'THE OFFICE,' 'SVU,' 'BIGGEST LOSER' AND 'CELEBRITY APPRENTICE' LEAD NBC'S PRIMETIME WEEK OF APRIL 27-MAY 3
'CELEBRITY APPRENTICE' ON SUNDAY ATTRACTS ITS BIGGEST OVERALL AUDIENCE SINCE ITS SEASON PREMIERE ON MARCH 1
'CELEBRITY APPRENTICE' WINS THE FINAL HOUR OF PRIMETIME IN ADULTS 18-49, ADULTS 18-34, ADULTS 25-54 AND ALL KEY ADULT-MALE DEMOS
ON TUESDAY, 'THE BIGGEST LOSER' GAINS 61 PERCENT IN 18-49 AND 3.0 MILLION TOTAL VIEWERS FROM ITS FIRST HALF-HOUR TO ITS FOURTH, TO WIN THE 9-10 P.M. HOUR IN ADULTS 18-49 AND OTHER KEY MEASURES
'LOSER' IS UP 8 PERCENT IN ADULTS 18-49 AND 13 PERCENT IN TOTAL VIEWERS VERSUS ITS YEAR-AGO CYCLE, AND IS THE BIGGEST 'LOSER' CYCLE IN TOTAL VIEWERS SINCE THE FIRST 'BIGGEST LOSER' IN 2004-05
'LAW & ORDER: SVU' WINS ITS HOUR IN ALL KEY DEMOGRAPHICS � ADULTS, MEN AND WOMEN 18-34, 18-49 AND 25-54 � AND BEATS THE ABC-CBS DRAMA COMPETITION COMBINED IN ADULTS, MEN AND WOMEN 18-34
'THE OFFICE' AND '30 ROCK' WIN THEIR TOUGH THURSDAY SLOTS IN MEN 18-49 AND 18-34, TOPPING 'GREY'S ANATOMY' AND 'CSI' IN THOSE DEMOS
'THE OFFICE' IS TV'S #1 SCRIPTED SERIES SEASON-TO-DATE IN THE VALUABLE ADULT 18-34 DEMO
ON THURSDAY 'PARKS AND RECREATION' BUILDS ON ITS LEAD-IN FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT WEEK IN ADULTS 18-49 AND WINS ITS SLOT IN ADULTS 18-34
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. � May 5, 2009 � Led by "The Office," "Law & Order: SVU," "Biggest Loser" and "Celebrity Apprentice," NBC averaged a 2.1 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49 and 6.4 million viewers overall for the week of April 27-May 3, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.
Primetime averages for the week of April 27-May 3 in adults 18-49 were Fox (3.2/9), CBS (2.7/8), ABC, (2.5/7), NBC (2.1/6), Univision (1.5/4), CW (0.9/2) and Telemundo (0.5/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (11.1 million), Fox (8.9 million), ABC (8.4 million), NBC (6.4 million), Univision (3.6 million), CW (2.0 million) and Telemundo (1.1 million).
Through the first 32 weeks of the 2008-09 season, NBC is the only one of the major broadcast networks to decrease its median age versus the prior season. NBC is the "second youngest" of the major broadcast networks, with a median age of 47.3 years (versus 48.3 years at this point last season), 2.3 years "older" than Fox (45.0 years). By comparison, ABC's median age this season is 49.4 and CBS's median age is 53.9.
Season to date, NBC is running within 0.8 of a rating point of first place in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, versus a deficit of 1.3 points at this time last season.
NBC highlights for the week of April 27-May 3:
* On Monday, "Chuck" matched its highest 18-49 rating since its post-Super Bowl 3-D telecast on February 2, while "Heroes" built on its lead-in by 25 percent in adults 18-49 and 61 percent in adults 18-34 and won its tough slot in men 18-34.
* On Tuesday, "The Biggest Loser: Couples" gained 61 percent in 18-49 rating and 39 percent or 3.0 million persons in total viewers from its first half-hour to its fourth, lifting it to a first-place finish in adults 18-49 in the 9-10 p.m. hour over such competition as Fox's "Fringe," ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" results show and CBS's "The Mentalist." "Loser" gained 0.4 to 0.7 of an 18-49 rating point in each successive half-hour on Tuesday
* "The Biggest Loser: Couples" is up 8 percent in adults 18-49 and 13 percent in total viewers versus its year-ago cycle. The current, seventh cycle of "The Biggest Loser" is the biggest "Loser" cycle in total viewers since "The Biggest Loser 1" in the 2004-05 season.
* Also on Tuesday, "Law & Order: SVU" won its hour in all key demographics � adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 � and beat the ABC-CBS drama competition combined in adults, men and women 18-34. "SVU" apprehended its highest 18-49 rating since January 6 and its second-highest rating of the 2008-09 season.
* On Wednesday, "Law & Order" tracked down its biggest overall viewership since February 4 and matched its highest 18-49 rating since that same date.
