NBC'S "SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL" RANKS #1 IN 18-49 FOR THE PRIMETIME WEEK OF OCT. 20-26

'The Voice,' 'The Blacklist,' 'Chicago Fire,' 'Marry Me' and 'SVU' Also Finish Among the Week's Top 35 Primetime Programs on the Big 4

Through Five Weeks, NBC Ranks #1 for the Season in 18-49 and Is Delivering Its Biggest Overall Audience at This Point in the Season in Eight Years

NBC Wins Monday Among the Big 4 as 'The Blacklist' Beats its 10 p.m. ET Drama Competition in All Key Measures and 'The Voice' Equals Its Comparable Rating From Last Spring

NBC Is Tuesday's #1 Non-Sports Net in 18-49, Led by the #1 Entertainment Show of the Night, 'The Voice,' and the #2 New Comedy of the Fall, 'Marry Me'; 'Chicago Fire' Remains Undefeated vs. ABC-CBS Drama Competition

Wednesday's 'Chicago P.D.' Hits a Four-Week High in Total Viewers

'Grimm' Ranks as the Big 4's #1 Scripted Show Friday Night in 18-49; 'Constantine' Retains 100% of That Lead-In

Packers-Saints 'Sunday Night Football' Sweeps the Night in All Key Measures Among the Big 4 Against World Series Competition, Grows +13% vs. the Same Night Last Year

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - Oct. 28, 2014 - NBC's "Sunday Night Football" has delivered the #1 primetime rating on the Big 4 networks for the week of Oct. 20-26 in adults 18-49 and other key demographics, despite facing head-to-head competition from baseball's World Series.

Joining "Sunday Night Football" among the week's top 35 primetime shows on the Big 4 in 18-49 were "The Voice," "The Blacklist," "Chicago Fire," "Marry Me" and "Law & Order: SVU" (excluding sports pre- and post-game shows). According to "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research, NBC averaged a 2.3 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49 and 7.8 million viewers overall for the Oct. 20-26 week.

In women 18-34, NBC won the week among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox with an average 1.8 rating.

"Sunday Night Football" was the week's #1 primetime telecast on the Big 4 in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, men 18-34, women 18-49 and teens 12-17 and tied for #1 in adults and men 25-54 and women 18-34.

Also ranking among the week's top 35 programs in adults 18-49 on the Big 4 were Monday's "The Voice" (tied for #4), Tuesday's "Voice" (tied for #8), Monday's "The Blacklist" (tied for #16), Tuesday's "Chicago Fire" (tied for #29) , Tuesday's "Marry Me" (tied for #29) and Wednesday's "Law & Order: SVU" (tied for #35).

Note that CBS was boosted this week by Thursday NFL football, which itself was boosted by NFL Network viewership (1.3 rating in 18-49, 3.1 million viewers overall Thursday night) that was added into CBS's averages.

For the season, NBC ranks #1 among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49 and is also #1 or tied for #1 among those networks in adults, men and women 18-34; men and women 18-49; and adults and women 25-54.

In total viewers, NBC is #2 for the season, up 1% versus last season to 9.8 million viewers from 9.7 million, for NBC's highest average at this point in the season in eight years (since averaging 10.2 million through five weeks in 2006).

Primetime averages for the week of Oct. 20-26 in adults 18-49 are: Fox, 2.6/8; CBS, 2.6/8; NBC, 2.3/7; ABC, 1.7/5; and CW, 0.7/2. In overall total viewers, the weekly averages were: CBS, 11.5 million; Fox, 10.1 million; NBC, 7.8 million; ABC, 6.6 million; and CW, 1.7 million.

"Most current" averages for the season to date are: NBC, 2.9/9; CBS, 2.7/9; ABC, 2.4/8; Fox, 2.2/7; and CW, 0.7/2. In overall total viewers, the season averages are: CBS, 12.3 million; NBC, 9.8 million; ABC, 8.7 million; Fox, 6.8 million; and CW, 1.8 million.

