Premier Week Ratings Recap

For the first time in 9 years, NBC has started the TV season on top. It's average 8.2 million viewers tops all the other networks, and it also has the youngest skewing audience, which is what is most important to advertisers. Additionally, NBC was the only network to improve on it's ratings from last year's premier week. NBC is up 11%, while FOX, CBS, and ABC are down 24%, 27%, and 21% respectively.

So why the big turnaround for NBC? With "The Voice" anchoring it's schedule, NBC has premiered new shows to high viewership, even though it's returning shows on Wednesday and Thursday nights are receiving some of their lowest viewership ever. FOX is struggling due to the lack of "House" to anchor Monday nights, and "The X Factor" greatly disappointing, despite having new well known judges. CBS's premier week last year was greatly inflated due to "Two And A Half Men"'s relaunch gaining record viewership. Without that type of event, it was only natural for CBS's average to fall. ABC's ratings have been falling due to horrible premiers for "Last Resort" and "666 Park Avenue".

We are now entering the second week of the TV season. Will NBC continue it's ratings turnaround, or will it fall back to Earth like it has in past years?