The Voice [NBC]
Early ratings data paints an unspectacular picture regarding Sunday’s special “The Voice.”
According to fast national data posted by Showbuzz, Sunday’s “The Voice” drew a 2.7 adults 18-49 rating and 10.41 million total viewers in the 10:30-11PM timeslot.
The numbers are obviously impressive by most broadcast standards (and easily the night’s best in the timeslot), but they are unremarkable in this specific context.
While technically a preview rather than a season premiere, this was the inaugural season eleven “The Voice” broadcast. It was also the first broadcast with new coaches Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys.
Every previous “The Voice” season has started higher.
The Sunday at 10:30PM timeslot is not typically a coveted one, but it had clear value in this instance. It meant that “The Voice” led out of NBC’s coverage of the 2016 Olympics closing ceremony.
Yes, this year’s ceremony drew a substantially smaller broadcast audience than the 2012 conclusion. Fast national data says it posted a 4.1 adults 18-49 rating and 16.84 million total viewers (and a 3.6 with 14.07 million in the directly supportive 10-10:30PM timeslot). Even with a big upward adjustment in the finals, it will not come within striking distance of the 9.2 rating and 31.0 million viewer mark garnered by the London edition.
The lead-in support, on the other hand, was still markedly more substantial than that typically provided to “The Voice.” Given that support — and the fact that “The Voice” aired with a built-in audience and buzz over the Miley and Alicia debuts — the start is unspectacular.