NBC Weekly Ratings Release: Sept. 30 - Oct. 6, 2019

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. — Oct. 8, 2019 — NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” has finished #1 among all primetime telecasts in adults 18-49 and total viewers for the primetime ratings week of Sept. 30-Oct. 1, according to “live plus same day” figures from Nielsen Media Research that exclude sports pre- and post-game shows.

“This Is Us” ranked as the week’s #1 drama in adults 18-49 and the Tuesday episode of “The Voice” was the week’s #1 most-watched alternative series.

NBC shows finishing in the week’s top 20 in 18-49 excluding sports included “This Is Us,” #3; Tuesday’s “Voice, tied for #4; Monday’s “Voice, #7; Wednesday’s “Chicago Med” and “Chicago Fire,” tied for #13; and Wednesday’s “Chicago Fire,” tied for #16.

In total viewers, NBC accounted for five of the week’s top 10 Big 4 entertainment programs, with Tuesday’s “Voice,” #3; Monday’s “Voice,” #4; Wednesday’s “Chicago Med,” #7; Wednesday’s “Chicago Fire,” #8; and Tuesday’s “This Is Us,” #10.

Season to date, NBC’s ranks #1 as the most-watched network in total viewers, leading by +479,000 persons over #2 CBS (6.998 million vs. 6.519 million), NBC’s biggest total-viewer margin at this point in the season in 18 years, since the fall of 2001 (+1.6 million persons).

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 2 Averages
Adult 18-49 Rating, “live plus same day,” Sept. 30-Oct. 6
FOX…2.0      NBC…1.4      ABC…0.9
CBS…0.7       CW…0.2

Total Viewers
FOX…6.7 million      NBC…6.5 million       CBS…6.2 million
ABC…4.6 million      CW…0.8 million

NBC highlights for the week of Sept. 30-Oct. 6:

Monday
NBC won Monday in adults 25-54 and total viewers among the Big 4 networks.

“The Voice” (1.5 rating in 18-49, 8.8 million viewers overall from 8-10:01 p.m. ET) ranked as the #1 show of the night among the Big 4 networks in adults 25-54 and total viewers, and won its two-hour 8-10 p.m. timeslot among those nets in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers. The Sept. 30 “Voice” topped “Dancing With the Stars” as the night’s top alternative series by +88% in 18-49 (1.5 vs. 0.8) and by more than +2.1 million persons in total viewers (8.7 million vs. 6.6 million). L+3:“The Voice” increased by +22% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.52 to a 1.86) and more than +1.4 million viewers overall (8.8 million to 10.2 million) after three days of DVR and VOD time-shifting. Delayed Viewing / Digital / Social: Through last season, “The Voice” reached more than 94 million viewers who watched at least of portion of the series on digital or linear platforms. “The Voice 15” was the #1 Most-Social Broadcast Primetime Series across TV in the Fall of 2018, garnering 9.3 million Total Interactions. (Source: Nielsen Social SCR , 09/24/18-12/18/18, Primetime Daypart, Linear Window, Broadcast Series Only. Twitter [Organic + Owned], Facebook [owned only], Instagram [owned only].)

“Bluff City Law” (0.7 rating in 18-49, 4.2 million viewers overall from 10:01-11 p.m. ET) finished within 0.1 of the prior week’s series premiere in 18-49 (0.7 vs. 0.8) and retained 92% in total viewers (4.246 million vs. 4.609 million). L+3: “Bluff City Law” grew by +36% in 18-49 rating (from a 0.69 to a 0.94) and more than +2.1 million persons or +50% in total viewers (4.2 million to 6.4 million) after just three days of DVR and VOD time-shifting.

Tuesday
NBC won the night in adults 18-49 with “This Is Us” and “The Voice” the #1-2 shows of the night, “The Voice” (1.6 rating in 18-49, 9.0 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) maintained 100% of the prior week’s series premiere in 18-49 (1.6 vs. 1.6) and grew +8% in total viewers (9.028 million vs. 8.327 million) to deliver its most-watched Tuesday telecast since March 5 (10.222 million) and match its highest Tuesday rating since that same date (1.9). “The Voice” was the #2 show of the night in adults 18-49, behind only “This Is Us,” and the #1 show of the night in adults 25-54. “Voice” won the timeslot among the Big 4 networks in every key demographic. L+3 The Tuesday “Voice” increased by +15% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.58 to a 1.82) and +1.2 million viewers overall (9.0 million to 10.2 million) after three days of DVR and VOD time-shifting. Social: Last season, “The Voice” was the #2 most-viewed (short form video) Broadcast Primetime Series of the 2018-19 TV season, amassing 980.7 million views across YouTube and Facebook (Source: ListenFirst Media. LF // TV UNIVERSE // EPISODIC universe; 9/24/18-5/22/19. ListenFirst Video Views [YouTube + Facebook]; Prime Time Daypart; in-season TV shows, Broadcast, TV-Shows).

