Six of 41 broadcast network primetime TV series have showed viewership gains through 12 weeks this summer, with NBC’s America’s Got Talent remaining the top performer overall.
NBC’s America’s Got Talent once again finished as the summer’s top program, averaging 2.4 adults 18-49 rating, according to Nielsen. Just one new program, Celebrity Family Feud, finished in the top 10, and four of the top five shows have been on the air for at least 10 seasons.
Boosted by the return of the NFL to primetime this month, NBC is on pace for its third straight summer victory, and its second straight standalone win. It tied with ABC and Fox for first in 2011 and won last summer outright with the Olympics. NBC has averaged a 1.6 adults 18-49 rating and 5 share this summer, dating back to May 27.
Summertime ratings have an easy winner so far — an Olympics-heavy NBC. But looking deeper — sans the high-rated Olympics programming — all broadcast networks and most cable networks have shown slippage.
In the first full week of summer, NBC ascended to No. 1 among adults 18-49, a position it probably won’t relinquish until the new season starts this fall. The network had three of the top six shows on broadcast in the demo last week, the week ended June 3, according to Nielsen. NBC average a 1.5 rating, 15% ahead of No. 2 ABC at 1.3.
Exclusives
This summer, TV ratings results seem like a repeat of a year ago — but with one change for NBC. Fox is leading among key 18-49 primetime viewers with an average Nielsen 2.29 million number — but it’s down 12% from a year ago. Close on its heels, ABC is next at 2.27 million, down 9% versus a year ago.
