'Voice' draws
NBC's best rating since 2007
Timeslot debut averages a 6.6 in 18-49s, the night's top show
By Toni Fitzgerald
Feb 7, 2012
NBC's midseason prospects are looking a lot rosier this morning.
The network's decision to air
"The Voice" behind the Super Bowl paid off handsomely with the show growing 29 percent over last year's season debut in its regular Monday 8 to 10 p.m. timeslot last night.
"Voice" averaged a 6.6 adults 18-49 rating, according to Nielsen overnights, NBC's best average in that timeslot for non-sports programming since Feb. 16, 2004, and the network's top non-sports, non-special on any night in four and a half years, since September 2007.
"Voice" peaked with a 7.7 in its final half hour and grew from a 5.3 in its first half hour. It also became the first program this season to beat CBS's "Two and a Half Men" in its timeslot. "Men" averaged a season-low 4.2.
CBS's comedies all dropped between 7 and 11 percent from their most recent outings, too.
But "Voice" seemed to hurt Fox's lineup the most. "House" was off 17 percent from its most recent episode, and the new drama "Alcatraz" dropped 21 percent to a series-low 2.2.
"Voice's" big numbers boosted much-hyped lead-out "Smash" to a strong debut as well. The show averaged a 3.8 rating at 10 p.m.
It marked the highest rating for any drama this season in the 10 p.m. slot, and was the third-highest-rated drama bow this season, behind ABC's "Once Upon a Time" and Fox's "Touch."
It also marked NBC's best rating in the hour since an election special in November 2008.
One possible concern for NBC is that "Smash" declined 19 percent from its first to its second half hour, from a 4.2 to a 3.4. A second-half dropoff is never a good sign for a new show.
NBC was first for the night among 18-49s with a 5.7 average overnight rating and a 14 share, becoming the first network to beat CBS when it aired originals on a Monday this season.
CBS was second at 3.5/9, ABC third at 2.4/6, Fox fourth at 2.3/6, Univision fifth at 1.6/4, CW sixth at 0.6/1 and Telemundo seventh at 0.5/1.
As a reminder, all ratings are based on live-plus-same-day DVR playback, which includes shows replayed before 3 a.m. the night before. Seven-day DVR data won’t be available for several weeks. Forty-three percent of Nielsen households have DVRs.
At 8 p.m. NBC led with a 5.7 for the first hour of "Voice," followed by CBS with a 4.1 for "How I Met Your Mother" (4.0) and "2 Broke Girls" (4.3). ABC was third with a 2.5 for "The Bachelor," Fox fourth with a 2.4 for "House," Univision fifth with a 1.7 for "Una Familia con Suerte" and CW and Telemundo tied for sixth at 0.6, CW for "Gossip Girl" and Telemundo for "Una Maid en Manhattan."
NBC extended its lead at 9 p.m. with a 7.5 for more "Voice," while CBS remained second with a 3.8 for "Men" (4.2) and "Mike & Molly" (3.4). ABC was third with a 2.7 for another hour of "Bachelor," Fox fourth with a 2.2 for "Alcatraz," Univision fifth with a 1.5 for "El Talisman," CW sixth with a 0.6 for "Hart of Dixie" and Telemundo seventh with a 0.5 for "Flor Salvaje."
At 10 p.m. NBC was first with a 3.8 for "Smash," with CBS second with a 2.7 for "Hawaii Five-0." ABC was third with a 2.0 for "Castle," Univision fourth with a 1.6 for "La Que No Podia Amar" and Telemundo fifth with a 0.4 for "Relaciones Peligrosas."
NBC also led the night among households with a 9.1 average overnight rating and a 14 share. CBS was second at 6.7/10, ABC third at 5.5/8, Fox fourth at 4.2/6, Univision fifth at 2.0/3, CW sixth at 1.0/2 and Telemundo seventh at 0.7/1.
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