Knight Rider scores top 18-49

NBC has released a press release of the numbers and records Knight Rider broke last night.

  • Top 18-49 Rating for Any Movie on Any Network in Nearly Three Years
  • In total viewers, attracks NBC's biggest Non-Sports viewership in its time period since the Emmy's in August 2006
  • First place in Adults 18-49 & Total Viewers
Complete release after the jump!
KNIGHT RIDER' SCORES THE TOP 18-49 RATING FOR ANY MOVIE ON ANY NETWORK IN NEARLY THREE YEARS

IN TOTAL VIEWERS, 'KNIGHT RIDER' ATTRACTS NBC'S BIGGEST NON-SPORTS VIEWERSHIP IN ITS TIME PERIOD SINCE THE EMMY AWARDS IN AUGUST 2006

'KNIGHT RIDER' RACES TO A FIRST-PLACE FINISH IN ADULTS 18-49, TOTAL VIEWERS AND OTHER KEY MEASURES

'AMERICAN GLADIATORS' MATCHES NBC'S HIGHEST NON-SPORTS 18-49 RATING IN ITS TIME PERIOD IN MORE THAN A YEAR, SURGING 90 PERCENT IN 18-49 FROM ITS FIRST HALF-HOUR TO ITS FOURTH

NBC RANKS #1 ON SUNDAY IN ADULTS 18-49 AND OTHER KEY MEASURES, MARKING THE NETWORK'S FIRST SUNDAY WIN IN 18-49 WITHOUT A BOOST FROM SPORTS SINCE AUGUST 2006


BURBANK, Calif. - February 18, 2008 - Paced by the made-for-television movie event "Knight Rider," which scored the highest 18-49 rating for any movie on any network in nearly three years, NBC won Sunday night in adults 18-49 and other key demographic measures, according to "fast affiliate-based" "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Last night from 9-11 p.m. ET, the made-for-television movie "Knight Rider" (5.0 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49, 12.7 million viewers overall) delivered the highest 18-49 rating for any made-for-television movie, multiple-part movie or theatrical film on any network since March 6, 2005 ("Their Eyes Were Watching God" on ABC). In total viewers, "Knight Rider" attracted NBC's biggest overall viewership in this time period, excluding sports, since the Emmy Awards on August 27, 2006.

"Knight Rider" raced to a first-place finish in its highly competitive time period in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54, total viewers and other measures, including all key adult-male demographics.

"Knight Rider" accelerated steadily over its two hours and in its final 10-11 p.m. hour beat the ABC-CBS competition of "Brothers & Sisters" and "Dexter" combined among adults 18-34 and all key adult male demos. In the final lap, the 10:30-11 p.m. lead-in to local news, "Knight Rider" clocked a winning margin of 74 percent in adults 25-54 (with a 5.9 rating to a 3.4 for ABC's second-place "Brothers & Sisters") and an 86 percent margin in adults 18-49 (5.2 vs. a 2.8 for "Brothers & Sisters").

From 7-9 p.m. ET, "American Gladiators" (3.0/8 in 18-49, 7.3 million viewers overall) matched NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the time period excluding sports in more than a year (since January 7, 2007). From its first half-hour to its fourth, "American Gladiators" nearly doubled its 18-49 rating, surging by 90 percent (to a 3.8/9 from a 2.0/6) and increased in overall viewership by 74 percent, or 3.9 million persons (to 9.1 million from 5.2 million). Versus the unscripted programming that NBC ran in this time period on the same night last year, "Gladiators" was up 36 percent in 18-49 rating (3.0 vs. 2.2).

NBC ranked #1 on Sunday night in adults 18-49, 18-34 and 25-54 and in all key adult-male demographics, pending updates. This marks NBC's first Sunday win in 18-49 without a significant boost from sports programming since the Emmy Awards telecast on August 27, 2006.

Preliminary 18-49 averages for Sunday night are: NBC, 4.0/10; ABC, 3.7/9; Fox, 3.2/8; CBS, 2.1/5; CW, 0.3/1. In overall total viewers, February 17 preliminary results are: ABC, 11.1 million; NBC, 10.0 million; CBS, 9.2 million; Fox, 7.3 million; CW, 838,000.

Note that all national ratings are "live plus same day" unless otherwise indicated.