medialifemagazine.com
For NBC, one big end-of-summer kick
By Toni Fitzgerald
Sep 16, 2009 - 1:15:41 AM
Its fortunes could change in a matter of weeks, but perennial fourth-place network NBC is at least enjoying a great end to the summer.
The network had a huge start to the NFL season that, coupled with Monday’s strong premiere of “The Jay Leno Show,” should ensure back-to-back first-place finishes in the final two weeks before the regular season starts.
Whether it can sustain that momentum over the coming weeks, as the other networks roll out their new programs, remains to be seen, but it at least confirms the long-struggling network was smart to roll out some of its fall schedule early.
NBC won the week ended Aug. 13 by a wide margin, finishing 70 percent ahead of second-place Fox with a 3.4 rating and 10 share to the latter’s 2.0/6, according to Nielsen.
NBC aired five of the week’s top six shows among adults 18-49, all of them football related.
Thursday’s NFL kickoff, an overtime game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans, and the first “Sunday Night Football” game, between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, tied for first for the week with an 8.6 rating apiece, marking the highest rating for any TV show since “American Idol’s” May finale.
Pregame shows both averaged a 5.7 or above, and even the usually comparatively low-rated “Football Night in America” managed a 4.7.
This week NBC should coast to another victory, with the season premiere of “The Biggest Loser” last night, the season finale of “America’s Got Talent” tonight, and five episodes of “Leno,” which became the summer’s biggest debut on Monday, averaging a 5.3 rating.
Even if those numbers sink by half by week’s end, it will still keep NBC well ahead of the competition, and it gives the network a much bigger platform to promote its slate of new scripted shows, which begin debuting tomorrow with “Community.”
That could increase sampling for the new shows, though ultimately their success or failure will rest on their quality.
***
In broadcast ratings for the week ended Sept. 13:
Among adults 18-49, NBC was first with a 3.4 average rating and a 10 share, followed by Fox at 2.4/7, CBS third at 1.5/4, Univision at 1.4/4, ABC at 1.3/4, CW at 0.9/3, Telemundo at 0.7/2, MyNetworkTV at 0.5/a, Telefutura at 0.4/1, Ion at 0.2/1 and Azteca at 0.1/0.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (18-49s): Tie-1. NBC’s “NFL Thursday Special” and “Sunday Night Football” 8.6; 3. NBC’s “Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick” 6.8; 4. NBC’s “NFL Thursday Pre-Kick” 5.7; 5. Fox’s “The OT” 4.9.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (total viewers): 1. NBC’s “Sunday night Football” 21.10 million; 2. NBC’s “NFL Thursday Special” 20.91 million; 3. NBC’s “Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick” 17.00 million; 4. NBC’s “NFL Thursday Pre-Kick” 15.53 million; 5. NBC’s “America’s Got Talent-Tuesday” 12.03 million.
Top five time-shifted English-language Big Five shows (18-49s, by Live+7 playback, week ended Aug. 23): 1. Fox’s “Hell’s Kitchen” 1.57 million (up 30 percent); 2. CBS’s “Big Brother-Tuesday” 1.29 million (up 31 percent); 3. . CBS’s “Big Brother-Thursday” 1.25 million (up 38 percent); 4. CBS’s “Big Brother-Sunday” 1.23 million (up 32 percent); 5. NBC’s “America’s Got Talent-Tuesday” 0.69 million (up 15 percent).
Show on the rise: “Sunday Night Football,” NBC, Sunday 8:30 p.m. This year’s season opener posted an 8.6 rating among viewers 18-49, up 16 percent from a 7.4 last year.
