NBC Weekly Ratings Release: May 20 - 26, 2019

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. — May 29, 2019 — NBC has tied for #1 in primetime results for the week of May 20-26 in the key demographic of adults 18-49 and won the week outright in total viewers, according to “live plus same day” viewership figures from Nielsen Media Research.

NBC claimed five of the week’s top 10 primetime programs on the Big 4 networks in 18-49 and five of the top eight in total viewers, with the Monday and Tuesday editions of “The Voice” and Wednesday’s three “Chicago” dramas. In 18-49, Monday’s “Voice” tied for #3, Tuesday’s “Voice,” “Chicago Med” and “Chicago Fire” tied for #5 and “Chicago P.D.” tied for #9. Season to date, NBC ranks #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 (tie) adults 18-34 (tie) and all key adult-female demographics. In total viewers, excluding sports, NBC is running within 1.507 million persons of #1 CBS, NBC’s closest position to #1 in total viewers at this point in the season, excluding sports, in 16 years, since trailing by 755,000 persons at this time in 2002-03.

Weekly ratings are “live plus same day” figures from Nielsen Media Research unless otherwise noted. Season-to-date ratings are averages of “live plus seven day” data except for the two most recent weeks, which are “live plus same day.”

Week 35 Averages
L+SD Adult 18-49 Rating
NBC…0.7    ABC…0.7    FOX…0.6    CBS…0.5    CW…0.3

Total Viewers
NBC…4.4 million    CBS…4.3 million    ABC…3.9 million
FOX…2.5 million    CW…0.6 million

NBC highlights for the week of May 20-26:

Monday
NBC tied for the Monday victory among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 and won the night outright among those nets in total viewers and adults 25-54.

“The Voice” (1.2 rating in 18-49, 8.0 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) tied as the #1 telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 and was #1 outright on those nets in total viewers and adults 25-54, delivering the show’s most-watched episode since April 1 (8.5 million) and equaling its 18-49 high since April 15 (1.3). “Voice” increased its Monday audience for a third week in a row (from 7.2 million on April 29 to 7.3 million on May 6 to 7.7 million on May 13 to 8.0 million on May 20).

The season finale of “The Enemy Within” (0.6 rating in 18-49, 4.3 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) won the hour among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, total viewers and all other key ratings measures (including a tie in adults 18-34), jumping by +16% week to week in total viewers (4.3 million vs. 3.7 million) to generate the show’s most-watched telecast since April 1 (4.4 million). In 18-49, “Enemy” delivered a steady 0.6 rating in 18-49 for a seventh consecutive week.

Tuesday
NBC won Tuesday among the Big 4 networks in 18-49, led by the top Tuesday edition of “The Voice” since April 9.

The season finale of “The Village” (0.6 rating in 18-49, 4.2 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) increased by +11% week to week in total viewers (4.2 million vs. 3.8811 million) to deliver its most-watched episode since the show’s March 19 premiere (4.8 million with a “This Is Us” lead-in), while scoring a steady 0.6 rating in adults 18-49 for a third week in a row. L+7: “The Village” has increased by +56% in 18-49 rating going from L+SD to L+7 (from a 0.68 to a 1.06) and +2.0 million viewers overall (4.2 million to 6.2 million).

The finale of “The Voice 16” (1.1 rating in 18-49, 7.4 million viewers overall from 9-11 p.m. ET) scored the show’s top Tuesday results since April 9 in 18-49 (1.2 at 8 p.m.) and since March 5 in total viewers (10.2 million). “The Voice” won the timeslot among the Big 4 nets in every key measure, including an +83% margin of victory among the Big 4 networks in the timeslot in 18-49 (1.1 vs. 0.6 for #2 CBS’ #2 series premiere of “Blood & Treasure”) and +1.8 million viewers (7.4 vs. 5.6 million for “Blood & Treasure”). The May 21 telecast grew +10% week to week in 18-49 (1.1 vs. 1.0 from 9-10 p.m.) and +13% in total viewers (7.4 million vs. 6.6 million). L+7: Tuesday’s “Voice” has grown by +24% in 18-49 rating going from L+SD to L+7 (from a 1.56 to a 1.94) and +1.7 million viewers overall (8.8 million to 10.5 million). With the addition of 35-day linear and projected digital ratings, Tuesday’s “The Voice” grows to a 2.32 in 18-49.

