |
12196 |
4 |
6.4 |
18478 |
|
5 |
AMERICAN IDOL-THURSDAY |
FOX |
10.2 |
16 |
11675 |
5 |
6.0 |
17411 |
|
6 |
BIG BANG THEORY, THE |
CBS |
9.8 |
16 |
11188 |
6 |
5.7 |
16536 |
|
7 |
PERSON OF INTEREST |
CBS |
9.2 |
14 |
10524 |
7 |
5.2 |
15098 |
|
8 |
MENTALIST, THE |
CBS |
8.6 |
14 |
9854 |
8 |
4.8 |
13777 |
|
9 |
NCIS |
CBS |
8.3 |
13 |
9559 |
9 |
4.5 |
13038 |
|
10 |
BLUE BLOODS |
CBS |
7.2 |
13 |
8308 |
10 |
3.9 |
11437 |
|
10 |
NCIS: LOS ANGELES |
CBS |
7.2 |
11 |
8282 |
11 |
3.8 |
11130 |
|
12 |
CSI: NY |
CBS |
6.6 |
11 |
7580 |
13 |
3.5 |
10246 |
|
12 |
ROB |
CBS |
6.6 |
10 |
7563 |
11 |
3.8 |
11060 |
|
14 |
GREY'S ANATOMY |
ABC |
6.4 |
10 |
7316 |
15 |
3.4 |
9710 |
|
14 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN |
CBS |
6.4 |
9 |
7319 |
13 |
3.5 |
10135 |
|
16 |
BACHELOR, THE |
ABC |
5.6 |
8 |
6370 |
22 |
2.8 |
8172 |
|
17 |
GIFTED MAN, A |
CBS |
5.5 |
10 |
6314 |
19 |
2.9 |
8413 |
|
18 |
GLEE |
FOX |
5.4 |
9 |
6235 |
16 |
3.1 |
9067 |
|
18 |
MIKE & MOLLY |
CBS |
5.4 |
8 |
6218 |
19 |
2.9 |
8448 |
|
20 |
SUPER BOWL GREAT COMMRCLS(S) |
CBS |
5.3 |
8 |
6039 |
17 |
3.0 |
8577 |
|
21 |
CRIMINAL MINDS |
CBS |
5.2 |
8 |
5990 |
22 |
2.8 |
8176 |
|
21 |
HOUSE |
FOX |
5.2 |
8 |
5947 |
17 |
3.0 |
8731 |
|
21 |
UNFORGETTABLE |
CBS |
5.2 |
9 |
6021 |
24 |
2.7 |
7853 |
|
24 |
ALCATRAZ |
FOX |
5.0 |
7 |
5733 |
19 |
2.9 |
8437 |
|
25 |
2 BROKE GIRLS |
CBS |
4.9 |
7 |
5587 |
24 |
2.7 |
7823 |
|
0Source: Nielsen |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending Feb. 5 |
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
SUPER BOWL XLVI(S) |
NBC |
40.5 |
51838 |
|
2 |
SUPER BOWL POST(S) |
NBC |
30.1 |
38432 |
|
3 |
VOICE |
NBC |
16.3 |
20854 |
|
4 |
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY |
FOX |
6.0 |
7652 |
|
5 |
AMERICAN IDOL-THURSDAY |
FOX |
5.5 |
7038 |
|
5 |
BIG BANG THEORY, THE |
CBS |
5.5 |
7043 |
|
7 |
GLEE |
FOX |
3.7 |
4679 |
|
8 |
GREY'S ANATOMY |
ABC |
3.6 |
4541 |
|
9 |
NEW GIRL |
FOX |
3.5 |
4475 |
|
10 |
PERSON OF INTEREST |
CBS |
3.3 |
4278 |
|
10 |
ROB |
CBS |
3.3 |
4233 |
|
12 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN |
CBS |
3.0 |
3822 |
|
13 |
HOUSE |
FOX |
2.9 |
3690 |
|
13 |
MENTALIST, THE |
CBS |
2.9 |
3647 |
|
15 |
ALCATRAZ |
FOX |
2.8 |
3548 |
|
15 |
MOBBED |
FOX |
2.8 |
3630 |
|
15 |
OFFICE |
NBC |
2.8 |
3538 |
|
18 |
2 BROKE GIRLS |
CBS |
2.7 |
3436 |
|
18 |
MODERN FAMILY |
ABC |
2.7 |
3410 |
|
20 |
BACHELOR, THE |
ABC |
2.6 |
3346 |
|
21 |
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER |
CBS |
2.5 |
3143 |
|
22 |
FINDER |
FOX |
2.4 |
3068 |
|
23 |
MIKE & MOLLY |
CBS |
2.3 |
2879 |
|
23 |
PRIVATE PRACTICE |
ABC |
2.3 |
2890 |
|
25 |
QUE NO PODIA AMAR TUE |
UNI |
2.2 |
2756 |
|
Source: Nielsen |
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Jan. 29 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+ (000) |
