NBC'S NEW COMEDIES OPEN WITH A DOMINANT PERFORMANCE IN THE 8-9 P.M. HOUR, WINNING BY A COMMANDING 39 PERCENT MARGIN IN 18-49, 66 PERCENT IN HOUSEHOLDS AND 71 PERCENT IN TOTAL VIEWERS
AT 10 P.M., 'LAW & ORDER: SVU' CONTINUES TO RULE OVER ITS SCHEDULED FALL COMPETITION
LAST NIGHT'S POWERFUL LAUNCHES EXTEND THE IMPRESSIVE MOMENTUM OF THIS SUMMER'S DOMINANT NETWORK IN 18-49
BURBANK, Calif. -- September 10, 2003 -- NBC has generated excellent viewer sampling with the premieres of its two new Tuesday comedies "Whoopi" and "Happy Family," with the official Sept. 9 results showing solid increases over preliminary figures released earlier in the day. "Whoopi" and "Happy Family" have won their time slots in virtually all key categories, with commanding margins of victory of 39 percent among adults 18-49, 66 percent in households and 71 percent in overall total viewers.
Last night's powerful premieres build on the impressive ratings momentum NBC has maintained throughout this summer. The Peacock has won all 15 weeks since Memorial Day in 18-49 (including a tie) and placed several first-run series near the top of the summer list in 18-49 (including "For Love or Money 1," #1 for the summer; "For Love or Money 2," #3; "Who Wants to Marry My Dad?," tied for #5; "Meet My Folks," tied for #10; and "The Restaurant," tied for #14).
According to updated in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research, the 8-8:31 p.m. ET premiere of "Whoopi" (4.9 rating, 16 share among adults 18-49, 15.1 million viewers overall) achieved NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the time period with regular programming since Oct. 24, 2000, and the highest overall viewer total since Jan. 20, 1998.
From 8:31-9:02 p.m. ET, the debut of "Happy Family" (5.1/15 in 18-49, 14.7 million viewers overall) built by 4 percent on its hot lead-in from "Whoopi." "Happy Family" grabbed NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the time period with regular programming since March 5, 2002, and highest overall viewer total since Feb. 26. 2002.
Both "Whoopi" and "Happy Family" particularly excelled among women 25-54, with a 7.2 rating for "Whoopi" and a 7.3 for "Happy Family." NBC won the hour by a dominant 49 percent margin in this valuable category.
From 9:02-9:32 p.m. ET, "Frasier" (3.1/8 in 18-49, 9.0 million viewers overall with an encore telecast) took advantage of its lead-in from NBC's superb premieres and jumped 35 percent above its 18-49 performance of the previous week, when "Frasier" returned to the Tuesday schedule with a 2.3/6. From 9:32-10 p.m. ET, "Good Morning, Miami" (2.2/6 in 18-49, 5.9 million viewers overall) retained a solid 71 percent of its 18-49 lead-in from "Frasier."
From 10-11 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.5/10 in 18-49, 10.0 million viewers overall) scored its second-highest 18-49 rating to date in its new Tuesday time period. "SVU" dominated its scheduled fall competition of ABC's "NYPD Blue" and CBS' "Judging Amy," winning in virtually all key categories and amassing a towering 75 percent margin of victory in 18-49.
Prime-time updated 18-49 averages for last night are: NBC, 3.7/11; Fox, 3.2/9; CBS, 2.8/8; ABC, 2.5/7; WB, 1.1/3; UPN, 1.0/3. In total viewers, Sept. 9 updated averages are: NBC, 10.9 million; Fox, 7.0 million; CBS, 7.0 million; ABC, 6.4 million; WB, 2.5 million; UPN, 2.4 million.
In local-market late-night results, "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" (5.1 rating, 13 share in metered-market households) dominated CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman" (3.0/8 in metered-market households) and ABC's "Nightline" (3.0/7 in metered-market households) and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (1.1/4 in metered-market households). At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" (2.3/9 in metered-market households with an encore telecast) ruled over its first-run competition of CBS' "Late Late Show With Craig Kilborn" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) and the second half of "Kimmel."
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