Fifty-one of the 52 weeks are in, and NBC is calling the year for itself.
The network will finish first in the key 18-49 demo for the full 52-week year, marking the first time that’s happened in a decade. In touting its victory, NBC said the ranking would hold even if the network’s Olympic nights were removed from the averages. The net is running 14 percent ahead of its 2013 rating in the demo — to a 2.4 from a 2.1.
NBC also told TheWrap that moving forward, it will consider the Sept.-to-Sept. period the “standard season.”
In terms of total viewers, NBC was No. 2 for the second time in 10 years. The network is up 25 percent versus last season in total viewers, which it claims is the biggest increase for any of the “Big 4” networks in 25 years.
For the summer, this marks the fourth consecutive year that NBC finished first.
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Some highlights for NBC over the past year include primetime’s top show, “Sunday Night Football,” reality hit “The Voice,” strong summer performer “America’s Got Talent” and new breakout show “The Blacklist,” among others.
Also, TV special “The Sound of Music Live!,” the Golden Globes and the Emmys helped the net reach the peak.
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“As the business continues to see significant original programming launched throughout the calendar year, the 52-week statistics become more and more meaningful,” NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt said. “And following a very strong September-to-May win, I’m pleased that NBC once again dominated the summer, leading us to win virtually all key demos in primetime and late night for the full 2013-’14 season.
“My hat is off to everyone at the network, Comcast, our affiliated stations, and the talent, producers and crews on all of our shows who have worked so hard to make NBC relevant and vital once again.”