“This Is Us” (1.7 rating in 18-49, 7.4 million viewers overall from 9-10:01 p.m. ET) ranked as the #1 show of the night on the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 and dominated the 9-10 p.m. hour, beating the #2 Big 4 show in adults 18-49 by +70% (1.7 vs. 1.0 for CBS’ “FBI”). “Us” won the timeslot among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 and every other key demographic (including ties in men 18-34 and 25-54). L+3:“This Is Us” increased by +63% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.68 to a 2.73) and +3.4 million viewers overall (7.5 million to 10.8 million) after just three days of DVR and VOD time-shifting. So far this season, “TIU” has delivered the two biggest 18-49 lifts of the season -- +1.05 for the Oct. 1 telecast and +1.11 for the Sept. 24 season premiere. Digital: “This Is Us” generated the video with the week’s #1 most views on YouTube and Facebook (2.5 million) for a primetime broadcast program (Source: ListenFirst Media, LF // TV UNIVERSE // EPISODIC, 09/30/19-10/6/19, ListenFirst Video Views [YouTube + Facebook], Brand Type: TV Shows, Primetime, Broadcast). The video comes from the season premiere -- Nicky disrupts Cassie’s meeting at the VA by throwing a chair through the window.

“New Amsterdam” (0.8 rating in 18-49, 5.3 million viewers overall from 10:01-11 p.m. ET) won the hour among the ABC-CBS-NBC dramas in adults 18-49 and all key adult-female demos and tied for #1 in adults 25-54.L+3:“New Amsterdam” grew by +86% in 18-49 rating (from a 0.83 to a 1.54) and +3.7 million viewers overall (5.3 million to 9.0 million) after three days of DVR and VOD time-shifting. The 86% increase in 18-49 and the +3.7 million viewers overall were the biggest Tuesday lifts of the night on the Big 4 networks.

Wednesday
NBC won Wednesday night in total viewers.

“Chicago Med” (1.1 rating in 18-49, 7.7 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) beat “The Masked Singer” to win the 8 p.m. hour in total viewers and rank as the #2 show of the night behind only “Chicago Fire.” “Med” improved on the prior week’s season-premiere results by +10% in 18-49 rating (1.1 vs. 1.0) and +2% in total viewers (7.7 million vs. 7.536 million). L+3:“Med” grew by +46% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.06 to a 1.55) and +2.2 million viewers overall (7.7 million to 9.8 million) after three days of DVR and VOD time-shifting. Digital: The Sept. 25 “Med” season premiere set a series record in seven-day digital performance.

“Chicago Fire” (1.1 rating in 18-49, 7.7 million viewers overall from 9-10 p.m. ET) ranked as the #1 show of the night in total viewers and won the 9-10 p.m. hour among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, total viewers and most other key measures. Versus the prior week’s season premiere, “Fire” maintained 100% in 18-49 (1.1 vs. 1.1) and grew +4% in total viewers (7.6 million vs. 7.330 million). L+3:“Fire” increased by +55% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.10 to a 1.79) and more than +2.6 million viewers overall (7.7 million to 10.3 million) after three days of DVR and VOD time-shifting. Social: “Chicago Fire” scored as NBC’s most social scripted primetime show of the week with 176,000 Total Interactions, up +60% versus last season’s average of 111,000. Digital: “Fire’s” Sept. 25 season debut set a new series record in seven-day digital performance.

“Chicago P.D.” (1.0 rating in 18-49, 5.9 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) won the timeslot among the ABC, CBS and NBC dramas in 10 of 10 key measures – adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, plus total viewers – posting a +43% margin among those dramas in adults 18-49. “P.D.” has now won the slot or tied for #1 versus regular ABC and CBS competition with its last 62 straight original telecasts in adults 18-49 (L+SD), extending back to October 2016. L+3:“P.D.” increased by +72% in 18-49 rating (from a 0.99 to a 1.70) and +3.0 million viewers overall (5.9 million to 8.9 million) after three days of DVR and VOD time-shifting. The “P.D.” lift of +3.0 million viewers was the biggest for any Big 4 Wednesday telecast. Digital: “P.D.’s” Sept. 25 season premiere has generated a new series high in seven-day digital performance.

