NBC RESULTS FOR THE PRIMETIME WEEK OF JUNE 2-8
WEDNESDAY'S GAME 6 OF THE STANLEY CUP FINALS SCORES THE HIGHEST 18-49 RATING FOR A GAME 6 SINCE 2000 AND THE BIGGEST OVERALL VIEWERSHIP FOR A SIXTH GAME SINCE THE CUP RETURNED TO BROADCAST TELEVISION IN 1995
MONDAY'S FIFTH GAME OF THE RED WINGS-PENGUINS FINAL SCORES THE HIGHEST 18-49 RATING FOR A GAME 5 SINCE 2002, UP 115 PERCENT IN BOTH 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS VERSUS LAST YEAR'S FIFTH GAME
NBC SPORTS DELIVERS THE TOP-SCORING STANLEY CUP FINALS ON BROADCAST TELEVISION SINCE 2002, UP 130 PERCENT IN 18-49 AND 122 PERCENT IN TOTAL VIEWERS VERSUS LAST YEAR
ON FRIDAY, 'DATELINE' IS THE #1 SHOW OF THE NIGHT IN ADULTS 18-49, PACING NBC TO A FRIDAY WIN IN PRIMETIME'S KEY DEMO
BURBANK, Calif. � June 10, 2008 � NBC averaged a 1.9 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49 and 5.7 million viewers overall for the week of June 2-8, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.
The concluding Games 5 and 6 of the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals between the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins were broadcast on Monday and Wednesday of last week (see highlights below). Overall, counting all four telecasts on NBC this year, this was the top-scoring Stanley Cup Finals on broadcast network television in both adults 18-49 and total viewers since 2002 (Red Wings-Hurricanes). With an average 2.3 rating in adults 18-49 and 5.4 million viewers overall, the 2008 Finals were up 130 percent in 18-49 and 122 percent in total viewers versus last year Ducks-Senators series (a 1.0 rating in 18-49 and 2.4 million viewers overall).
In the weekly ranking of primetime programs among adults 18-49, the Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 and Game 5 ranked #8 and #9 (tied) respectively among all programs on the broadcast networks. The two games ranked #6 (tied) among adults 18-34. The telecasts generated top-five ranking in all key adult-male demographics: among men 18-49, the two telecasts tied for #3; among men 18-34, Game 5 ranked #3 and Game 6 ranked #4; and among men 25-54, the games tied as the #4 programs of the week.
Through 37 weeks of the 2007-08 season, Fox leads in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, while the race for #2 remains tight. Season-to-date averages in adults 18-49 for the period September 24, 2007 through June 8, 2008 are Fox (4.1/11), ABC (3.0/8), CBS (2.9/8), NBC (2.7/7), Univision (1.5/4), CW (1.0/3) and Telemundo (0.4/1).
NBC is the only major network that has not seen its audience get significantly older this season versus last and it is now the "second-youngest" of the major broadcast networks. Through the first 37 weeks of the 2007-08 season, NBC is nearly matching its median age from the prior season (48.4 years this season vs. 48.2 years last season). In this same comparison, ABC's median age has increased by 2.1 years (to 49.2 from 47.1), CBS's median age has increased to 52.9 years old from 52.2 and Fox's median age has increased by 1.3 years to 43.9 from 42.6 years old at this point last season.
Primetime averages for the week of June 2-8 in adults 18-49 were Fox (2.5/7), ABC, (2.2/7), NBC (1.9/6), CBS (1.7/5), Univision (1.3/4), CW (0.7/2) and Telemundo (0.4/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (7.2 million), Fox (6.5 million), ABC (6.1 million), NBC (5.7 million), Univision (3.2 million), CW (1.8 million) and Telemundo (1.0 million).
NBC highlights for the week of June 2-8:
* On Monday, NBC Sports coverage of Game 5 of the Pittsburgh Penguins-Detroit Red Wings NHL Stanley Cup Finals was up 115 percent in both adults 18-49 and total viewers versus last year's Game 5. It scored the highest adult 18-49 rating for any Game 5 telecast since June 13, 2002 and the highest 18-49 rating for any Stanley Cup telecast since June 9, 2003 (Devils-Ducks Game 7).