NBC highlights for the week of Oct. 20-26:

Monday: NBC finished #1 Monday night among the Big 4 in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and virtually all other key demos

"The Voice" (3.4/10 in 18-49, 11.9 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET) won its two-hour time period among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and all key adult-female demos. "The Voice" equaled the comparable telecast in the spring (3.4 vs. 3.4 for the second Monday battle-round episode on March 31) and finished within 3% in total viewers (11.899 million vs. 12.277 million)

"Live Plus Three Day" Ratings: "The Voice" grew by +20% in adults 18-49 (from a 3.43 rating to a 4.13) and 1.8 million viewers overall (from 11.9 million to 13.7 million) going from "live plus same day" rating to L+3. "Live Plus Seven Day" Ratings: Through season's first three weeks, Monday's "Voice" grew in L+7 vs. L+SD by +27% in 18-49 rating (from a 3.95 to a 5.02) and 2.6 million viewers overall (12.9 million vs. 15.5 million).

"The Blacklist" (2.4/7 in 18-49, 9.3 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) won the time period among ABC, CBS and NBC in every key measure, topping CBS's "NCIS: LA" by a +41% margin in adult 18-49 rating(with a 2.4 vs. a 1.7) and ABC's "Castle" by +60% (2.4 vs. 1.5).

L+3: "The Blacklist" grew by a season-high +65% in 18-49 (from a 2.45 to a 4.05 rating) and more than 4.6 million viewers overall (from 9.3 million to 14.0 million) going from L+SD to L+3. "The Blacklist" was the #1 drama of the night in L+3 18-49 rating (4.05), plus #1 in ratings lift going from L+SD to L+3 (+1.60) and percentage lift (+65%). L+7: In week three of the season, "The Blacklist" delivered television's biggest increase in total viewers, adding 6.470 million persons going from L+SD to L+7 (10.1 million persons vs. 16.5 million). So far this season, "Blacklist" is growing by +68% in 18-49 rating (from a 2.96 to a 4.98) and 6.4 million viewers (11.1 million vs. 17.5 million) going from L+SD to L+7.

Tuesday: NBC ranked as the #1 non-sports network of the night in adults 18-49 with the #1 entertainment show, "The Voice" (3.3/10 in 18-49, 11.9 million viewers overall from 8-9:01 p.m. ET), which grew +6% versus its 18-49 rating for the comparable night during the show's spring cycle (3.1 on Tuesday, April 1 for the second Tuesday of the "Voice 6" battle rounds). "The Voice" ranked #1 in the time period in adults 18-49 ahead of that hour's World Series coverage on Fox (3.3 vs. 3.0).

L+3: "The Voice" grew by +16% in 18-49 (from a 3.26 to a 3.79) and 1.4 million viewers overall (11.9 million vs. 13.3 million) going from L+SD to L+3. L+7: Tuesday's "Voice" is growing by an average +25% in 18-49 rating (from a 4.13 to a 5.16) and 2.5 million viewers overall (16.0 million vs. 13.5 million) going from L+SD to L+7.

"Marry Me" (1.8/5 in 18-49, 5.6 million viewers overall from 9:01-9:30 p.m. ET) remained the #2 new comedy on the Big 4 this season in adults 18-49 and total viewers, now having delivered the #2 "live plus same day" averages through two weeks in both categories, behind only ABC's "Black-ish."

L+3: "Marry Me" grew by +20% in 18-49 (from a 1.79 to a 2.15) and 724,000 viewers overall (5.6 million vs. 6.3 million) going from L+SD to L+3.

Upscale: "Marry Me" is the #1 most upscale new series on the Big 4 networks in "most current" L+3 results through the opening four weeks of the season, indexing at a 146 among adults 18-49 living in homes with $100K+ incomes (100 represents an average concentration of those homes).

"About a Boy" (1.4/4 in 18-49, 4.6 million viewers overall from 9:30-10 p.m. ET) retained 82% of the prior week's season-premiere 2.3 rating, despite this week's World Series competition. Week to week, "About a Boy" improved the retention of its lead-in from "Marry Me" to 78% from 74%.

L+3: "About a Boy" grew by +25% in 18-49 (from a 1.38 to a 1.71) and 926,000 viewers overall (4.6 million vs. 5.6 million) going from L+SD to L+3

"Chicago Fire" (1.9/6 in 18-49, 7.5 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) maintained 100% of the prior week's 1.9 rating and grew +5% in total viewers (7.5 million vs. 7.1 million). "Chicago Fire" remains undefeated versus the slot's ABC-CBS drama competition in adults 18-49 through all five Tuesdays of the new season to date.

L+3: "Chicago Fire" grew by a season-high +50% in 18-49 (from a 1.88 to a 2.82) and 2.7 million viewers overall (7.5 million vs. 10.2 million) going from L+SD to L+3. L+7: "Chicago Fire" is increasing by an average +47% in 18-49 rating (from a 2.35 to a 3.46) and more than 3.6 million viewers overall (8.8 million vs. 12.5 million) going from L+SD to L+7.