Show on the decline: “Primetime,” ABC, Wednesday 10 p.m. The newsmagazine averaged a 1.2 rating among 18-49s, off 43 percent from the previous week’s 2.1.
|
WEEKLY PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending September 13 |
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
NBC
|
6.6
|
7560
|
11
|
3.6
|
10540
|
10
|
3.4
|
4510
|
10
|
|
CBS
|
3.9
|
4520
|
7
|
2.1
|
6030
|
6
|
1.5
|
2000
|
4
|
|
FOX
|
3.7
|
4260
|
6
|
2.1
|
6120
|
6
|
2.4
|
3140
|
7
|
|
ABC
|
2.8
|
3230
|
5
|
1.5
|
4280
|
4
|
1.3
|
1680
|
4
|
|
UNI
|
1.8
|
2030
|
3
|
1.2
|
3430
|
3
|
1.4
|
1780
|
4
|
|
CW
|
1.4
|
1620
|
2
|
0.7
|
2100
|
2
|
0.9
|
1250
|
3
|
|
MNT
|
0.9
|
1020
|
2
|
0.5
|
1400
|
1
|
0.5
|
600
|
1
|
|
TEL
|
0.7
|
810
|
1
|
0.5
|
1510
|
1
|
0.7
|
950
|
2
|
|
ION
|
0.5
|
590
|
1
|
0.3
|
740
|
1
|
0.2
|
270
|
1
|
|
TF
|
0.5
|
530
|
1
|
0.3
|
890
|
1
|
0.4
|
550
|
1
|
|
AZA
|
0.1
|
110
|
0
|
0.1
|
160
|
0
|
0.1
|
100
|
0
|
|
*
Each rating point is equivalent to
1. 145
million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
SEASON-TO-DATE PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending September 13 |
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
CBS
|
6.1
|
6970
|
10
|
3.3
|
9630
|
9
|
2.4
|
3220
|
7
|
|
FOX
|
4.7
|
5380
|
8
|
2.7
|
7830
|
7
|
2.8
|
3760
|
8
|
|
ABC
|
4.6
|
5240
|
8
|
2.5
|
7170
|
7
|
2.3
|
2980
|
7
|
|
NBC
|
4.3
|
4870
|
7
|
2.3
|
6790
|
6
|
2.2
|
2950
|
6
|
|
UNI
|
1.9
|
2130
|
3
|
1.3
|
3680
|
3
|
1.5
|
1920
|
4
|
|
CW
|
1.1
|
1230
|
2
|
0.6
|
1610
|
1
|
0.7
|
890
|
2
|
|
MNT
|
1.0
|
1130
|
2
|
0.5
|
1570
|
1
|
0.5
|
680
|
2
|
|
TEL
|
0.6
|
670
|
1
|
0.4
|
1150
|
1
|
0.5
|
670
|
1
|
|
ION
|
0.4
|
490
|
1
|
0.2
|
630
|
1
|
0.2
|
210
|
0
|
|
TF
|
0.4
|
420
|
1
|
0.2
|
720
|
1
|
0.3
|
420
|
1
|
|
AZA
|
0.1
|
120
|
0
|
0.1
|
180
|
0
|
0.1
|
110
|
0
|
|
*
Each rating point is equivalent to
1. 145
million homes
Note: Season-to-date estimates are a weighted average of pre-TSV and Live+SD data.
