Boosted by Football and 'The Voice,' NBC Nabs First Premiere Week Win in 9 Years

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With the dust settled on premiere week and many networks touting DVR gains after initial numbers, NBC has emerged the winner.

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Driven by last season's strongest performer, Sunday Night Football, the network boasted four of the top ten broadcasts in the adults 18-49 demo. Sunday's game and its accompanying Football Night in America and both broadcasts of The Voice all finished in the top ten last week. NBC's demo average for the week was a 2.9 rating, outpacing its closest competition, Fox, by 12 percent.

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It marks NBC's first premiere week win in nine years and its strongest premiere week in four years. Other broadcasts contributing to its strong average include the outings for Revolution (3.4 adults rating) and Go On (2.6 adults rating). The Office (2.1 adults rating) and New Normal (2.0 adults rating) were the only other NBC series to crack the top 50.

Fox's second place status was thanks in large part to The X Factor (3.4 and 3.2 adults ratings), The Simpsons (3.8 adults rating) and New Girl (two broadcasts posting 2.8 adults ratings)-- its three highest performers last week. The network averaged a 2.6 rating with adults 18-49.

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The Big Bang Theory (5.0 adults rating), NCIS (4.1 adults rating) and 2 Broke Girls (3.7 adults rating) were, quite predictably, CBS' strongest demo performers last week. The network finished with a 2.4 rating with 18-49-ers and the week's best average among total viewers, 10.7 million. One big difference, year over year, was the performance of Two and a Half Men. After the series posted unrealistic opening numbers last year with 10.7 rating with adults 18-49, beating even Sunday Night Football, this season's Thursday debut didn't crack the top ten and pulled a series low of a 3.5 with adults.

ABC was stuck in fourth place despite three of the week's most brag-worthy broadcasts. Though Modern Family (5.5 adults rating) and Grey's Anatomy (4.4 adults rating) ranked as the week's top comedy and drama, respectively, ABC averaged just a 2.2 rating with 18-49-ers. The Neighbors also ranked as the top comedy premiere of the week, posting a 3.2 with adults 18-49.

The CW officially kicks off its fall season on Tuesday night with the return of Hart of Dixie.