Wednesday: "The Mysteries of Laura" (1.3/4 in 18-49, 8.2 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) finished within a tenth of a point of the prior week's 18-49 rating (1.4) and within 0.2 of the show's regular-slot premiere rating (1.5 on Sept. 24), making "Laura" the only new drama this fall to stay within 0.2 of its regular-slot debut during each of its next four telecasts.

L+3: "The Mysteries of Laura" grew by +27% in 18-49 (from a 1.34 to a three-week high 1.70) and 1.5 million viewers overall (8.2 million vs. 9.7 million) going from L+SD to L+3. L+7: "The Mysteries of Laura" is growing by an average +27% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.59 to a 2.02) and 1.8 million viewers overall (9.5 million vs. 11.3 million) going from L+SD to L+7.

"Law & Order: SVU" (1.6/5 in 18-49, 7.2 million viewers overall from 9-10 p.m. ET) built by +23% on its 18-49 lead-in. Despite this week's Word Series competition, "Law & Order: SVU" grew week to week in total viewers, to 7.188 million persons from 7.157 million.

L+3: "Law & Order: SVU" grew by +58% in 18-49 (from a 1.58 to a 2.49) and more than 2.2 million viewers overall (from 7.2 million to 9.5 million) going from L+SD to L+3. L+7: Through the season's first three weeks, "SVU" was increasing by an average +63% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.88 a 3.07) and 3.0 million viewers overall (8.5 million vs. 11.5 million) going from L+SD to L+7.

"Chicago P.D." (1.5/5 in 18-49, 6.8 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) matched the prior week's season-high 94% retention of "SVU" in 18-49. "Chicago P.D." grew week to week in total viewers, to 6.846 million from 6.784 million), making this the show's most-watched telecast since its season premiere on Sept. 24 averaged 8.6 million.

L+3: "Chicago P.D." grew by +49% in 18-49 (from a 1.51 to a 2.25) and 2.4 million viewers overall (6.8 million vs. 9.2 million) going from L+SD to L+3. L+7: "Chicago P.D." is growing by an average +66% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.66 to a 2.76) and 3.3 million viewers overall (7.3 million vs. 10.6 million) going from L+SD to L+7.

Thursday: "The Biggest Loser" (1.2/4 in 18-49, 4.6 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) retained 92% of its 1.3 rating for on week earlier in 18-49 and retained 98% in total viewers (4.6 million vs. 4.7 million).

L+3: The prior week's "Biggest Loser" on Oct. 16 grew by +23% in 18-49 (from a 1.28 to a 1.57) and 663,000 viewers overall (from 4.7 million to 5.3 million) going from L+SD to L+3. L+7: "The Biggest Loser" is increasing by an average +36% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.39 to a 1.89) and 1.1 million viewers overall (4.8 million vs. 5.9 million) going from L+SD to L+7.

"Bad Judge" (1.0/3 in 18-49, 4.4 million viewers overall from 9-9:30 p.m. ET) retained 83% of its lead-in from "Biggest Loser" in adults 18-49 and 96% in total viewers. "Bad Judge" grew by +16% versus NBC's time-slot season average last year (4.390 million vs. 3.791 million, non-sports, L+SD).

L+3: The previous week's "Bad Judge" on Oct. 16 grew by +34% in 18-49 (to a 1.62 from a 1.21) and 1.146 million viewers overall (to 5.824 million from 4.678 million) going from L+SD to L+3. L+7: "Bad Judge" is growing by an average +41% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.28 to a 1.81) and 1.4 million viewers overall (5.5 million vs. 6.9 million) going from L+SD to L+7.

"A-to-Z" (0.9/3 in 18-49, 3.1 million viewers overall from 9:30-10 p.m. ET) retained 90% of its 18-49 rating for the prior week (0.9 vs. 1.0), while also retaining 90% of this week's lead-in from "Bad Judge."

L+3: The prior week's "A-to-Z" on Oct. 16 increased by +33% in 18-49 (from a 1.00 to a 1.33) and 670,000 viewers overall (from 3.4 million to 4.0 million) going from L+SD to L+3. L+7: "A-to-Z" is increasing by an average +32% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.12 to a 1.48) and 890,000 viewers overall (4.2 million vs. 5.1 million) going from L+SD to L+7.