Source: Nielsen Media Research
|
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Ranked on Households
Week Ending September 13 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
NBC NFL THURSDAY SPECIAL(S)
|
NBC
|
12.8
|
22
|
14678
|
1
|
7.2
|
20909
|
|
2
|
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
12.6
|
21
|
14489
|
1
|
7.2
|
21102
|
|
3
|
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK
|
NBC
|
10.0
|
17
|
11533
|
3
|
5.8
|
17002
|
|
4
|
NBC NFL THURSDAY PRE-KICK(S)
|
NBC
|
9.5
|
17
|
10903
|
4
|
5.3
|
15529
|
|
5
|
AMERICA
'S GOT TALENT-TUE
|
NBC
|
7.2
|
12
|
8315
|
5
|
4.1
|
12031
|
|
5
|
FOOTBALL NT
AMERICA PT 3
|
NBC
|
7.2
|
12
|
8309
|
5
|
4.1
|
11990
|
|
5
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
7.2
|
12
|
8285
|
8
|
3.8
|
11224
|
|
8
|
60 MINUTES
|
CBS
|
6.9
|
12
|
7908
|
9
|
3.6
|
10518
|
|
9
|
OT, THE
|
FOX
|
6.8
|
12
|
7860
|
7
|
3.9
|
11341
|
|
10
|
AMERICA
GOT TALENT-WED 9P
|
NBC
|
6.2
|
10
|
7165
|
10
|
3.4
|
10057
|
|
11
|
NFL OPENING KICK-OFF SHOW(S)
|
NBC
|
5.8
|
11
|
6704
|
11
|
3.2
|
9234
|
|
12
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN SP(S)
|
CBS
|
5.7
|
9
|
6554
|
12
|
3.1
|
9019
|
|
13
|
MENTALIST, THE
|
CBS
|
5.6
|
10
|
6455
|
13
|
2.9
|
8344
|
|
14
|
BIG BANG THEORY, THE SP(S)
|
CBS
|
5.1
|
8
|
5887
|
14
|
2.8
|
8085
|
|
14
|
DATELINE FRI
|
NBC
|
5.1
|
9
|
5807
|
19
|
2.5
|
7403
|
|
16
|
CSI
|
CBS
|
5.0
|
8
|
5757
|
17
|
2.6
|
7558
|
|
17
|
BIG BROTHER 11-TUE
|
CBS
|
4.8
|
7
|
5491
|
15
|
2.7
|
7885
|
|
18
|
DATELINE NBC-MON
|
NBC
|
4.7
|
8
|
5379
|
21
|
2.3
|
6738
|
|
19
|
BIG BROTHER 11-THU
|
CBS
|
4.6
|
8
|
5311
|
19
|
2.5
|
7442
|
|
19
|
GLEE
|
FOX
|
4.6
|
7
|
5333
|
17
|
2.6
|
7502
|
|
21
|
HELL'S KITCHEN
|
FOX
|
4.5
|
7
|
5160
|
15
|
2.7
|
7966
|
|
21
|
MENTALIST, THE-10PM SPC(S)
|
CBS
|
4.5
|
8
|
5202
|
23
|
2.2
|
6562
|
|
23
|
CRIMINAL MINDS
|
CBS
|
4.4
|
7
|
5055
|
23
|
2.2
|
6383
|
|
23
|
CSI: NY
|
CBS
|
4.4
|
8
|
5067
|
23
|
2.2
|
6436
|
|
25
|
CSI:
MIAMI - SPECIAL(S)
|
CBS
|
4.3
|
7
|
4963
|
23
|
2.2
|
6416
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending September 13 |
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
NBC NFL THURSDAY SPECIAL(S)
|
NBC
|
8.6
|
11282
|
|
1
|
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
8.6
|
11303
|
|
3
|
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK
|
NBC
|
6.8
|
8904
|
|
4
|
NBC NFL THURSDAY PRE-KICK(S)
|
NBC
|
5.7
|
7527
|
|
5
|
OT, THE
|
FOX
|
4.9
|
6428
|
|
6
|
FOOTBALL NT
AMERICA PT 3
|
NBC
|
4.7
|
6142
|
|
7
|
HELL'S KITCHEN
|
FOX
|
3.7