Thursday
“Superstore” (0.8 rating in 18-49, 2.8 million viewers overall from 8-8:30 p.m. ET) maintained 100% of the previous week’s season premiere in 18-49 (0.8 vs. 0.8) and retains 97% in total viewers (2.8 million vs. 2.9 million), to pull within 0.2 of a point of “Young Sheldon” in the half-hour (0.8 vs. 1.0) after trailing CBS in the timeslot on the year-ago night by 1.3 rating points (0.9 vs. 2.2 for “The Big Bang Theory”). L+3:“Superstore” increased by +46% in 18-49 rating (from a 0.76 to a 1.11) and +849,000 viewers overall (2.8 million to 3.6 million) after three days of DVR and VOD time-shifting. Digital: “Superstore’s” three-day digital performance grew +2% versus the prior week’s season premiere and finished just shy of a new series record. “Perfect Harmony” (0.5 rating in 18-49, 2.1 million viewers overall from 8:30-9 p.m. ET) retained 100% versus the prior week’s series premiere in adults 18-49 (0.5 vs. 0.5) and grew in the women 18-34 demo. L+3: “Perfect Harmony” grew by +54% in 18-49 rating (from a 0.46 to a 0.71) and +1.1 million persons in total viewers (2.1 million to 3.2 million) after three days of DVR and VOD time-shifting.

“The Good Place” (0.6 rating in 18-49, 2.1 million viewers overall from 9-9:30 p.m. ET) built on its lead-in by +20% in adult 18-49 rating and by +33% in women 18-49 (0.8 vs. 0.6). L+3:“The Good Place” grew by +76% in 18-49 rating (from a 0.62 to a 1.09) and +1.2 million viewers overall (2.1 million to 3.3 million) after three days of DVR and VOD time-shifting. Digital: “The Good Place” has generated its two best 3-Day digital performance in series history with its first two episodes of the new season. Social: “The Good Place” was the week’s most social scripted primetime comedy across all dayparts in all of TV (Broadcast, Cable, Syndication), with 143,000 Total Interactions.

“Sunnyside” (0.3 rating in 18-49, 1.3 million viewers overall from 9:30-10 p.m. ET) retained 100% week to week in men 18-49. L+3: “Sunnyside” was up by +34% in 18-49 rating (from a 0.35 to a 0.47) and +455,000 persons in total viewers (1.3 million to 1.7 million) after three days of DVR and VOD time-shifting.

“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (0.7 rating in 18-49, 3.4 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) retained 100% of the previous week’s season premiere in 18-49 (0.7 vs. 0.7), to finish #1 in the timeslot among the ABC-CBS-NBC dramas in adults 18-49. Social: “Law & Order: SVU” generated 86,000 total interactions, up +47% from last season’s average of 58,000. L+3:“SVU” increased by +100% in 18-49 rating (from a 0.66 to a 1.32) and more than +2.4 million viewers overall (3.4 million to 5.9 million) after three days of DVR and VOD time-shifting.

Friday
The seventh season debut of “The Blacklist” (0.5 rating in 18-49, 4.1 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) maintained 100% of NBC’s average in the timeslot last season in adults 18-49 (0.5 vs. 0.5, L+SD non-sports) and grew +30% in total viewers (4.1 million vs. 3.1 million), and was also up +4% versus last season’s Friday premiere in total viewers (4.1 million vs. 3.9 million on Jan. 4 from 9-10 p.m.). L+35+Digital: Last season, “The Blacklist” grew by +186% going from its next-day “live plus same day” rating in 18-49 to “live plus 35 days plus digital” Nielsens, increasing to a 1.64 rating, while adding +4.6 million viewers, increasing to 8.6 million persons in L+35+Digital.

“Dateline NBC” (0.5 rating in 18-49, 0.7 in adults 25-54, 3.3 million viewers overall from 9-11 p.m. ET) ranked as the #1 newsmagazine of the night in total viewers and tied for #1 in adults 18-49 and 25-54. L+7: Last season, Friday’s “Dateline” grew by +51% in 18-49 rating (from a 0.57 to a 0.86) and more than +1.2 million viewers overall (3.5 million to 4.7 million) going from L+SD to L+7.

Sunday
NBC Sports coverage of Indianapolis Colts-Kansas City Chiefs “Sunday Night Football” (5.6 rating in 18-49, 18.1 million viewers overall from 8:23-11:27 p.m. ET) led the night in all key ratings measures.

The Colts’ 19-13 victory over the Chiefs on NBC’s Sunday Night Football registered a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 18.6 million viewers, making this the highest Colts Viewership for a game in the NBC “SNF” package since Thanksgiving Night 2016 (vs. the Steelers). The TAD of 18.6 million was up +11% from the Chiefs-Texans on “SNF” Week 5 in 2017 (16.7 Million TAD) and on par with the 2018 Week 5 Cowboys-Texans overtime Game (19.0 Million).

Through Week 5, NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” is averaging a Total Audience Delivery of 21.0 million viewers. It’s the best average through Week 5 (six games) for “SNF” since 2016, and up +5% from last season (20.0 million).