* On Wednesday, NBC Sports coverage of the deciding Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals, in which the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins, scored the highest 18-49 rating for a Stanley Cup Game 6 telecast since June 10, 2000 and the largest total viewership for a Game 6 since the Stanley Cup returned to broadcast network television in 1995.
* This year's Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 on Wednesday surged by 142 percent in 18-49 rating and by 132 percent in total viewers versus the most recent Stanley Cup Game 6 telecast (Hurricanes-Oilers in 2006).
* On Thursday, "Last Comic Standing" was up 11 percent in 18-49 and 13 percent in total viewers versus the prior week. "Last Comic" grew by 47 percent in 18-49 rating and 26 percent in total viewers from its first half-hour to its fourth, despite facing formidable competition in its final hour from ABC's coverage of the Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals.
* Also on Thursday, the premiere of "Fear Itself" was up 43 percent in 18-49 and 54 percent in total viewers versus NBC's regular-program average in this time period last summer. In total viewers, "Fear Itself" topped every NBC non-sports telecast in this time period last summer, despite the tough competition this past Thursday from the Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals.
* On Friday, a two-hour "Dateline NBC" was the #1 telecast on network television in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, pacing NBC to its 11th Friday win of the season in that demo (including ties).
* NBC's telecast of the 2004 feature film "National Treasure" dug up the network's highest Saturday 18-49 rating in 13 weeks, excluding sports telecasts.
* On Sunday, a two-hour "Dateline" matched NBC highest 18-49 rating in its time period in 11 weeks, and was the #1 non-sports choice in adults 25-54, total viewers and key adult-female demographics opposite the NBA Finals.
Ratings reflect "live plus same day" data unless otherwise noted. Season-to-date figures are averages of "live plus seven day" data except for the two most recent weeks, which are "live plus same day."
Additional NBC highlights for the week of June 2-8:
On Monday, June 2, NBC Sports coverage of Game 5 of the Pittsburgh Penguins-Detroit Red Wings NHL Stanley Cup Finals scored the highest 18-49 rating for any Stanley Cup telecast since June 9, 2003 (Devils-Ducks Game 7) and the highest adult 18-49 rating for any Game 5 telecast since June 13, 2002 (Red Wings-Hurricanes). In total viewers, it was the top-scoring Stanley Cup game since June 7, 2004 (Lightning-Flames Game 7).
The game, which went into triple overtime, averaged a 2.8/9 in adults 18-49 and 6.2 million viewers overall for its full duration from 8 p.m.-12:52 a.m. Versus last year's Game 5 (Senators-Ducks, Wednesday, June 6, 2007), this year's Game 5 was up 115 percent in both 18-49 and total viewers. The primetime portion of the game from 8-11 p.m. averaged a 2.4/7 in 18-49 and 5.5 million viewers overall. NBC ranked #2 for the night in adults 18-49, just one-tenth of a rating point out of first place, and won the night in adults 18-34 and all key adult-male demographics.
On Tuesday, June 3 at 8 p.m. ET, "Most Outrageous Moments" delivered a 1.6/5 in adults 18-49 and 5.3 million viewers overall, and from 8:30-9 p.m., an encore telecast of "Most Outrageous Moments" averaged a 1.6/5 in 18-49 and 5.6 million viewers overall. In the hour, "Most Outrageous Moments" ranked #2 in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and other key measures. At 9 p.m., an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" averaged a 1.3/4 in 18-49 and 5.8 million viewers overall.
Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.8/5 in 18-49, 5.9 million viewers overall) was tied for #1 in adults and men 18-49 and ranked #1 outright in adults, men and women 18-34 and women 18-49. From its first half-hour to its second, "SVU" increased by 18 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.0/6 from a 1.7/5).
On Wednesday, June 4, NBC Sports coverage of Game 6 of the Detroit Red Wings-Pittsburgh Penguins Stanley Cup Finals (2.9/9 in 18-49, 6.8 million viewers overall from 8-11 p.m.) scored the highest 18-49 rating and total-viewer result for any Stanley Cup telecast since Monday, June 9, 2003 (Devils-Ducks Game 7).