|
4917
|
|
8
|
GLEE
|
FOX
|
3.5
|
4544
|
|
9
|
NFL OPENING KICK-OFF SHOW(S)
|
NBC
|
3.2
|
4263
|
|
10
|
KING HILL FINALE1-8P(S)
|
FOX
|
3.0
|
3943
|
|
11
|
AMERICA
'S GOT TALENT-TUE
|
NBC
|
2.9
|
3831
|
|
11
|
KING HILL FINALE2-8:30P
|
FOX
|
2.9
|
3801
|
|
13
|
BIG BANG THEORY, THE SP(S)
|
CBS
|
2.8
|
3628
|
|
14
|
BIG BROTHER 11-TUE
|
CBS
|
2.7
|
3589
|
|
14
|
SO YOU THINK CN DANCE-WED
|
FOX
|
2.7
|
3607
|
|
14
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN SP(S)
|
CBS
|
2.7
|
3505
|
|
17
|
BIG BROTHER 11-THU
|
CBS
|
2.6
|
3380
|
|
17
|
RUMBO AL MUNDIAL 9/9(S)
|
TEL
|
2.6
|
3360
|
|
19
|
MANANA
PARA SIEMPRE THU
|
UNI
|
2.5
|
3225
|
|
20
|
FAMILY GUY
|
FOX
|
2.4
|
3170
|
|
20
|
MANANA
PARA SIEMPRE FRI
|
UNI
|
2.4
|
3145
|
|
22
|
MANANA
PARA SIEMPRE TUE
|
UNI
|
2.3
|
3026
|
|
22
|
PRIMETIME: FAMILY SECRETS
|
ABC
|
2.3
|
3003
|
|
24
|
AMERICA
GOT TALENT-WED 9P
|
NBC
|
2.1
|
2820
|
|
24
|
BIG BROTHER 11-SUN
|
CBS
|
2.1
|
2748
|
|
24
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
2.1
|
2800
|
|
24
|
VAMPIRE DIARIES
|
CW
|
2.1
|
2783
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION (WEEKLY COLLAPSED)
Ranked on Households
Week Ending September 13 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+ (000) |
|
1
|
MANANA PARA SIEMPRE M-F
|
UNI
|
22.1
|
5135
|
|
2
|
RUMBO AL MUNDIAL 9/9(S)-09/09/2009
|
TEL
|
17.7
|
4913
|
|
3
|
EN NOMBRE DEL AMOR M-F
|
UNI
|
17.0
|
3777
|
|
4
|
CRISTINA MON
|
UNI
|
16.3
|
3585
|
|
5
|
AQUI Y AHORA TUE
|
UNI
|
15.5
|
3186
|
|
6
|
EN NOMBRE DEL AMOR MON
|
UNI
|
14.3
|
3230
|
|
7
|
ROSA DE GUADALUPE THU-FRI
|
UNI
|
13.6
|
3298
|
|
8
|
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA WE
|
UNI
|
12.3
|
2468
|
|
9
|
GANCHO AL CORAZON M-F
|
UNI
|
11.6
|
2542
|
|
10
|
SABADO GIGANTE SAT
|
UNI
|
11.5
|
2528
|
|
11
|
VIVA EL SUENO SUN
|
UNI
|
10.1
|
2021
|
|
12
|
REVIVA EL SUENO 09/10(S)-09/10/2009
|
UNI
|
9.5
|
1957
|
|
13
|
QUIEN TIENE RAZON? EE SUN
|
UNI
|
9.4
|
1885
|
|
14
|
BETTY LA FEA M-F
|
TF
|
7.4
|
1652
|
|
15
|
FAMILIA P. LUCHE SAT
|
UNI
|
6.8
|
1390
|
|
16
|
JUNTO AL TRI 9/9(S)-09/09/2009
|
TEL
|
6.2
|
1393
|
|
17
|
HORA PICO SUN
|
UNI
|
6.0
|
1236
|
|
18
|
CELEB EL GRITO 9/13(S)-09/13/2009
|
TEL
|
5.8
|
1300
|
|
19
|
VICTORINOS M-F
|
TEL
|
5.0
|
1270
|
|
20
|
MAS SABE EL DIABLO M-F
|
TEL
|
4.6
|
970
|
|
21
|
FIFA ELIMINATORIA COPA9/9(S)-09/09/2009
|
TF
|
4.5
|
976
|
|
22
|
CELEB EL GRITO II(S)-09/12/2009
|
TEL
|
4.3
|
1000
|
|
23
|
FUTBOL LIGA MEX SAT
|
TF
|
4.1
|
901
|
|
24
|
VIVA MEXICO:EL GRITO 9/13(S)-09/13/2009
|
TEL
|
4.0
|
844
|
|
24
