Ratings: One Chicago Shows & Football Put NBC on Top

NBC's strong performance in Premiere Week is impressive, particularly with the network achieving its sixth consecutive win in total viewers and thirteenth in the 18-49 demo. The fact that it led in both categories, even without counting the NFL, underscores the strength of its new and returning shows.

Winning in total viewers (averaging 6.2 million) indicates a solid lineup that resonates with a broad audience, while dominance in the key demo reflects its appeal to advertisers targeting younger viewers. As CBS prepares for its mid-October return, NBC's early success sets a competitive tone for the fall TV season.

This continued success not only highlights NBC's programming strategy but also suggests that the network has effectively capitalized on viewer trends and preferences.

Sunday Night Football’s dominance with 20 million viewers in Premiere Week is a testament to the enduring appeal of live sports. This kind of viewership not only significantly boosts NBC’s ratings but also reinforces the importance of sports programming in attracting large audiences.

As the NFL season progresses, it will likely continue to be a cornerstone for NBC, driving viewership across the network. This success creates a unique challenge for scripted shows, as they compete with such high-profile events for audience attention.

In the realm of entertainment programming, the show The Voice garnered the second-highest viewership with 6 million viewers, following CBS’ 60 Minutes.

It was succeeded by Chicago Fire (5.6 million), America’s Got Talent (5.5 million), and Chicago Med (5.5 million). ABC secured the sixth and seventh positions with Dancing With the Stars (4.9 million) and 9-1-1 (4.8 million), while CBS’ Survivor claimed eighth place.

NBC rounded out the top 10 with Chicago P.D. (4.3 million) and a special episode of America’s Got Talent (4.3 million). Three new shows narrowly missed out on the top 10 list for Premiere Week: ABC’s Doctor Odyssey (4.1 million), NBC’s Brilliant Minds (3.9 million), and ABC’s High Potential (3.7 million).

Up to this point in the season, CBS has premiered only 60 Minutes, Matlock (on a special night), 48 Hours, and The Summit (on a special night). Established scripted series like NCIS, The FBI, Fire Country, Ghosts, Elsbeth, and Blue Bloods are set to launch their new seasons during the week of October 14.

Which show(s) did you watch? Drop a comment!