NBC WINS THE WEEK OF SEPT. 29-OCT. 5 IN 18-49, AS "SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL" AND "VOICE" ACCOUNT FOR THREE OF THE WEEK'S TOP FIVE ON THE BIG 4

It's NBC's Most-Watched Second Week of the Season in Seven Years

Through Two Weeks, NBC Leads the Season Among the Big 4 Networks in Every Key Demo

NBC Stretches its Monday 18-49 Lead Among the Big 4 with Slot Wins for 'The Voice' and 'The Blacklist'

'The Voice' Equals its Top Tuesday Rating in the Past Year, Teams With 'Chicago P.D.' to Sweep Six of Six Tuesday Half-hours Among the Big 4 in 18-49

Wednesday's 'Mysteries of Laura' Retains 100% of the Prior Week's Regular-Slot Premiere in 18-49

Thursday's 'Parenthood' Delivers its Second-Biggest Total-Viewer Result of the Past Year

Bengals-Patriots 'Sunday Night Football' is the Most-Watched NFL Primetime Telecast vs. a Baseball League Divisional Series Game Since the LDS Round Was Instituted in 1995

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - Oct. 7, 2014 - NBC has finished #1 in the key adult 18-49 demographic for the second week of the 2014-15 primetime television season, with "Sunday Night Football" and "The Voice" accounting for three of the week's top five primetime shows on the Big 4 networks.

According to "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research, NBC averaged a 2.7 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49 and 9.0 million viewers overall for the Sept. 29-Oct. 5 week.

The 9.0 million makes this NBC's most-watched week two of a new season in seven years, since averaging 9.2 million during the fall of 2007.

Note that #2 CBS was boosted this week by a Sunday NFL overrun and the addition of Thursday NFL football, which itself was boosted by NFL Network viewership (1.2 rating in 18-49, 2.591 million viewers overall Thursday night) that was added into CBS's averages.

NBC won week two among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, all key adult-female demos, men 18-34 and men 18-49. Versus week two last year, NBC finished within a tenth of a rating point in adults 18-49 (2.7 vs. 2.8) and was up +3% in total viewers (9.0 million vs. 8.7 million).

NBC's "Sunday Night Football" was the week's #1 primetime telecast on the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49, as well as total viewers, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and all key adult-male demos. The Tuesday edition of "The Voice" ranked #4 in adults 18-49, Monday's "Voice" was #5, Monday's "The Blacklist" ranked #12 and Tuesday's "Chicago Fire" tied for #20. Rankings exclude sports pre- and post-game shows.

For the season, NBC ranks #1 among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 and all other key demographics.

In total viewers, NBC is #2 for the season, up 3% versus last season, to NBC's highest average at this point in the season in seven years (since averaging 9.6 million at this point in 2006).

Primetime averages for the week of Sept. 29-Oct. 5 in adults 18-49 are: NBC, 2.7/8; CBS, 2.5/8; ABC, 2.0/6; Fox, 1.2/4; and CW, 0.4/1. In overall total viewers, the weekly averages were: CBS, 11.4 million; NBC, 9.0 million; ABC, 7.5 million; Fox, 3.4 million; and CW, 1.0 million.

"Most current" averages for the season to date are: NBC, 2.8/9; CBS, 2.4/8; ABC, 2.1/7; Fox, 1.6/5; and CW, 0.3/1. In overall total viewers, the season averages are: CBS, 11.1 million; NBC, 9.5 million; ABC, 7.9 million; Fox, 4.3 million; and CW, 0.9 million.

NBC highlights for the week of Sept. 29-Oct. 5:

Monday: NBC won Monday among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 by a +20% margin (with a 3.6 rating vs. a 3.0 for #2 CBS), up from the prior week's +6% margin (3.7 vs. 3.5 for CBS).

"The Voice" (4.0/11 in 18-49, 12.9 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) built by 3% on the previous week's premiere rating in 18-49 (4.0 vs. 3.9) and retained 99.9% of its premiere result in total viewers (12.941 million vs. 12.948 million). It's the first time since the Fall 2012 "Voice 3" cycle that the show has improved its Monday 18-49 rating from week one to week two. "The Voice" scored its highest Monday 18-49 rating since March 17 and has this week and the prior week generated the show's two biggest Monday overall audiences since that same date. "The Voice" won its highly competitive two-hour time period in adults 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 and other key demos.

Live Plus Three Day Ratings: "The Voice" (4.77 rating in adults 18-49, 14.910 million viewers overall) grew by +20% in 18-49 rating (to a 4.77 from a 3.98) and 1.969 million viewers overall (to 14.910 million from 12.941 million) going from "live plus same day" ratings to "live plus three day."

"The Blacklist" (2.8/8 in 18-49, 10.5 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) won the time period convincingly in adults 18-49 versus season premieres of ABC's "Castle" (2.2) and CBS's "NCIS: LA" (1.9), beating "Castle" by +27% and "NCIS: LA" by a +47% margin. This week's "Blacklist" grew +8% versus what the show was averaging at the end of last season through the May sweep in 18-49 (2.8 vs. 2.6).

