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NBC Wins Its First November Sweeps in Nine Years

Nov 20, 2012  •  Post A Comment

NBC announced that its prime-time lineup has delivered the network’s first November sweeps win since 2003 in the key demo of adults 18-49. The network went from No. 4 in sweeps a year ago to No. 1 this year, based on Nielsen “live plus same day” data.

The announcement was made with 25 of 28 nights of sweeps completed — through Nov. 18. NBC rose 17% in the demo from a year ago, while all three of the other big four networks were down.

NBC is averaging a 2.8 rating during the period, up from a 2.4 a year ago. In second place is CBS with a 2.4 average, down 14% from a 2.8 last year. Fox is in third with a 2.3, down 26% from last year’s 3.1, and ABC is in fourth with a 2.2, down 12% from a 2.5.

NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” ranks as the top-rated prime-time series on the big four networks with a 7.6 average rating during the period in 18-49. The network also boasts the top unscripted series in “The Voice,” which is averaging a 4.5 with its Monday edition; the top-rated new drama — “Revolution” (2.8) — and the top-rated new comedy in “Go On” (2.2).

NBC is also the only network to show an improvement from a year ago in total viewers, but its number is only good enough for third place. Leading the way is CBS with an average during the period of 10.281 million, down 10% from a year earlier, followed by ABC with 7.927 million, down 15%; NBC with 7.917 million, up 15%; and Fox with 6.522 million, down 25%.

One Comment

  1. Why do Total Viewer numbers (last paragraph) even matter? Why even mention that?? Shows live or die based on the Demo Group ratings (which I think need to be reworked somehow because there are many shows that seem to have very good total viewers numbers but get cancelled anyway because of lower Demo group numbers).
    It just seems odd to rank NBC #3 in total viewer numbers since that doesn’t matter anyway based on the current rankings system.

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