…And not because the network has improved that much (at least it doesn’t seem like it has to demanding ole us).
by Team TVWriter News Service
NBC has finished #1 in adults 18-49 for premiere week of the 2012-13 television season, marking the network’s first outright victory during premiere week since 2003. Led by “Sunday Night Football,” “The Voice” and “Go On,” NBC delivered an average 2.9 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49 and 8.2 million viewers overall for the primetime ratings week of September 24-30, according to “live plus same day” viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.
The 2.9 rating in 18-49 makes this NBC’s highest-rated premiere week in four years, since 2008. NBC topped its year-ago premiere-week rating by 12 percent in 18-49 (with a 2.9 rating vs. a 2.6) and was up by 9 percent in total viewers (8.2 million vs. 7.5 million), making NBC the only network among ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox up year to year in either category. NBC was also up versus last year’s premiere week in every other key ratings category.
For the week, NBC is #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, men 25-54, men 18-49, women 18-49 (tie) and men 18-34 (tie). NBC has now finished #1 or tied for #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in 18-49 for eight of the last 10 weeks.
NBC’s premiere-week schedule included the week’s #1 series in 18-49 (“Sunday Night Football”), the week’s #1 and #2 unscripted telecasts (the Monday and Tuesday editions of “The Voice”), the #1 new series (“Revolution”) and the #2 new comedy (“Go On”).
NBC was up in 18-49 rating versus premiere week last year on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday and tied with the year-ago night on Saturday.
Wow! A real live press release where NBC honks its own horn.
Double wow! NBC really does have the numbers to celebrate.
Do we hope it lasts or is this no big deal either way? As too many test questions would say: “Discuss…”
Our congrats to the peacock, for whatever they’re worth.
UPDATED 10/3 TO ADD: ABC has just announced that regardless of NBC’s achievement, “ABC leads in Upscale Adults 18-49 During Premiere Week,” specifically adults with annual incomes of $100,000 or more. So there, NBC. Hmm, didn’t Mitt Romney recently define “middle income families” as those making about $750,000 a year? One man’s Upscale is another’s 99%. (Or at least 47% for sure.)