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Overnights

NFL Kickoff game helps NBC dominate Thursday

Super Bowl rematch posts a 16.5 rating in metered markets

By Diego Vasquez

September 9, 2016

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The return of the NFL was predictably dominant on Thursday night, but not quite as dominant as last year.

NBC’s NFL Kickoff game between Denver and Carolina posted a 16.5 household rating in metered markets, according to Nielsen, down 7 percent from a 17.7 for last year’s opening game between New England and Pittsburgh.

Despite the declines, that was the top rating for any TV program since the second Tuesday of the Summer Olympics. It was also the seventh straight year the season’s first game posted at least a 16.0 household rating.

As NBC points out, the network claims 11 of the 14 programs to post at least a 16.0 rating since the Super Bowl. That includes 10 nights of the Olympics and last night’s game.

For the night, NBC averaged an 8.0 overnight rating and a 28 share among viewers 18-49. As always, fast-affiliate ratings are not time zone-adjusted and are subject to change for live sports coverage.

CBS was second for the night among 18-49s at 1.0/4, with Telemundo at 0.7/2, ABC at 0.6/2, Fox and Univision each at 0.5/2 and CW at 0.2/1.

NBC also finished first for the night among households with a 12.8 average overnight rating and a 22 share. CBS was second at 3.1/5, ABC third at 2.5/4, Fox fourth at 1.5/2, Telemundo and Univision tied for fifth at 0.5/1 and CW seventh at 0.5/1.

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Top show of the night in 18-49s

NBC’s “NFL Football” 8:30-11 p.m., 8.5 rating.

Top show of the night in 18-34s

NBC’s “NFL Football” 8:30-11 p.m., 7.5 rating.

Top show of the night in total viewers

NBC’s “NFL Football” 8:30-11 p.m., 23.33 million.

Overnights Networks Ranked on 18-49s Sept. 8
Network	Adults 18-49		Adults 18-34		Households
Network	Rating	Share	Rating	Share	Rating	Share
NBC	8.0	28	7.0	30	12.8	22
CBS	1.0	4	0.7	3	3.1	5
Telemundo	0.7	2	0.6	3	0.9	2
ABC	0.6	2	0.3	1	2.5	4
Fox (8-10 p.m.)	0.5	2	0.3	1	1.5	3
Univision	0.5	2	0.5	2	0.9	2
CW (8-10 p.m.)	0.2	1	0.1	1	0.5	1
All ratings based on live-plus-same-day DVR playback, including shows replayed before 3 a.m. Seven-day DVR data won’t be available for several weeks. Forty-nine percent of Nielsen households have DVRs Source: Nielsen

Overnights Shows Ranked on 18-49s Sept. 8
Network	Show	18-49 Rating
NBC	NFL Football: Panthers at Broncos	8.5
NBC	Football Night in America	5.4
CBS	Big Brother (Thurs)	1.7
CBS	The Big Bang Theory	1.2
CBS	Life in Pieces	0.8
Telemundo	Señora Acero 3: La Coyote	0.8
Telemundo	Sin Senos si Hay Paraiso	0.7
ABC	$100,000 Pyramid	0.7
ABC	$100,000 Pyramid	0.6
ABC	Match Game	0.6
Univision	Tres Veces Ana	0.6
Telemundo	Silvana sin Lana	0.5
Univision	El Color de la Pasión	0.5
Univision	Despertar Contigo	0.5
CBS	Code Black	0.5
FOX	Bones	0.5
FOX	Rosewood	0.4
CW	DC’s Legends of Tomorrow	0.2
CW	Beauty and the Beast	0.2
All ratings based on live-plus-same-day DVR playback, including shows replayed before 3 a.m. Seven-day DVR data won’t be available for several weeks. Forty-nine percent of Nielsen households have DVRs Source: Nielsen