There’s lots of data that the networks look at when deciding whether to renew or cancel a TV series but the ratings are the main ingredient. (Wonder if your favorite’s already been renewed or cancelled? Visit our NBC 2011-12 show page.
Which NBC shows are in danger of being cancelled or are hits? By looking at the chart below, you can see their current season ranking, ratings averages to date, and their letter grade in the all-important 18-49 demographic.
These charts incorporate final ratings data through Friday, June 1, 2012.
| Demo rank | Scripted NBC TV shows | Demo grade | 18-49 demo rating (actual) | Viewers in millions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Office (renewed) | A++ | 2.8 (2.77) | 5.39 | ratings |
| 2 | Smash (renewed) | A++ | 2.3 (2.27) | 6.74 | ratings |
| 3 | Parenthood (renewed) | A- | 1.9 (1.93) | 5.13 | ratings |
| 4 | Law & Order: SVU (renewed) | A- | 1.9 (1.91) | 6.87 | ratings |
| 5 | Whitney (renewed) | A- | 1.9 (1.87) | 4.45 | ratings |
| 6 | Up All Night (renewed) | A- | 1.9 (1.86) | 4.45 | ratings |
| 7 | Parks and Recreation (renewed) | A- | 1.8 (1.84) | 3.73 | ratings |
| 8 | 30 Rock (renewed) | B- | 1.5 (1.54) | 3.49 | ratings |
| 8 | Community (renewed) | B- | 1.5 (1.54) | 3.42 | ratings |
| 10 | Grimm (renewed) | A* | 1.5 (1.53) | 5.02 | ratings |
| 11 | Are You There, Chelsea? (cancelled) | B- | 1.5 (1.48) | 3.76 | ratings |
| 12 | The Playboy Club (cancelled) | C+ | 1.4 (1.37) | 4.15 | ratings |
| 13 | Free Agents (cancelled) | C | 1.4 (1.35) | 4.08 | ratings |
| 14 | Prime Suspect (cancelled) | C- | 1.2 (1.19) | 4.61 | ratings |
| 15 | Awake (cancelled) | D+ | 1.1 (1.08) | 3.34 | ratings |
| 16 | Harry's Law (cancelled) | D+ | 1.1 (1.06) | 7.79 | ratings |
| 17 | Chuck (ended) | C-* | 1.0 (0.98) | 3.44 | ratings |
| 18 | Bent (cancelled) | D- | 0.8 (0.83) | 2.37 | ratings |
| 19 | Best Friends Forever (cancelled) | F | 0.8 (0.78) | 2.68 | ratings |
| 20 | The Firm (cancelled) | D-* | 0.7 (0.65) | 3.11 | ratings |
| Demo rank | Non-scripted NBC TV shows | Demo grade | 18-49 demo rating (actual) | Viewers in millions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Voice (renewed) | A++ | 5.0 (4.99) | 13.14 | ratings |
| 2 | Fear Factor (cancelled) | A- | 2.4 (2.41) | 6.08 | ratings |
| 3 | The Biggest Loser (fall) (cancelled) | B+ | 2.2 (2.21) | 6.21 | ratings |
| 4 | The Biggest Loser (spring) (renewed) | B | 2.2 (2.18) | 6.44 | ratings |
| 5 | Celebrity Apprentice (renewed) | B- | 2.0 (2.03) | 6.30 | ratings |
| 6 | Betty White's Off Their Rockers (renewed) | C | 1.6 (1.62) | 6.14 | ratings |
| 6 | Who's Still Standing? (cancelled) | C | 1.6 (1.62) | 5.98 | ratings |
| 8 | Fashion Star (renewed) | C- | 1.6 (1.56) | 4.45 | ratings |
| 9 | The Sing-Off (cancelled) | C- | 1.5 (1.52) | 4.56 | ratings |
| 10 | Dateline (Fridays, renewed) | C-* | 1.3 (1.27) | 4.98 | ratings |
| 11 | Dateline (Sundays, unknown) | D- | 1.0 (1.04) | 4.87 | ratings |
| 12 | Who Do You Think You Are? (cancelled) | D* | 1.0 (1.03) | 5.41 | ratings |
| 13 | Rock Center with Brian Williams (renewed) | F | 0.9 (0.88) | 3.54 | ratings |
| 14 | Escape Routes (cancelled) | F* | 0.3 (0.26) | 1.08 | ratings |
Summer 2012 ratings report card.