L+3: "The Blacklist" (4.29 rating in adults 18-49, 15.213 million viewers overall) grew by +54% in 18-49 (to a 4.29 from a 2.78) and 4.701 million viewers overall (to 15.213 million from 10.512 million) going from L+SD to L+3. "The Blacklist" was the #1 drama of the night in L+3 adult 18-49 rating and increased its 18-49 growth to +54% from +44% the prior week.

Tuesday: NBC won Tuesday night in adults 18-49 among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox by a +59% margin (with a 3.5 rating vs. a 2.2 for #2 CBS), leading six of six half-hours decisively, paced by the #1 show of the night on the Big 4 in all key demos, "The Voice" (4.1/13 in 18-49, 13.7 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET). This week's "Voice" equaled the prior week's 18-49 rating to match the show's highest Tuesday score in the past year, since Oct. 1, 2013 (4.5). "The Voice" also topped this week's Monday rating in 18-49 (4.0), and has now been up on Tuesday night versus Monday during each of the season's first two weeks, after last fall seeing the first 10 Tuesday "Voice" telecasts trail Monday's results. In total viewers, this week's "Voice" delivered the show's biggest Tuesday audience since March 4 (14.5 million). Week to week, the Tuesday "Voice" grew by +4% in total viewers (13.7 million vs. 13.2 million).

L+3: "The Voice" (4.70 rating in adults 18-49, 15.367 million viewers overall) grew by +14% in 18-49 (to a 4.70 from a 4.11) and 1.633 million viewers overall (to 15.367 million from 13.734 million) going from L+SD to L+3.

"Chicago Fire" (2.3/7 in 18-49, 8.7 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) won the hour among ABC, CBS and NBC in 18-49, topping CBS's "Person of Interest" (1.8) by a +28% margin and ABC's "Forever" (1.4) by +64%. Chicago Fire" grew by +28% versus what the show was averaging at the end of last season through the May sweep in 18-49 (2.3 vs. 1.8) and by +24% or 1.9 million persons in total viewers (8.714 million vs. 7.034 million).

L+3: "Chicago Fire" (3.17 rating in adults 18-49, 11.548 million viewers overall) grew by +40% in 18-49 (to a 3.17 from a 2.5327 and 2.834 million viewers overall (to 11.548 million from 8.714 million) going from L+SD to L+3

Wednesday: "The Mysteries of Laura" (1.5/5 in 18-49, 9.0 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) maintained 100% of the prior week's regular-slot debut in adult 18-49 rating (1.5 both weeks) and retained 90% in total viewers (9.0 million vs. 10.0 million). This week's "Laura" ranked a close #2 in the time period among the Big 4 in total viewers, limiting "Survivor's" lead in the hour to 6% (9.5 million for "Survivor," 9.0 million for "Laura"). "The Mysteries of Laura" grew by +14% from half-hour to half-hour in 18-49 (to a 1.6 from a 1.4) and +10% in total viewers (9.4 million vs. 8.5 million).

L+3: "The Mysteries of Laura" (1.80 rating in adults 18-49, 10.355 million viewers overall) grew by +21% in 18-49 (to a 1.80 from a 1.49) and 1.380 million viewers overall (to 10.355 million from 8.975 million) going from L+SD to L+3.

"Law & Order: SVU" (1.8/5 in 18-49, 7.7 million viewers overall from 9-10 p.m. ET) was up +13% this week versus what the show was averaging at the end of last season through the May sweep in 18-49 (1.8 vs. 1.6) and up +32% in total viewers (7.7 million vs. 5.8 million). In the first two weeks of the new season, "Law & Order: SVU" has delivered the show's two biggest overall audiences since Feb. 26.

L+3: For a second week in a row, "Law & Order: SVU" (2.73 rating in adults 18-49, 9.984 million viewers overall) delivered its biggest increase ever in adults 18-49 going from L+SD results to L+3 (up 0.94 rating points, to a 2.73 from a 1.79).

"Chicago P.D." (1.5/5 in 18-49, 6.6 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) retained 83% of its lead-in from "SVU," versus a 74% retention in the hour for CBS's debut of "Stalker" (2.0 vs. 2.7 for "Criminal Minds") and 62% for ABC's "Nashville" (1.6 vs. 2.6 for "Black-ish"). "Chicago P.D." was up +7% versus NBC's regular-program average in the time period last season in 18-49 (1.5 vs. 1.4) and up +18% in total viewers (6.6 million vs. 5.6 million). In adults 18-34, "Chicago P.D." finished #1 in the time period among ABC, CBS and NBC (1.2 rating).

L+3: "Chicago P.D." (2.38 rating in adults 18-49, 9.281 million viewers overall) grew by +55% in 18-49 (to a 2.38 from a 1.54) and 2.655 million viewers overall (to 9.281 million from 6.626 million) going from L+SD to L+3.