For a Game 6 Stanley Cup Finals telecast, this was the highest rating in adults 18-49 since June 10, 2000 (Devils-Stars) and the highest total-viewer tally since the Stanley Cup returned to broadcast network television in 1995. This year's Game 6 telecast was up 142 percent in 18-49 rating and 132 percent in total viewers versus the last Stanley Cup Game 6 telecast (a 1.2/5 in 18-49 and 2.9 million viewers overall for the Hurricanes-Oilers Game 6 on June 17, 2006; there was no Game 6 in 2007).
In the climactic 10-11 p.m. hour, Stanley Cup coverage dominated in key demographics, beating the ABC-CBS competition combined in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and all key adult-male demos. Overall on Wednesday night, NBC ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and #1 in all key adult-male demographics. NBC's 2.9 rating in adults 18-49 for the night marks the network's highest Wednesday primetime average in the key demo since January 23.
On Thursday, June 5, from 8-10 p.m., ET "Last Comic Standing" (2.1/6 in 18-49, 5.0 million viewers overall) was up 11 percent in 18-49 rating and 13 percent in total viewers versus the prior week. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Last Comic" surged by 47 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.5/7 from a 1.7/6) and by 26 percent, or more than 1.1 million persons in total viewers (to 5.4 million from 4.3 million). "Last Comic" achieved these gains despite facing the start of ABC's coverage of the Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals in the 9 p.m. hour.
Thursday at 10 p.m. ET, the premiere of "Fear Itself" averaged a 2.0/5 in 18-49 and 5.4 million viewers overall. This was up 43 percent in 18-49 and 54 percent in total viewers versus NBC's regular-program average last summer in this time period (with first-run episodes of "Studio 60" and encores of "ER"). "Fear Itself" matched NBC's highest non-sports 18-49 rating in this time period last summer, while topping all of last summer's non-sports telecasts in total viewers, despite formidable competition from ABC Sports' coverage of the Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals.
On Friday, June 6 from 8-8:30 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Most Outrageous Moments" delivered a 0.9/4 in 18-49 and 3.7 million viewers overall. From 8:30-9 p.m., a second encore of "Most Outrageous Moments" delivered a 1.1/5 in 18-49 and 4.1 million viewers overall.
Friday from 9-11 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.8/6 in 18-49, 6.6 million viewers overall) won the time period in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, total viewers and other key measures. "Dateline" delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this time period in five weeks (since May 2) and delivered the network's biggest overall viewership in the slot in six weeks (since April 25). From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Dateline" increased by 27 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.9/6 from a 1.5/5).
"Dateline" was the #1 telecast on network television Friday night in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49.
NBC ranked #1 on Friday night in adults 18-49, marking NBC's 11th Friday win of the season in primetime's key demographic (including ties).
On Saturday, June 7 from 8-11 p.m. ET, NBC's telecast of the 2004 feature film "National Treasure" (1.4/5 in adults 18-49, 4.7 million viewers overall) unearthed NBC's highest non-sports Saturday average in adults 18-49 in 13 weeks (since March 8) and biggest total-viewer tally in eight weeks (since April 12). From its first half-hour to its sixth, "National Treasure" doubled its 18-49 rating (to a 1.8/6 from a 0.9/4) and grew by 62 percent or 2.2 million persons in total viewers (to 5.7 million from 3.5 million). In its final hour from 10-11 p.m., "National Treasure" ranked #1 in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, adults 18-34 (tied), total viewers and all key adult-male demographics.
On Sunday, June 8 from 7-9 p.m. ET, four rebroadcasts of "Most Outrageous Moments" averaged a 1.5/5 in 18-49 and 4.9 million viewers overall, combining to generate NBC's second-highest 18-49 rating in this two-hour block in the last nine weeks (since April 6). From its first half-hour to its fourth, the block of "Most Outrageous Moments" increased by 58 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.9/6 from a 1.2/4) and by 50 percent or more than 2.0 million persons in total viewers (to 6.2 million from 4.2 million).
Sunday from 9-11 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (2.1/6 in 18-49, 8.0 million viewers overall) matched NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this time period in 11 weeks (since March 23). "Dateline" was the #1 non-sports choice in the time period in total viewers, adults 25-54, women 18-49 and women 25-54. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Dateline" increased by 56 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.5/7 from a 1.6/4) and by 43 percent or more than 2.8 million persons in total viewers (to 9.4 million from 6.6 million).
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