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NBC Wins First Three Weeks of Season in Key Demos

Related: NBC

NBC has won each of the first three weeks of the new season in 18-49 for the first time in 10 years (since 2002).

NBC's 2.9 for week three is the net's highest rating for a third week of a new season in five years (since 2007). This season has also seen NBC's highest week 1 rating (2.9) in four years and highest week 2 rating (2.8) in four years ("live plus same day").

NBC has been up versus last year in 18-49 and total viewers for each of the first three weeks of the season, while ABC, CBS and Fox have each been down in both categories all three weeks.

It's the first time in six years (since 2006) that NBC has been up versus the same week last year for each of the first three weeks of the season.

Counting the last three weeks of the 2011-12 broadcast year, NBC has now won six weeks in a row in 18-49, its longest streak since the summer of 2008. NBC has also been #1 or tied for #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox for 10 of the last 12 weeks.

In adults 18-49, NBC's schedule includes the season's:

* #1 show, "Sunday Night Football."

* #1 unscripted shows, the Monday "Voice" (#7 overall)

* #1 new series, "Revolution."

* #1 new comedy, "Go On."

* #1 Friday series, "Grimm."

Rankings exclude football pre- and post-game shows.

With its #1 finishes on Monday and Tuesday of Week 3among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in adults 18-49, combined with a Sunday win the prior week, NBC finished #1 three nights in a row with regular in-season programming for the first time in nine years (since November 12-14, 2003).

NBC is up versus the first three weeks of last season by 15 percent (3.0 vs. 2.6) and is also up 11 percent year to year in total viewers (8.4 million vs. 7.6 million). NBC is the only network among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox that's up versus last year's three-week averages in either category.

Here are "most current" season averages thru three weeks...

Adults 18-49 vs. First Three Weeks of the Season Last Year Net...Three
Weeks 2011... Three Weeks 2012...Diff NBC...2.6...3.0...Up 15%
CBS...3.4...2,6...Down 24% ABC...2.6...2.3...Down 12%
Fox...3.1...2.5...Down 19%

Total Viewers vs. First Three Weeks of the Season Last Year
Net...Three Weeks 2011... Three Weeks 2012...Diff
NBC...7.594 million ...8.394 million...Up 11%
CBS...12.770 million...11.024 million...Down 14%
ABC...9.417 million ...8.579 million...Down 9%
Fox...8.049 million ...6.525 million...Down 19%