* On Thursday, "Parks and Recreation" built on its "My Name is Earl" lead-in by 5 percent in adults 18-49 and 28 percent in adults 18-34, marking the third week in a row that "Parks" has built versus its 18-49 lead-in. "Parks and Recreation" ranked #1 in the time period in adults and men 18-34, topping CBS's "Survivor," Fox's "Bones, ABC's "Ugly Betty" and CW's "Smallville" in those demos.
* Also on Thursday, "The Office" and "30 Rock" won their tough time periods in men 18-49 and 18-34, topping ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," CBS's "CSI" and Fox's "Hell's Kitchen" in those demographics. Additionally on Thursday, "Southland" ranked #1 or tied for #1 among the broadcast networks in the time period in all key adult-male demos.
* On Sunday, the penultimate episode of the current cycle of "Celebrity Apprentice" attracted the show's biggest overall audience since its season premiere on March 1.
* "Celebrity Apprentice" built solidly from its first half-hour to its fourth, rising to a first-place finish in the Sunday 10-11 p.m. hour in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and all key adult-male demographics.
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 April 27-May 3:
On Monday, April 27 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Chuck" (2.4 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49, 6.2 million viewers overall) matched its highest 18-49 rating since its post-Super Bowl 3-D telecast on February 2. "Chuck" was up 9 percent in adults 18-49 versus its average for the six other post-daylight savings time original telecasts (2.4 vs. 2.2). From its first half-hour to its second, "Chuck" increased 14 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 2.5 from a 2.2) and 18 percent in men 18-49 (to a 2.6 from a 2.2).
Monday at 9 p.m. ET, "Heroes" (3.0/7 in 18-49, 6.5 million viewers overall) won its highly competitive time period in men 18-34. "Heroes" built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 25 percent in adults 18-49 and 61 percent in adults 18-34 (2.9 vs. 1.8).
It is worth noting that "Heroes" ratings have increased by an average 24 percent in adults 18-49 when going from "live plus same day" to "live plus seven day" measures through the season's first six months, one of the biggest increases for any major-network primetime series. In total viewers, "Heroes" has been adding an average 22 percent or 1.7 million viewers to its previously reported "live plus same day" numbers when "live plus seven day" viewing is counted.
Monday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Medium" (2.2/6 in 18-49, 6.7 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in its time period in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and other key demographics.
On Tuesday, April 28 from 8-10 p.m. ET, "The Biggest Loser: Couples" (3.6/10 in 18-49, 9.3 million viewers overall) again exhibited dramatic growth from its first to its fourth half-hour, lifting "Loser" to a first-place finish in 18-49 in the 9-10 p.m. hour over such competition as Fox's "Fringe," ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" results show and CBS's "Mentalist." From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Loser" gained 61 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 4.5/11 from a 2.8/8) and 39 percent or 3.0 million persons in total viewers (to 10.8 million from 7.8 million). "Loser" increased 0.4 to 0.7 of an 18-49 rating point in each successive half-hour. For its full two-hour time period, "Biggest Loser" ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and other key measures, behind only "Idol"-boosted Fox.
"The Biggest Loser: Couples" is up versus its year-ago cycle by 8 percent in 18-49 (4.0 vs. 3.7, "most current") and 13 percent in total viewers (10.1 million vs. 9.0 million), while the Tuesday edition of "Idol" is down 13 percent in 18-49 rating (to 9.9 from 11.4, "most current") and down 10 percent in total viewers (to 26.4 million from 29.2 million).
The current, seventh cycle of "The Biggest Loser" is the biggest "Loser" cycle in total viewers (10.1 million) since "The Biggest Loser 1" in the 2004-05 season.
Tuesday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.9/11 in 18-49, 10.5 million viewers overall) apprehended its highest 18-49 rating since January 6 and its second-highest rating of the season. In total viewers, "SVU" assembled its biggest crowd since March 17.
"SVU" ranked #1 in all key demographics � adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 � and beat the ABC-CBS drama competition combined in adults, men and women 18-34.
NBC ranked #2 on Tuesday night in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and other key demographics, behind only "Idol"-boosted Fox.
On Wednesday April 29 from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Law & Order" (2.2/6 in 18-49, 7.8 million viewers overall) tracked down its biggest overall viewership since February 4 and matched its highest 18-49 rating since that same date. "Law & Order" ranked #2 in the time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and all key categories, having built by 83 percent in 18-49 rating and 71 percent or 3.2 million persons on its lead-in from the previous hour � a 1.2/3 in 18-49 and 4.6 million viewers overall for a rebroadcast of "Law & Order: SVU" from 9-10 p.m. From half-hour to half-hour, "Law & Order" increased 14 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 2.4/7 from a 2.1/6).
From 8-9 p.m. ET, NBC News' coverage of the Presidential news conference was sustaining programming and is not included in the nightly or weekly averages.
On Thursday, April 30 at 8 p.m. ET, "My Name is Earl" (2.1/7 in 18-49, 5.2 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in its competitive time period in adults 18-49 and other key demographics.
Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET, "Parks and Recreation" (2.2/7 in 18-49, 5.1 million viewers overall) built on its "Earl" lead-in by 5 percent in adults 18-49 and by 28 percent in adults 18-34 (2.3 vs. 1.8). This marks the third week in a row that "Parks" has built versus its 18-49 lead-in. Prior to the debut of "Parks & Recreation," NBC this season had averaged a 12 percent fall-off in 18-49 versus original "Earl" lead-ins with regular programming in this time period.
"Parks & Recreation" ranked #1 in its time slot in adults 18-34 and men 18-34, topping CBS's "Survivor," Fox's "Bones," ABC's "Ugly Betty" and CW's "Smallville" in those demos.
Thursday from 9-9:31 p.m. ET, "The Office" (3.7/10 in 18-49, 7.4 million viewers overall) won its highly competitive time period in men 18-49 and 18-34, topping ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," CBS's "CSI" and Fox's "Hell's Kitchen" in those demographics. In adults 18-49, "The Office" ranked #2 in its time period, topping "CSI" head-to-head for the fourth straight week.
Season-to-date, "The Office" is the #11-ranked primetime program in adults 18-49, despite airing in head-to-head competition with the #1 show on the CBS schedule ("CSI") and one of the two top shows on the ABC schedule ("Grey's Anatomy"). Among adults 18-34, "The Office" is primetime television's #3 show and #1 scripted series (averaging a 5.6/15 season-to-date in that demo), behind only the Tuesday and Wednesday editions of "American Idol."
Thursday from 9:31-10:01 p.m. ET, "30 Rock" (2.9/7 in 18-49, 6.0 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in the time period in men 18-49 and men 18-34, versus the concluding half-hour of "Grey's Anatomy," "CSI" and "Hell's Kitchen."
Thursday 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "Southland" (2.0/6 in 18-49, 6.7 million viewers overall) ranked #1 or tied for #1 among the broadcast networks in the time slot in all key adult-male demographics � men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 � versus ABC's "Private Practice" and CBS's "Criminal Minds" encore.
On Friday, May 1 from 8-8:29 p.m. ET, "Howie Do It" averaged a 0.9/3 in 18-49 and 3.3 million viewers overall. From 8:29-9 p.m., an encore episode of "Howie Do It" delivered a 0.8/3 in 18-49 and 2.8 million viewers overall.
Friday from 9-11 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" averaged a 1.5/5 in 18-49 and 5.8 million viewers overall. Week to week, "Dateline" is up 15 percent in 18-49 (1.5/5 vs. 1.3/4) and 21 percent in total viewers (5.8 million vs. 4.8 million). From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Dateline" increased by 31 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.7/5 from a 1.3/4) and 24 percent or 1.2 million persons in total viewers (to 6.3 million from 5.1 million).
On Saturday, May 2 from 8-9 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "Law & Order: SVU" (0.9/3 in 18-49, 4.2 million viewers overall) locked up NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this time period in eight weeks (since March 7) and biggest overall viewership in 17 weeks (since January 3). The "SVU" rebroadcast ranked #2 in the time period in adults 25-54.
From 9-10 p.m., an encore "Southland" (0.8/3 in 18-49, 4.1 million viewers overall) was up week-to-week in this time period by 33 percent in 18-49 (0.8/3 vs. 0.6/2) and 58 percent in total viewers (4.1 million vs. 2.6 million). The total-viewer result is "Southland's" highest in its four Saturday rebroadcasts to date.
At 10 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "Law & Order" (1.1/4 in 18-49, 5.2 million viewers overall) built from half-hour to half-hour by 33 percent in 18-49 (to a 1.2/4 from a 0.9/3).
On Sunday, April 26 from 7-9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" averaged a 1.2/4 in 18-49 and 5.1 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Dateline" increased by 150 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.0/5 from a 0.8/3) and its overall viewership by 129 percent or 4.2 million persons (to 7.4 million from 3.2 million). Week-to-week, "Dateline" was up 20 percent in 18-49 rating (1.2/4 vs. 1.0/3).
Sunday from 9-11 p.m. ET, "The Celebrity Apprentice" (3.1/8 in 18-49, 8.7 million viewers overall) attracted its biggest overall audience since its season premiere on March 1.
"Celebrity Apprentice" built solidly from its first half-hour to its fourth, increasing 18 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 3.3/9 from a 2.8/7) and 9 percent in total viewers (to 9.0 million from 8.2 million). This propelled "Celebrity Apprentice" to a first-place finish in the 10-11 p.m. hour in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and all key adult-male demographics, topping ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" and CBS's "The Unit" in those measures. Versus its lead-in from the 8-9 p.m. hour, "Celebrity Apprentice" built by 94 percent in 18-49 rating (3.1 vs. 1.6) and 32 percent in total viewers (8.7 million vs. 6.6 million).
"Celebrity Apprentice" was up 35 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's non-sports average in the time period this season prior to "Apprentice's" debut (3.1 vs. 2.3, "live plus same day").
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