The peacock network has announced that they’ll be broadcasting two hour live episodes of The Voice starting April 2nd and adding a Tuesday night results show beginning April 3rd. The move comes as no surprise since the singing competition has become one of the highest-rated shows in primetime.
The Voice will wrap its second season with a pair of two-hour episodes on May 7th and May 8th. America’s Got Talent — with Howard Stern replacing Piers Morgan as one of the judges — will kick off its seventh season one week later, on May 14st and 15th.
Here’s the NBC press release:
NBC’S “THE VOICE” TO BEGIN LIVE TWO-HOUR EPISODES ON APRIL 2; SIX WEEKS OF LIVE TUESDAY RESULTS SHOWS BEGIN APRIL 3
“The Voice’s” Last Live Performance Episode Will Be on Monday, May 7 (8-10 p.m. ET) with Second Season Winner Announced in Live Finale on Tuesday, May 8 (8-10 p.m. ET)
“America’s Got Talent” – Now with New Judge Howard Stern – Debuts Following Week with Two-hour Episodes on Monday, May 14 and Tuesday, May 15
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – March 7, 2012 – NBC will commence live episodes of “The Voice” on Monday, April 2 (8-10 p.m. ET) and will expand the hit singing competition series to a second night with live elimination rounds beginning on Tuesday, April 3 (9-10 p.m. ET).
In addition, “The Voice’s” last live performance episode will be on Monday, May 7 (8-10 p.m. ET), with the season’s winner announced in the two-hour live finale on Tuesday, May 8 (8-10 p.m. ET).
“America’s Got Talent” – NBC’s top-rated summer series — will then debut its new seventh season the following week with two-hour episodes on Monday, May 14 (8-10 p.m. ET) and Tuesday, May 15 (8-10 p.m. ET). The show’s return will feature the first appearance of new judge Howard Stern, who joins fellow judges Howie Mandel and Sharon Osbourne. The series then resumes in its regular day and time on Monday, May 21 (8-9 p.m. ET) and on Tuesday, May 22 (9-10 p.m. ET).
NBC’s new Tuesday night lineup starting on April 3 will be “The Biggest Loser” (8-9 p.m. ET), “The Voice” (9-10 p.m. ET) and the new “Fashion Star” (10-11 p.m. ET). “Fashion Star” debuts Tuesday, March 13 (9:30-11 p.m. ET).
This week’s edition of “The Voice” jumped 15 percent versus the prior week in adult 18-49 rating (to a 6.2 from a 5.4) in “live plus same day” ratings from Nielsen Media Research and was up 13 percent week to week in total viewers (16.8 million vs. 14.9 million), to achieve the show’s top results in the four weeks since its regular-slot debut on February 6. Counting this week’s results, “The Voice” this season is averaging a 7.5 in 18-49 and 19.3 million viewers overall, making it the season’s #1 entertainment series in adults 18-49 and other key demographics.
“The Voice” returned with the strongest vocalists from across the country invited to compete in the blockbuster vocal competition. Celebrity musician coaches Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton also returned, along with Carson Daly as host. Christina Milian joined this season as Social Media Correspondent.
The hit vocal competition series features the four superstar coaches who recently hand-picked their favorite vocalists in a blind audition and will guide them through an intense competition that ultimately crowns one winner. The show’s innovative format showcases the live performance shows that follow the blind auditions and the current battle phase.
“The Voice” is a presentation of Mark Burnett’s One Three Inc., Talpa Content USA, Inc. and Warner Horizon Television. The series is created by John de Mol, who executive-produces along with Burnett, Audrey Morrissey, Stijn Bakkers and Lee Metzger.
Last summer, “America’s Got Talent” delivered its highest-rated cycle ever, averaging a 4.1 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49 and 14.3 million viewers overall with its Tuesday edition, up in both categories by 17 percent versus the prior year to set new series highs. The Wednesday Results Show averaged a 3.7/11 in 18-49, up 9 percent versus the prior year, and 13.3 million viewers overall, up 6 percent. “America’s Got Talent” ranked #1 among non-sports telecast on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox in total viewers every week it aired over the Summer of 2011, making it the #1 summer series in total viewers for a sixth year in a row.
“America’s Got Talent,” NBC’s top-rated summer series from “American Idol” producers FremantleMedia North America and Simon Cowell’s SYCO Television, returns with the hottest performers from across the country ready to compete in the blockbuster reality show. This year, outspoken, unedited radio personality television host and author Stern joins Mandel (“Deal or No Deal”) and Osbourne on the judging panel, while actor/producer/comedian Nick Cannon returns as host.
“America’s Got Talent” is produced by FremantleMedia North America and Simon Cowell’s SYCO Television. Simon Cowell, Cecile Frot-Coutaz (“American Idol”), Jason Raff, Ken Warwick (“American Idol”) and Georgie Hurford-Jones are executive producers.
What do you think? Is twice a week overdoing it for The Voice? Will you be watching America’s Got Talent? Should they wait awhile between the two?
Image courtesy NBC.
