NBC Amasses Broadcast's Biggest Q4 TV Ratings Lead in 19 Years

NBC is already having a Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukah — really, it’s just been a fantastic fall and winter overall.

That’s because the first-place broadcaster has amassed the largest lead at this point in the season for any network in 19 years. NBC’s 23 percent margin over second place Fox — a 2.7 versus a 2.2 in primetime — is the biggest lead since 1997, when the peacock network was up 28 percent compared to its closest competitor.

“This Is Us,” “Hairspray Live,” “The Voice,” “Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors,” and NFL football have given the Bob Greenblatt-led broadcast channel one hell of a good fourth quarter. When Q4 officially closes in a week-and-a-half, NBC will have won the key 18-49 demographic for five years in a row. That hasn’t happened on broadcast for 13 years.

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By the way, lest anyone write this claim off as the result of getting some “Thursday Night Football” rights this season, NBC still would have won the main demo outright over Q4. And that’s the first time the net can say that since 20o3 — that’s 13 years again.

Here’s how the broadcasters rank among those favored by advertisers in the core demographic:

1. NBC: 2.7 rating (down 4 percent year over year)
2. Fox: 2.2 (up 5% YOY)
2. CBS: 2.0 (-17%)
4. ABC: 1.8 (-14%)

All numbers in this story come from Nielsen’s “most current” demographic, which counts a week’s worth of delayed viewing where available.

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Despite all the strong NBC momentum, CBS will still close the quarter — and thus, season-to-date — No. 1 in total viewers. That said, it’s pretty close — the tightest between those two channels in 14 years.

Here are those total viewers rankings:

1. CBS: 10.3 million (-9%)
2. NBC: 9.9 million (no change)
3. ABC: 7 million (-8%)
4. Fox: 6.8 million (+9%)

By the way, if you’re wondering why Fox is doing so well, Google “2016 World Series TV Ratings.” We’d appreciate if you added “+ TheWrap” to that search criteria.

7 Reasons 'This Is Us' Keeps Killing It in TV Ratings (Photos)

"This Is Us" is fall TV's biggest freshman hit -- and it's really not all that close. The one-hour show premiered as NBC's most-watched scripted series in the time period in 7 years. It hasn't slowed down since then -- click through the slideshow to find out why.

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NBC
Scheduling, Scheduling, Scheduling: Hey, anything after "The Voice" has a puncher's chance. But "This Is Us" is the first-ever scripted show to build on the singing competition lead-in, and it's now done that twice.

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NBC
The "Parenthood" Effect: While "Parenthood" outstayed its welcome in terms of Nielsen numbers, the show had been a solid performer and a fan favorite. So why not create something like that, focusing on one big, (usually) happy family? Done and done.

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NBC
Fresh Start: "This Is Us" had a killer pilot. I mean, it was REALLY good, with a legitimately incredible payoff. What you guys don't know is that us TV critics saw a slightly different version, but the one that made it to air was excellent too.

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NBC
How About That Trailer?: Before the pilot, came the trailer that wowed the world. Immediately after May's TV upfronts, the "This Is Us" official teaser started breaking viewership records. To date, it's notched 127 million clicks.

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NBC
The Power of Positivity: Look, 2016 has been pretty terrible, and the election had or currently has almost everyone in America bummed out, depending on which candidate you support(ed). Sometimes you just want to watch something nice and sweet. This fits the bill.

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NBC
Diverse and Relatable Casting: "This Is Us" looks more like America than many shows. The progressive drama centers on a mixed-race family, which also features an obese character. And guess what? She's not marginalized. Kate gets to date and be normal. What a concept!

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NBC
The "Seinfeld" Concept: Let's keep it within the NBC family, shall we? "Seinfeld" is credited -- particularly among sitcoms -- as one of the first shows to cleverly weave storylines neatly together by the tail-end of each episode. "This Is Us" does that very well, without as many laughs, clearly.

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NBC
The most-recent episode of "This Is Us" has set a new series record with 14.43 million total viewers, a sum inclusive of five-day delayed viewing, TheWrap has learned exclusively. In other words, this train isn't slowing down -- might as well hop aboard.

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NBC

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NBC drama’s got great pedigree and ‘The Voice’ lead-in, sure, but there’s considerably more to it than that

"This Is Us" is fall TV's biggest freshman hit -- and it's really not all that close. The one-hour show premiered as NBC's most-watched scripted series in the time period in 7 years. It hasn't slowed down since then -- click through the slideshow to find out why.

Also Read: ‘This Is Us': The Biggest Tearjerker Moments So Far (Photos)

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7 Reasons 'This Is Us' Keeps Killing It in TV Ratings (Photos)

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