|
1 |
QUE NO PODIA AMAR |
UNI |
17.6 |
4396 |
|
2 |
FAMILIA CON SUERTE |
UNI |
15.3 |
3941 |
|
3 |
MEXICO VS. VENEZUELA 1/25(S)-01/25/2012 |
UNI |
13.2 |
3455 |
|
4 |
ROSA DE GUADALUPE FRI |
UNI |
13.0 |
3272 |
|
5 |
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA MO |
UNI |
12.7 |
2821 |
|
6 |
SABADO GIGANTE SAT |
UNI |
12.2 |
2726 |
|
7 |
PARODIANDO SUN |
UNI |
11.7 |
2836 |
|
8 |
SAL Y PIMIENTA SUN |
UNI |
10.9 |
2473 |
|
9 |
Q'VIVA: THE CHOSEN SAT |
UNI |
10.0 |
2131 |
|
10 |
CASA DE AL LADO M |
TEL |
8.9 |
2063 |
|
11 |
DALE CON GANAS 1/26(S)-01/26/2012 |
UNI |
8.6 |
1944 |
|
12 |
C. CERRADO-ED. ESTELAR M-F |
TEL |
7.9 |
1686 |
|
13 |
MAID EN MANHATTAN M-F |
TEL |
7.3 |
1662 |
|
14 |
VIDA MEJOR CANTANDO SUN |
UNI |
6.7 |
1648 |
|
15 |
FLOR SALVAJE M-F |
TEL |
6.0 |
1354 |
|
16 |
PA'LANTE CON CRISTINA |
TEL |
5.9 |
1379 |
|
17 |
RELACIONES PELIGROSAS T-F |
TEL |
5.4 |
1231 |
|
18 |
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SUN |
TF |
4.0 |
980 |
|
19 |
CINE MILLONARIO |
TEL |
3.6 |
849 |
|
20 |
CINE DE IMPACTO |
TEL |
3.3 |
979 |
|
21 |
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SUN 2 |
TF |
3.1 |
739 |
|
22 |
LIGA MEX DE FUTBOL SAT-03 |
TF |
3.0 |
726 |
|
23 |
CAPO, EL M-F |
TF |
2.4 |
561 |
|
24 |
CINE DE LAS ESTRELLAS M-F |
TF |
2.2 |
534 |
|
25 |
LIGA MEX DE FUTBOL SAT-02 |
TF |
2.0 |
452 |
|
Source: Nielsen |
|
HISPANIC ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VIEWING
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Jan. 29 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1 |
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY |
FOX |
6.6 |
1424 |
|
2 |
AMERICAN IDOL-THURSDAY |
FOX |
5.6 |
1233 |
|
3 |
BIG BANG THEORY, THE |
CBS |
4.5 |
945 |
|
3 |
TOUCH PREVIEW 1/25 9P(S)-01/25/2012 |
FOX |
4.5 |
964 |
|
5 |
ROB |
CBS |
4.2 |
915 |
|
6 |
NBC AFC-NFC PRO BOWL(S)-01/29/2012 |
NBC |
4.1 |
857 |
|
7 |
UNDERCOVER BOSS |
CBS |
3.7 |
811 |
|
8 |
FAMILY GUY |
FOX |
3.6 |
803 |
|
9 |
AMERICAN IDOL ENC-1/24 8P(S)-01/24/2012 |
FOX |
3.5 |
707 |
|
9 |
ONCE UPON A TIME |
ABC |
3.5 |
767 |
|
Source: Nielsen |
|
AFRICAN AMERICAN AUDIENCE ESTIMATES
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Jan. 29 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1 |
NBC AFC-NFC PRO BOWL |
NBC |
10.2 |
2037 |
|
2 |
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY |
FOX |
10.1 |
2157 |
|
3 |
AMERICAN IDOL-THURSDAY |
FOX |
9.7 |
1927 |
|
4 |
CRIMINAL MINDS |
CBS |
9.4 |
1845 |
|
5 |
CSI |
CBS |
9.0 |
1763 |
|
6 |
CSI: MIAMI |
CBS |
8.2 |
1546 |
|
7 |
NBC AFC-NFC PRO BOWL-PRE |
NBC |
7.5 |
1530 |
|
8 |
TOUCH PREVIEW 1/25 9P |
FOX |
7.2 |
1433 |
|
9 |
AMERICAN IDOL ENC-1/24 8P |
FOX |
7.0 |
1465 |
|
10 |
NCIS |
CBS |
6.6 |
1322 |
|
* Ratings based on 13.65 million African American TV homes.
