NBC PRIMETIME RATINGS RESULTS FOR SEPT. 16, 2009

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. � September 17, 2009 � The following are NBC primetime ratings results for September 16.

From 8-10 p.m. ET, the season finale of NBC's "America's Got Talent" averaged a 3.5/10 in adults 18-49 and 15.5 million viewers overall. Versus "Talent's" year-ago finale results (3.3/8 in 18-49, 12.7 million viewers overall), last night's telecast is up 6 percent in 18-49 and up 22 percent in total viewers.

Last night's 15.5 million viewers overall is a series record for "America's Got Talent," counting finales and all other telecasts. "Talent" scored NBC's top 18-49 and total-viewers results in the time period since the Beijing Summer Olympics in August 2008. Excluding Olympics, this is NBC's top 18-49 rating in the time period since January 2, 2008 and biggest overall audience since November 28, 2001.

In the time period, "America's Got Talent" is #1 among the major networks in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Talent" increased its 18-49 rating by 65 percent (to a 4.3 from a 2.6) and its overall viewership by 40 percent or more than 5.1 million persons (18.1 million vs. 12.9 million).

From 10-11 p.m. ET, "The Jay Leno Show" averaged a 3.4 rating, 10 share in adults 18-49, a 4.3/11 in adults 25-54 and 13.1 million viewers overall.

"The Jay Leno Show" ranked #1 among the major networks in the time period in adults 18-49, #1 in adults 25-54 (the key demographic for late local news) and #1 in total viewers, plus all other key ratings categories. Last night's time-period competition included CBS's "CSI: NY" encore and ABC's original "Primetime: Family Secrets."

"The Jay Leno Show" delivered NBC's highest 18-49 and total-viewer results in the time period since the August 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

Versus Jay Leno's 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," last night's telecast was up substantially in adults 18-49 (3.3 vs. 1.4), adults 25-54 (4.3 vs. 1.8) and total viewers (13.1 million vs. 5.1 million). Versus NBC's Monday-through-Friday 10-11 p.m. ET non-sports average over the prior 52 weeks, last night's telecast was also up substantially in adults 18-49 (3.3 vs. 2.2), adults 25-54 (4.3 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (13.1 million vs. 6.9 million).

NBC is #1 among the major networks for the night in 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers.

Preliminary 18-49 averages for Wednesday night are: NBC, 3.5/10; Fox, 2.7/8; ABC, 1.7/5; CBS, 1.6/5; and CW, 1.0/3. In overall total viewers, September 15 preliminary results are: NBC, 14.7 million; CBS, 6.2 million; Fox, 6.2 million; ABC, 4.6 million; CW, 2.1 million.

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

[EDITOR'S NOTE: What follows is the afternoon update with the final national Nielsen ratings.]

UPDATE: NBC PRIMETIME RATINGS RESULTS FOR SEPT. 16, 2009

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. � September 17, 2009 � The following are updated NBC primetime ratings results for September 16.

From 8-10 p.m. ET, the season finale of NBC's "America's Got Talent" averaged a 3.5/10 in adults 18-49 and 15.8 million viewers overall. Versus "Talent's" year-ago finale results (3.3/8 in 18-49, 12.7 million viewers overall), last night's telecast is up 6 percent in 18-49 and up 24 percent in total viewers.

Last night's 15.8 million viewers overall is a series record for "America's Got Talent," counting finales and all other telecasts. "Talent" scored NBC's top 18-49 and total-viewers results in the time period since the Beijing Summer Olympics in August 2008. Excluding Olympics, this is NBC's top 18-49 rating in the time period since January 2, 2008 and biggest overall audience since November 28, 2001.

In the time period, "America's Got Talent" is #1 among the major networks in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Talent" increased its 18-49 rating by 65 percent (to a 4.3/11 from a 2.6/8) and its overall viewership by 43 percent or more than 5.5 million persons (18.5 million vs. 13.0 million).

From 10-11 p.m. ET, "The Jay Leno Show" averaged a 3.5 rating, 10 share in adults 18-49, a 4.4/12 in adults 25-54 and 13.4 million viewers overall.

"The Jay Leno Show" ranked #1 among the major networks in the time period in adults 18-49, #1 in adults 25-54 (the key demographic for late local news) and #1 in total viewers, plus all other key ratings categories. Last night's time-period competition included CBS's "CSI: NY" encore and ABC's original "Primetime: Family Secrets."

"The Jay Leno Show" delivered NBC's highest 18-49 and total-viewer results in the time period since the August 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

Versus Jay Leno's 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," last night's telecast was up substantially in adults 18-49 (3.5 vs. 1.4), adults 25-54 (4.4 vs. 1.8) and total viewers (13.4 million vs. 5.1 million). Versus NBC's Monday-through-Friday 10-11 p.m. ET non-sports average over the prior 52 weeks, last night's telecast was also up substantially in adults 18-49 (3.5 vs. 2.2), adults 25-54 (4.4 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (13.4 million vs. 6.9 million).

NBC is #1 among the major networks for the night in 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers.

Updated 18-49 averages for Wednesday night are: NBC, 3.5/10; Fox, 2.8/8; ABC, 1.7/5; CBS, 1.6/5; and CW, 1.0/3. In overall total viewers, September 15 updated results are: NBC, 15.0 million; CBS, 6.2 million; Fox, 6.2 million; ABC, 4.6 million; CW, 2.1 million.

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