For the year to date, NBC has climbed within 902,000 viewers of CBS, the narrowest gap in 15 years, according to Nielsen figures. Longtime leader CBS has drawn 9.9 million viewers compared to NBC’s 9 million.
NETWORK RATINGS ROUNDUP: NOV. 20-26
NBC Wins Week, Narrows Gap With CBS
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Powered by football and “The Voice,” NBC won a second consecutive weekly ratings contest and narrowed the gap with front-runner CBS among total viewers for the TV season so far.
For the year to date, NBC has climbed within 902,000 viewers of CBS, the narrowest gap in 15 years, according to Nielsen figures released Tuesday. Longtime leader CBS has drawn 9.9 million viewers compared to NBC’s 9 million.
Networks usually tout their showing among advertiser-favored young adults ages 18 to 49, but staying competitive among all viewers is important as broadcasters divvy up the pie with expanding cable and streaming outlets.
NBC’s Thanksgiving week winners included NFL games, the sophomore drama “This Is Us” and two helpings of talent show “The Voice.”
Viewers also sampled holiday cheer, with ABC’s “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” the highest-ranked entry with 6.68 million viewers.
For the week of Nov. 20 to 26, NBC averaged 8.6 million viewers in primetime. CBS had 6.96 million, ABC had 5.37 million, Fox had 2.96 million, Univision had 1.43 million, CW had 1.31 million, Ion Television had 1.28 million and Telemundo had 1.19 million.
ESPN was the most-watched cable network, averaging 3.23 million viewers in primetime and posting cable’s No. 1 show with the NFL contest between the Seahawks and the Falcons.
Hallmark, buoyed by its slate of holiday movies, was close behind with 3.11 million, while Fox News Channel had 1.72 million.
BRAND CONNECTIONS
ABC’s “World News Tonight” remained the evening news champion, averaging 8.56 million viewers. NBC’s “Nightly News” had 8.08 million and the “CBS Evening News” had 6.42 million.
The Top 20
Primetime viewership numbers compiled by Nielsen for Nov. 20-26. Listings include the week’s ranking and viewership.
1. NFL Sunday Night Football: Green Bay at Pittsburgh, NBC, 18.95 million.
2. NFL Thursday Night Football: New York at Washington, NBC, 16.91 million.
3. “Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick,” NBC, 13.32 million.
4. “NCIS,” CBS, 12.54 million.
5. “60 Minutes,” CBS, 12.23 million.
6. “The Big Bang Theory,” CBS, 12.13 million.
7. “Thursday Night NFL Pre-Kick,” NBC, 11.44 million.
8. “Young Sheldon,” CBS, 11.43 million.
9. NFL Football: Atlanta at Seattle, ESPN, 10.82 million.
10. “Dancing With the Stars” (Monday), ABC, 10.15 million.
11. “The Good Doctor,” ABC, 9.97 million.
12. Football Night in America, NBC, 9.9 million.
13. “Thursday Night NFL Pre-Game,” NBC, 9.54 million.
14. “The Voice” (Tuesday), NBC, 9.36 million.
15. “This Is Us,” NBC 9.34 million.
16. “Dancing With the Stars (Tuesday),” ABC, 9.2 million.
17. “The Voice” (Monday), NBC, 9.15 million.
18. “Bull,” CBS, 8.99 million.
19. “The Walking Dead,” AMC, 8.28 million.
20. “NCIS: New Orleans,” CBS, 8 million.
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