Thursday: "The Biggest Loser" (1.3/4 in 18-49, 4.6 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) maintained 100% of its rating of the prior two weeks in 18-49 and hit a three-week high in total viewers (best since the season premiere of Sept. 11, 5.4 million). From its first half-hour to its second, "The Biggest Loser" grew in every key measure, including gains of +8% in adults 18-49 (to a 1.4 from a 1.3) and +25% in adults 18-34 (1.0 vs. 0.8).

L+3: The prior week's "Biggest Loser" on Sept. 25 (1.64 rating in adults 18-49, 5.281 million viewers overall) grew by +23% in 18-49 (to a 1.64 from a 1.33) and 811,000 viewers overall (to 5.281 million from 4.470 million) going from L+SD to L+3.

The debut of "Bad Judge" (1.3/4 in 18-49, 5.8 million viewers overall from 9-9:30 p.m. ET) retained 100% of its lead-in from "Biggest Loser" in 18-49 and built by +26% in total viewers. In the time period, "Bad Judge" outdelivered Fox's rival debut of "Gracepoint" head to head from 9-9:30 in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, total viewers and all key adult-female demos. "Bad Judge" scored NBC's top 18-49 rating in the slot with in-season regular programming since Nov. 7, 2013.

The premiere of "A to Z" (1.2/3 in 18-49, 4.8 million viewers overall from 9:30-10:01 p.m. ET) retained 92% of its lead-in from "Bad Judge" in adults 18-49 and 94% in women 18-49 (1.6 vs. 1.7).

"Parenthood" (1.3/4 in 18-49, 4.3 million viewers overall from 10:01-11 p.m. ET) retained 93% of the prior week's season-premiere 1.4 in 18-49, which equaled "Parenthood's" highest rating since Oct. 3, 2013. In total viewers, "Parenthood" grew +2% versus last week's season premiere, for the show's second-best total-viewer performance in more than a year (since the fall 2013 season debut on Sept. 27, 2013, over that span trailing only the 4.4 million of March 27).

L+3: The prior week's "Parenthood" on Sept. 25 (2.29 rating in adults 18-49, 6.506 million viewers overall) delivered the show's highest 18-49 rating in L+3 since Oct. 3, 2013, growing by +66% from L+SD to L+3 (to a 2.29 rating from a 1.38).

Upscale: "Parenthood" was the #1 most upscale primetime series on the Big 4 networks in "most current" L+3 results for premiere week, indexing at a 179 among adults 18-49 living in homes with $100K+ incomes (100 represents an average concentration of those homes).

Friday: An encore telecast of "Bad Judge" (0.8/3 in 18-49, 4.0 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) scored NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the time period since July 25.

A rebroadcast of "A to Z" (0.8/3 in 18-49, 3.0 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) retained 100% of its 18-49 lead-in from the 8 p.m. "Bad Judge" encore and matched NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the time period since July 25.

"Dateline NBC" averaged a 1.1/4 in 18-49 and 5.5 million viewers overall from 9-11 p.m. ET. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Dateline" grew by +15% in total viewers (5.8 million vs. 5.0 million)..

L+3: The prior week's Friday "Dateline NBC" on Sept. 26 (1.67 rating in adults 18-49, 7.830 million viewers overall) grew by +20% in 18-49 (to a 1.67 from a 1.39) and 937,000 viewers overall (to 7.830 million from 6.893 million) going from L+SD to L+3.

Saturday: An encore telecast of "The Voice" (0.7/2 in 18-49, 2.9 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) ranked #2 in the time period among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 and other key demos. The "Voice" encore grew by +125% from its first half-hour to its fourth in adults 18-49 (to a 0.9 from a 0.4) and by +49% or 1.1 million persons in total viewers (3.3 million vs. 2.2 million).

At 10 p.m. ET, "SNL Vintage" (0.8/3 in 18-49, 3.0 million viewers overall), featuring an encore of an April 22, 1978 telecast of "Saturday Night Live" with host Steve Martin and musical guest the Blues Brothers, tied for #2 in the time period among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49.

Sunday: NBC Sports' "Sunday Night Football" (7.4/25 in 18-49, 19.4 million viewers overall from 8:31-11:27 p.m. ET), featuring the Cincinnati Bengals at the New England Patriots, led NBC to nightlong wins among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in every key measure. Versus "SNF's" fifth Sunday one year ago, the Bengals-Patriots game was up +6% in adults 18-49 (to a 7.4 rating vs. a 7.0) and up +10% in total viewers (19.4 million vs. 17.7 million). It was the most-watched primetime NFL game versus a Major League Baseball League Divisional Series game since the LDS series were instituted in 1995. It was also the most-watched primetime in-season NFL telecast featuring the Bengals in 22 years, since Monday, Oct. 19, 1992 (Bengals-Steelers, 21.0 million viewers).

For the night (from 7:30-11 p.m. ET), NBC averaged a 6.4 rating in 18-49 and 17.1 million viewers overall, giving it a +178% margin over #2 CBS in nightlong 18-49 averages (6.4 from 7:30-11 p.m. for NBC vs. 2.3 from 7-11 for CBS).