Source: Nielsen |
|
TOP 20 NETWORK SPORTS PROGRAMS
Ranked on Viewers
Week Ending Jan. 29 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Episode |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
|
US
Rtg% |
(000) |
(000) |
|
1 |
NBC AFC-NFC PRO BOWL-01/29/2012 |
NBC |
|
7.3 |
8374 |
12498 |
|
2 |
NBA SUNDAY SHOWCASE 2-01/29/2012 |
ABC |
CHICAGO AT MIAMI |
3.5 |
4013 |
5699 |
|
3 |
UFC ON FOX-01/28/2012 |
FOX |
EVANS VS DAVIS |
2.6 |
2999 |
4661 |
|
4 |
US FIG SKATING CHMP-PRIME-01/28/2012 |
NBC |
LADIES FREE SKATE |
2.4 |
2777 |
3711 |
|
5 |
FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN-SU-01/29/2012 |
CBS |
|
1.8 |
2033 |
2624 |
|
6 |
US FIGURE SKATING CHMP-01/29/2012 |
NBC |
|
1.8 |
2104 |
2782 |
|
7 |
MEXICO VS. VENEZUELA 1/25-01/25/2012 |
UNI |
|
1.7 |
1910 |
3539 |
|
8 |
NCAA BASKETBALL-SUN-1-01/29/2012 |
CBS |
MICHIGAN AT OHIO STATE |
1.5 |
1718 |
2279 |
|
9 |
US FIGURE SKATING CHAMP-01/28/2012 |
NBC |
LADIES SHORT&FREE SKATE |
1.2 |
1426 |
1774 |
|
10 |
FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN-SA-01/28/2012 |
CBS |
|
1 |
1124 |
1374 |
|
11 |
2012 WINTER X GAMES ASPEN-01/28/2012 |
ABC |
|
0.9 |
1033 |
1457 |
|
12 |
NBC SPORTS SPECIAL 1/29-01/29/2012 |
NBC |
PRO BULL RIDING |
0.9 |
980 |
1338 |
|
13 |
NCAA BASKETBALL-SAT-1-01/28/2012 |
CBS |
TEXAS AT BAYLOR |
0.7 |
754 |
940 |
|
14 |
CBS SPORTS SPECTACULAR-SU-01/29/2012 |
CBS |
AMA SUPERCROSS - OAKLAND |
0.7 |
822 |
996 |
|
15 |
LIGA MEXICANA FUTBOL SUN-01/29/2012 |
UNI |
UNAM VS GUADALAJARA |
0.5 |
623 |
1028 |
|
16 |
NBC USSA FREESTYLE CP1/28-01/28/2012 |
NBC |
|
0.4 |
480 |
592 |
|
17 |
LIGA MEX DE FUTBOL SAT-03-01/28/2012 |
TF |
SAN LUIS VS. AMERICA |
0.4 |
449 |
755 |
|
18 |
LIGA MEX DE FUTBOL SAT-02-01/28/2012 |
TF |
PACHUCA VS. QUERETARO |
0.3 |
295 |
479 |
|
19 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
20 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Source: Nielsen |
|
|
|
