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Television

NBC Stays Hot as Ratings Momentum Carries Into Summer

America's Got Talent, Stanley Cup hockey and Ninja Warrior account for three of the week’s top seven primetime programs on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in 18-49. Meanwhile, the breakout hit The Night Shift (pictured), Dateline and Last Comic Standing join them in the top 20.

With America’s Got Talent scoring the week’s No. 1 non-sports results among primetime programs on the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 and every other key measure, NBC has finished No. 2 among those nets for the primetime week of June 2-8 in 18-49 as well as total viewers and all other key measures. According to "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research, NBC has averaged a 1.3 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49 and 5.1 million viewers overall for the week.

Talent, Friday’s NHL Stanley Cup Final Game 5 and Monday’s American Ninja Warrior accounted for three of the week’s top seven telecasts on the Big 4 nets in 18-49 (excluding sports pre- and post-game shows), with Talent ranking No. 4, Rangers-Kings hockey No. 5 and Ninja Warrior No. 7.

Also finishing among the week’s top 20 primetime programs on the Big 4 last week in adults 18-49 were Tuesday’s The Night Shift (No. 11), Wednesday’s special Dateline NBC (tied for No. 12) and Thursday’s Last Comic Standing (tied for No. 16).

Excluding sports, Talent ranked No. 1 among primetime broadcasts for the week on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in every key measure – adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, plus total viewers – as well as kids 2-11 and teens 12-17.

NBC ranked No. 1 or tied for No. 1 on four of seven nights last week among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49, leading Monday, tying for first on Wednesday and winning Friday and Saturday. The other three nights of the week were led by ABC’s NBA coverage.

Through 38 weeks of the 2013-14 broadcast year, NBC ranks No. 1 among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, adults 18-34 (tied with Fox), men 18-49, men 25-54 and all key adult-female demos. It’s the first time NBC has ranked No. 1 in adults 18-49 at this point in the season in 10 years (since the 2003-04 season).

NBC’s 2.6 rating in adults 18-49 is the network’s top average at this point in the season in four years (since a 2.6 in 2009-10).

Versus one year ago, NBC is up +13% for the broadcast year to date in adults 18-49 (2.6 vs. 2.3).

In total viewers, NBC ranks No. 2 for the broadcast year with an average of 9.0 million viewers, which is its biggest overall audience 38 weeks into the season in eight years (since 2005-06, 9.5 million). Versus one year ago, NBC is up +30 percent season to date in total viewers (9.0 million vs. 6.9 million). It’s the first time NBC has ranked No. 2 in total viewers at this point in the season in 10 years.

Primetime averages for the week of June 9-15 in adults 18-49 are: ABC, 2.6/9; NBC, 1.3/5; Fox, 0.9/3; CBS, 0.8/3; and CW, 0.3/1.  In overall total viewers, the weekly averages were: ABC, 7.8 million; NBC, 5.1 million; CBS, 5.0 million; Fox, 2.8 million; and CW, 1.0 million.

Season-to-date averages are: NBC, 2.6/8; Fox, 2.4/7; CBS, 2.3/7; ABC, 2.1/6; and CW, 0.7/2.  In overall total viewers, the season averages are: CBS, 10.3 million; NBC, 9.0 million; ABC, 7.6 million; Fox, 7.0 million; and CW, 1.8 million.