Wednesday
The season finale of “Chicago Med” (1.1 rating in 18-49, 7.6 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) grew +10% versus last season’s finale in 18-49 (1.1 vs. 1.0 on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 from 10-11 p.m.) and +34% in total viewers (7.6 million vs. 5.6 million), despite special competition this year from ABC’s “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” comedy special. The 1.1 equals “Med’s” highest 18-49 rating since March 27 (1.2). L+7: “Med” has increased by +60% in 18-49 rating going from L+SD to L+7 (from a 1.22 to a 1.93) and +3.0 million viewers overall (8.3 million to 11.3 million). L+35+Digital: Counting 35 days of linear and projected digital delayed viewing, the “Med” 18-49 rating grows to a 2.64.

The season finale of “Chicago Fire” (1.1 rating in 18-49, 7.5 million viewers overall from 9-10 p.m. ET) increased by +10% versus the show’s year-ago finale in 18-49 (1.1 vs. 1.0 on Thursday, May 10, 2018 from 10-11 p.m.) and by +26% in total viewers (7.5 million vs. 6.0 million), while matching the show’s highest 18-49 rating since March 27 (1.2). L+7: “Fire” has grown by +72% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.22 to a 2.10) and +3.6 million viewers overall (8.1 million to 11.7 million) going from L+SD to L+7. . L+35+Digital: After 35 days of linear and projected digital viewership, the “Fire” 18-49 rating increases to a 2.89.

The season finale of “Chicago P.D.” (1.0 rating in 18-49, 6.6 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) won the timeslot among the ABC, CBS and NBC dramas in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, total viewers and all other key ratings measures, while equaling the show’s highest 18-49 rating since March 27). “P.D.” was up +4% versus last season’s finale in total viewers (6.6 million vs. 6.3 million on May 9, 2018 from 10-11 p.m.). L+7: “Chicago P.D.” is increasing by +91% in the 18-49 demo this season going from L+SD to L+7 (from a 1.11 to a 2.12) and +4.1 million viewers overall (7.1 million to 11.2 million). L+35+Digital: Counting 35 days of linear and projected non-linear delayed viewership, the “P.D.” 18-49 average grows to a 2.95.

Thursday
From 8-9 p.m., “The Red Nose Day Special” (0.4/2 in 18-49, 2.2 million viewers overall) grew +9% versus last year’s special in total viewers (2.217 million vs. 2.042 million from 10-11 p.m. on May 24 2018).

A special Red Nose Day edition of “Hollywood Game Night” (0.4 rating in 18-49, 2.0 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) grew from its first half-hour to its second by +3% in total viewers (2.008 million to 2.071 million) and by +20% in adults 25-54 rating (0.5 to 0.6), despite the 10 p.m. hour.

Friday
NBC tied for #1 for the night among in adults 18-49 and won the night outright in adults 25-54.

“Blindspot” (0.4 rating in 18-49, 2.8 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) retained 100% versus its prior original in 18-49 (0.4 vs. 0.4 on April 19) and 95% in total viewers (2.8 million vs. 4.0 million), maintaining a steady 0.4 rating in 18-49 for a fifth straight telecast.

“Dateline NBC” (0.6 rating in 18-49, 0.8 in adults 25-54, 3.8 million viewers overall from 9-11 p.m. ET) ranked as the #1 show of the night on the Big 4 networks in 18-49 and tied for #1 in 25-54, while scoring as the #1 newsmagazine of the night in 18-49, 25-54 and total viewers. From its first half-hour to its fourth, “Dateline” grew by +21% in total viewers. +19% (from 3.4 million to 4.1 million).

Sunday
NBC ranked #2 Sunday night among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 and #1 excluding sports.

A special all-star episode of “American Ninja Warrior” (0.6 rating in 18-49, 2.8 viewers overall from 7-10 p.m. ET) tied as the #1 non-sports telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks.

The season finale of “Good Girls” (0.5 rating in 18-49, 2.3 million viewers from 10-11 p.m. ET) equaled the show’s highest-rated episode since April 28 (0.6). In the timeslot, “Good Girls” was the #1 Big 4 telecast excluding sports in adults 18-49.