Ratings Review: NBC Tuesdays - First 4 Weeks

NBC now has two full week night lineups that can do very well in the Nielsen ratings. That is, until THE BIGGEST LOSER came along.

THE VOICE is the dominate franchise of the night, commanding the top ratings in the A18-49 demographic. Its two hour editions were perfect and provided a strong lead in to second year drama CHICAGO FIRE. But, the week that THE BIGGEST LOSER took over the 8 p.m. hour and THE VOICE scaled down to just one hour, the whole night is affected.

Obviously the 8 p.m. hour is now only half as strong as it was the first two weeks of the season, but the 9 p.m. hour is also weaker. THE VOICe can't gain that momentum it had as a two hour show. Don't get me wrong, it will still be the dominate program of the hour, and perhaps the whole night, but the margin of victory is way down.

The move of CHICAGO FIRE to Tuesdays was one of the few good moves NBC has made in recent years. It was a hot property that has the potential of becoming big. It's first two weeks on Tuesdays are better than any night last year, while on Wednesday nights. But, CHICAGO FIRE appears to be very dependent on THE VOICE. As THE VOICE's numbers go up and down, so do CHICAGO FIRE's.

Chicago fire is also feeling the affects of THE BIGGEST LOSER on the night's schedule. A weaker lead in at 9 p.m. has caused the drama to take a down turn in the ratings. If this trend of low twos in the A18-49 ratings, CHICAGO FIRE is in danger of dropping to second place, behind PERSON OF INTEREST, in the important demographic ratings.

The premiere of THE BIGGEST LOSER should be the highest ratings the series gets, until the finale, so the ratings will only go down, come November. That is not good news for the rest of the night. NBC should have TBL on its schedule, but just not on this night. Give it REVOLUTIONS's Wednesday slot and let THE VOICE continue as a two hour program until after the november sweeps. Then, holiday specials and encores can take over through the end of the year.

LIVE+SD Ratings

Series	Category	09/24	10/01	10/08	10/15	AVG
Biggest Loser	Viewers*				7.16	7.16
	A18-49				2.3	2.3
The Voice	Viewers*	14.35	14.54	10.20	12.99	13.02
	A18-49	4.7	4.5	3.0	4.0	4.1
Chicago Fire	Viewers*	8.90	8.74	7.43	8.08	8.29
	A18-49	2.7	2.6	2.1	2.3	2.4