|
NINOS RICOS M-F
|
TEL
|
4.0
|
933
|
|
24
|
CINE LAS ESTRELLAS 09/07(S)-09/07/2009
|
TF
|
4.0
|
925
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
HISPANIC ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VIEWING
Ranked on Households
Week Ending September 13 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1
|
NBC NFL THURSDAY SPECIAL(S)-09/10/2009
|
NBC
|
6.8
|
1226
|
|
2
|
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
6.1
|
1212
|
|
3
|
NBC NFL THURSDAY PRE-KICK(S)-09/10/2009
|
NBC
|
4.5
|
847
|
|
4
|
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK
|
NBC
|
4.4
|
886
|
|
5
|
OT, THE
|
FOX
|
3.8
|
674
|
|
6
|
VAMPIRE DIARIES
|
CW
|
3.7
|
684
|
|
7
|
AMERICA
'S GOT TALENT-TUE
|
NBC
|
3.6
|
642
|
|
8
|
HELL'S KITCHEN
|
FOX
|
3.3
|
756
|
|
9
|
AMERICA
GOT TALENT-WED 9P
|
NBC
|
2.8
|
508
|
|
9
|
FOOTBALL NT
AMERICA PT 3
|
NBC
|
2.8
|
600
|
|
9
|
NFL OPENING KICK-OFF SHOW(S)-09/10/2009
|
NBC
|
2.8
|
510
|
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
AFRICAN AMERICAN AUDIENCE ESTIMATES
Ranked on Households
Week Ending September 13
|
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1
|
NBC NFL THURSDAY SPECIAL
|
NBC
|
16.2
|
3043
|
|
2
|
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
13.9
|
2715
|
|
3
|
OT, THE
|
FOX
|
11.7
|
2361
|
|
4
|
NBC NFL THURSDAY PRE-KICK
|
NBC
|
11.2
|
2011
|
|
5
|
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK
|
NBC
|
10.2
|
2084
|
|
6
|
DATELINE FRI
|
NBC
|
8.6
|
1601
|
|
7
|
60 MINUTES
|
CBS
|
7.7
|
1394
|
|
8
|
FOOTBALL NT
AMERICA PT 3
|
NBC
|
6.9
|
1409
|
|
9
|
NFL OPENING KICK-OFF SHOW
|
NBC
|
6.6
|
1155
|
|
10
|
AMERICA
'S GOT TALENT-TUE
|
NBC
|
6.5
|
1209
|
|
* Ratings based on 13.65 million African American TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 10 NETWORK SPORTS PROGRAMS
Ranked on Households
Week ending September 13 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
|
US
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
FOX NFL SUNDAY-NATIONAL-09/13/2009 (VARIOUS)
|
FOX
|
14.8
|
25109
|
|
2 |
NBC NFL THURSDAY SPECIAL-09/10/2009 (PIT/TEN)
|
NBC
|
12.8
|
20909
|
|
3 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL-09/13/2009 (CHI/GB)
|
NBC
|
12.6
|
21102
|
|
4 |
FOX NFL SUNDAY-REGIONAL-09/13/2009 (VARIOUS)
|
FOX
|
8.6
|
14149
|
|
5 |
CBS NFL SINGLE-09/13/2009 (VARIOUS)
|
CBS
|
7.1
|
11374
|
|
6 |
ABC
COLLEGE
FTBL GM-LATE-09/12/2009 (ND/UM)
|
ABC
|
5.2
|
8391
|
|
7 |
CHEVY ROCK AND ROLL 400-09/12/2009
|
ABC
|
3.5
|
5535
|
|
8 |
US OPEN TEN-SU-SEMI-09/13/2009
|
CBS
|
2.6
|
3860
|
|
9 |