"Parenthood" (1.2/4 in 18-49, 4.0 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) built on its lead-in by +33% in adults 18-49 and +26% in total viewers. Despite facing CBS's strongest Thursday NFL game in six weeks, "Parenthood" retained 92% of its 1.3 rating in adults 18-49 for the prior week and 100% of its 0.9 rating in adults 18-34.

L+3: The previous week's "Parenthood" on Oct. 16 grew by +66% in 18-49 (from a 1.30 to a 2.16) and 2.1 million viewers overall (from 4.2 million to 6.3 million) going from L+SD to L+3. L+7: "Parenthood" is growing by an average +83% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.32 to a 2.41) and 2.6 million viewers overall (4.3 million vs. 6.9 million) going from L+SD to L+7.

Upscale: "Parenthood" is the #1 most upscale primetime series on the Big 4 networks in "most current" L+3 results through the opening four weeks of the season, indexing at a 173 among adults 18-49 living in homes with $100K+ incomes (100 represents an average concentration of those homes).

Friday: "Dateline NBC" (1.1/4 in 18-49, 6.3 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) scored the network's top 18-49 rating in the time period since July 18 and biggest overall audience in the slot since May 30. In the time period, "Dateline" tied for #1 among Big 4 non-sports programs in adults 18-49.

L+3: The prior week's Friday "Dateline NBC" on Oct. 17 grew by +20% in 18-49 (from a 1.23 to a 1.47) and 769,000 viewers (5.8 million vs. 6.6 million). L+7: Friday's "Dateline" is increasing by an average of +24% in 18-49 rating (from a 1.20 to a 1.49) and 895,000 viewers overall (5.8 million vs. 6.7 million) going from L+SD to L+7.

The fourth season debut of "Grimm" (1.4/5 in 18-49, 5.3 million viewers overall from 9-10 p.m. ET) grew by +7% versus last May's season finale in 18-49 (1.4 vs. 1.3 on May16) to deliver the show's top rating since April 4 (1.4). "Grimm" was the night's #1 scripted series on the Big 4 in adults 18-49.

L+7: Last season, "Grimm" originals added an average +82% in 18-49 rating (to a 2.55 from a 1.40)and 2.8 viewers overall (8.2 million vs. 5.4 million) to these next-day L+SD ratings when Nielsen issued L+7 results.

The premiere of "Constantine" (1.4/5 in 18-49, 4.3 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) retained 100% of its lead-in from "Grimm" in adults 18-49, while building on that lead-in by +8% in men 18-49 (1.3 vs. 1.2) and +6% in men 25-54 (1.7 vs. 1.6). Versus NBC's time-period average from last season, the "Constantine" debut is up +40% in 18-49 rating (1.4 vs. 1.0, L+SD non-sports) and up +18% in total viewers (4.3 million vs. 3.6 million). "Constantine" is the top Friday premiere of the past 52 weeks on the Big 4 in adults 18-49, best since "Dracula" debuted with a 1.8 on Oct. 25, 2013.

Saturday: An encore telecast of "The Mysteries of Laura" averaged a 0.3/1 in 18-49 and 2.0 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of Friday's "Constantine" debut delivered a 0.4/1 in 18-49 and 1.5 million viewers overall from 9-10 p.m. ET and "SNL Vintage," with an encore of an Feb. 17, 1990 telecast of "Saturday Night Live" with host Tom Hanks and musical guest Aerosmith, averaged a 0.5/2 in 18-49 and 1.8 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET.

Sunday: NBC Sports' "Sunday Night Football" (7.1/19 in 18-49, 18.8 million viewers overall from 8:31-11:18 p.m. ET), featuring the Green Bay Packers at the New Orleans Saints, led NBC to nightlong wins among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in every key measure.

This is the most-watched "Sunday Night Football" telecast to face competition from a World Series game among the five such telecasts to date. Versus the same night last year, "Sunday Night Football" grew by +13% in 18-49 (from a 6.3 to a 7.1) and +11% in total viewers (18.8 million vs. 16.9 million).

For the night (from 7:30-11 p.m. ET), NBC led among the Big 4 by an +84% margin over #2 CBS in nightlong 18-49 averages (with a 5.7 rating from 7:30-11 p.m. for NBC vs. a 3.1 from 7-10 for CBS) and a +7% advantage in total viewers (15.6 million vs. 14.6 million).