Original ratings data ©The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.
A couple of notes about these charts:
The averages included in this chart are based on the final numbers, not the fast affiliate ratings that are typically reported the next morning. The final numbers become available about a day after the broadcasts or in some cases several days later. The charts will be updated as the new data becomes available.
Keep in mind that the demo numbers (not total viewers) are what’s most important to advertisers. Therefore, that’s how the networks measure success. Advertisers pay more for ad time on a show that has a higher demo rating versus one with a lot more overall viewers.
Demo numbers are reported by Nielsen using the 10ths decimal place (2.4, for example). We used to report averages that way but it ends up being hard to see any movement week to week. It can also be a little misleading since a show with a 2.35 average and a show with a 2.44 average will both round to a 2.4 rating.
In these charts, we’re including the demo average rounded to the 10th (2.4) as well as the 100th place (2.41) in parenthesis so you can get a better idea of how the average has been affected by the latest episode’s demo rating.
The letter grades are relative (kind of like grading on a curve) and are based on the individual network’s demo performance (either scripted or non-scripted). All of the networks have very different gauges for success right now. (A successful show for The CW would get quickly cancelled on CBS.) Our system for coming up with letter grades isn’t perfect but it should still give you an idea of where the different shows stand.
*The grades for TV series that run on Friday and Saturday nights are weighted a little differently, to compensate for airing on little-watched nights.
What do you think? Are surprised by any of the ratings? Are any of your favorite shows in danger of being cancelled? Which should be doing better?
The Firm, the best drama show out there, where are they getting their ratings from anyway? Hope they give it another season.
Wow. All I watch on NBC is Grimm now.
My husband and I look forward to the Firm every Saturday. We love that show! Please don’t cancel!
Please don’t cancel Harry’s Law!! It has drama and it’s funny. Love Kathy Bates!
all these crappy shows are still on and life was cancelled 3 years ago.
please do not cancel harry’s law. i love that show. its the right blend of humor and drama. kathy bates can do no wrong.
I wish NBC would quit moving Harry’s Law around. I loved Boston Legal and enjoy Harry’s Law alot.
The “Firm” is great! Don’t cancel! Check your iTunes numbers!
LOVE Grimm – please keep it around! Who Do You Think You Are? is one of the most entertaining shows on television. My husband and I both look forward to it every Friday evening! Thank you! All the other non-scripted shows suck.
We LOVE the firm!! Don’t cancel it!!!
Please dont cancel Parenthood!!!!! My friends and I absolutely LOVE the show.
I can’t believe The Firm doesn’t have better audience. Best show since “24”. Right amount of intrigue, suspense and drama. Hope it stays!!!!
I love Grimm, and i so very much hope it continues. But I have a question; With America generally getting older, just why is it that people in their 50’s are completely unimportant to the executives? Don’t they purchase a whole lot more then some 20 year olds/ Aned they certainly are not about to die! they will be around for decades. So why not hear their voice too? I am starting to think its actually a very serious wrong. I don’t feel like once I am past 49 I will cease to matter.
Amen, Marty!
Also its the people in their 50’s that are home watching most of the shows, as the younger generations are turning to on-line streaming
I wonder about that too. While I am still barely in the demo, I spend so much more now than I did in my teens or 20’s. Maybe when I turn 50 I will stop spending, but at this point my friend in their 50’s are spending heavily. They buy for their children, their house, and themselves.
Well the way they think in advertising world(and this started in the late 70’s/80’s I believe) is that once you get around that age, you are very set in your ways. That being the case, advertising has a much less effect on you as you are less likely to change your mind and try something different. So if the commercials have no/low effect on the viewer then they have less of a value and cant charge as much for airing them. So flawed premise or not, that is how the industry thinks. But really, they need to do some research… Read more »
Please don’t take The Firm off the air WE love this tv show.
I like how Grimm has moved up to a B+ while showing on Fridays.