Update 4: NBC’s “The Wiz Live!” drew a 3.4 adults 18-49 rating and 11.498 million total viewers.
For the purpose of comparison, last year’s “Peter Pan Live!” drew a 2.4 rating and 9.41 million total viewers. 2013’s “The Sound Of Music Live” posted a 4.6 and 18.62 million.
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Update 3: Per time slot-adjusted, “fast official” ratings, NBC’s “The Wiz Live!” drew a 3.4 adults 18-49 rating and 11.5 million total viewers from 8-10:45PM ET.
The final broadcast report, which may contain an additional adjustment, is due by 4:15PM ET.
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Update 2: Per Nielsen fast national data, NBC’s “The Wiz Live!” drew a 3.3 adults 18-49 rating and 11.136 million viewers.
Already strong, the performance will likely receive an upward adjustment in the final report. The fast national rating is an average for the entire 8-11PM timeslot; since “The Wiz Live” ended prior to 11PM, the average thus includes lower-rated local news programming.
Due by 4:15PM ET, the final rating will only account for the actual musical.
Even prior to any such adjustment, “The Wiz Live!” stands well above last year’s “Peter Pan Live!” NBC’s 2014 musical drew a 2.4 adults 18-49 rating and 9.21 million viewers in the final report (and a 2.3 with 9.1 million in the comparable fast nationals).
While up considerably from “Peter Pan,” the performance trails that of 2013’s “The Sound of Music Live!” That broadcast posted a 4.6 rating with 18.62 million total viewers.
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Update: Per metered market data, “The Wiz Live!” comfortably outdrew “Peter Pan Live!” in terms of overnight household ratings.
This year’s musical drew a 7.9 overnight household rating; last year’s posted a 5.9.
Markedly up from last year’s number, the rating nonetheless trails the 10.9 posted by 2013’s “The Sound of Music Live!”
While down from “The Sound of Music” in terms of overnight households, NBC notes that “The Wiz” actually drew a stronger adults 18-49 rating in the Top 25 markets.
According to people meter data from those markets, “The Wiz” drew a 4.4 adults 18-49 rating, while “The Sound of Music” posted a 4.2. “Pan” posted a 2.6 adults 18-49 rating in the Top 25 markets.
Citing the “major market appeal” of “The Wiz,” NBC acknowledges the likelihood that the national adults 18-49 rating will trail the number from the Top 25 markets. When all is said and done, the number likely will almost certainly land beneath that of “The Sound Of Music Live” (4.6).
Still, in rising from last year’s “Peter Pan” broadcast and posting an irrefutably strong number, “The Wiz Live” will surely be viewed as a success.
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While it could not match the monster number delivered by NBC’s “The Sound of Music Live!,” Thursday’s “The Wiz Live!” broadcast markedly outperformed last year’s “Peter Pan” special.
Per metered market data, Thursday’s three-hour live musical drew a 7.9 overnight household rating.
Last year’s “Peter Pan” broadcast drew a 5.9. The 2013 “The Sound of Music Live” airing posted a 10.9.
Due by 11:15AM ET, the adults 18-49 and total viewership numbers will likely reflect similar position: above “Peter Pan” but below “Sound of Music.”
Competitively, “The Wiz Live!” was the night’s #2 program in the overnight households. CBS’ Thursday Night Football coverage won the night — and topped “The Wiz” in five of the six primetime half-hours (the exception being the first, in which the pre-game coverage trailed the opening half-hour of NBC’s musical).
Like “Peter Pan,” “The Wiz Live!” endured a steady household audience decline from start-to-finish. In terms of overnight households, its trajectory was as follows: 8.6, 8.1, 8.0, 7.8, 7.4, 7.2.
Still, given the year-to-year growth and the general strength of the number, there will be little to hate about the performance.