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LeBron is edging out Kobe in the NBC Finals popularity contest so far. Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks last night drew a 10.7 overnight household rating on ABC. That was up 3% from the Lakers-Celtics Game 1 last year. It was also up 15% vs. Game 1 of the 2006 NBA Finals, which also featured the Heat (sans LeBron James) and the Mavericks. ABC is expected to win the night in adults 18-49, though time-adjusted ratings for the game and Jimmy Kimmel’s pre-game special won’t be available until later today.
NBC looks on track to top the night in total viewers (14.8 million) and finish a strong second in 18-49 (4.4/12) with the season premiere of America’s Got Talent, paired with hot newcomer The Voice. The sixth season debut of America’s Got Talent (4.2/12 in 18-49, 15 million viewers) was up 17% from last season’s premiere in 18-49 and 21% in total viewers. (Last year, the Talent opener faced the season premieres of Fox’s Hell’s Kitchen and ABC’s Wipeout.) It was the show’s most-watched premiere ever and the highest-rated in the demo since 2007. At 10 PM, The Voice (4.9/13, 14.4 million) took full advantage of its strong lead-in, jumping 29% from last week in 18-49 and 69% in total viewers for its most-watched telecast to date. The only other original offering on the English-language broadcast networks was a Traffic Light burnoff (0.8/2) on Fox, down 38% vs. its last fresh episode on May 10, which had an original lead-in.
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
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Call me sappy, but I kind of teared up when I saw that NBC had a clean sweep last night. I mean, I’m sure it was expected as AGT is their rock, but I’ve always been a fan of their programming, and atrocious management and business decisions are the only reason they’re the worst network. It’s nice to see them have a little success, and with, in my opinion, two of the best reality competitions around.
I teared up, too. I pledge allegiance to the Peacock.
Are you serious, tearing over a network? I’m happy for them but truthfully they would have more success if they programmed better — like keeping the voice on tuesdays rather than going up against dancing with the stars.
Really happy for NBC. Really sad that all of the highly-rated shows are reality shows. I understand why (live-nature aspect of the shows), but I don’t have to like it.
Hard to appreciate those numbers when they had very little competition from other networks last night.
Good grief! “The Voice” appears to be performing because it had no competition and was down last week. When decent counter-programming is initiated, this awful singing competition will tumble. I even tried to get through last night’s “battle round.” The last match-up was simply atrocious. Any “Idol” cast-off could have done a better job performing Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now.” It was painfully off-key. I’ll be shocked if anyone from this show ends up a singing career let alone a hit record.
And I’m shocked that you think the actual point of these shows is to give these people a career in the music business. The point is to get viewers for their respective networks (and thus, ad $$$), and like the show or not, “The Voice” is doing just that for NBC. Yes, the competition from other networks was weaker this week than last, but the shows ratings were stellar even when there WAS competition (the show finished 4th, I believe, among all shows this past season).
And I’m shocked that you think the actual point of these shows is to give these people a career in the music business
LOL. and True! USA Today just had a WATN article on AI’s 9th season contestants. A year removed from the show/tour, they’re all in curtain-jerker city. The show is an update from the variety shows of yore. No one’s really interested in any of these recent performers. (primarily because AI has mostly stopped persuing any wanna-bes who don’t have a midwestern-cookie-cutter sensibility)
And I’m shocked that you don’t believe that finding a star is a desired goal of these shows. If that isn’t the point of “The Voice,” then they should stop the frivolous comparisons to “American Idol,” find some better talent and end the competition.
The fact that “American Idol” has produced Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood has an awful lot to do with that show’s continued success. The viewers hope to see yet another superstar crowned each season. Though they are the only two who can truly be called “superstars,” a number of other careers have been launched since the show’s inception. The idea that every “Idol” season has to uncover a superstar is unrealistic. The success of Clarkson and Underwood alone is enough of a feather in their cap. Few performers outside of that show reach their level of stardom and continued success.
Kelly Clarkson:
Her albums have sold over 10.5 million copies in the United States.
Eleven of Clarkson’s singles became Top 20 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. And her recent duet “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Jason Aldean has topped the Billboard country music charts. In a music world populated by one-hit wonders she has remained on top.
Carrie Underwood:
A multi-platinum selling recording artist, a multiple Grammy Award winner, a member of the Grand Ole Opry, a Golden Globe Award nominee, a three-time Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association Female Vocalist winner, a GMA Dove award winner, and a two time ACM Entertainer of the Year. She is the first-ever female artist to win back-to-back Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards for Entertainer of the Year (2009/10).
Her debut album, “Some Hearts,” was certified seven times platinum, and as of February 2006, was the fastest selling debut country album in Nielsen SoundScan history. It was also the best-selling solo female debut album in country music history, as of February 2008. “Some Hearts” yielded three number one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs and a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 Songs. Her second album, “Carnival Ride,” was released on October 23, 2007. It has sold over 3 million copies as of January 2010, being certified 3 times Platinum, and produced four number one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs. Underwood released her third album, “Play On,” on November 3, 2009. It has been certified 2 times Platinum by the RIAA and has produced three number one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs so far. As of May 2010, Underwood has sold 20 million singles and over 16 million albums worldwide. As of May 16, Carrie became the “American Idol” US Top Earner, selling so far 12,296,000 album copies and 18,482,000 digital tracks, along with amassing $66 million in tour revenues, since winning Season 4, surpassing Kelly Clarkson.
And don’t forget, “American Idol’s” post-season contestants also generate revenue via sold-out concert performances and in 9 seasons have launched a lot of careers. These people may not all be superstars with huge record sales, but they have careers of varying success in the entertainment business. In nine seasons, they have uncovered some pretty talented people.
So don’t tell me there isn’t a desired goal to launch a music career. That is naive to say the least.
So I guess NBC can only count on the Summer months to have a ratings Bonanza.
On the West Coast, most of NBC’s prime-time schedule was broadcast after the basketball game ended.
Reality check for bigbowood and Jason Todd
Scotty McCreery debut single “I Love You This Big” immediately shot to the top 5 of the iTunes music chart (it remains in the top 10), and bowed at no. 11 on this week’s Billboard Hot 100.
McCreery also found himself at number 32 on the Billboard Country Songs chart, which marks the highest debut for the first single from a new artist in the history of that particular list—and suggests that Nashville is ready and willing to embrace the 17-year-old with the surprisingly mature voice. -EW.com
Again, “The Voice” will have to produce recording artists to maintain any “gravitas.”