Its numbers were not spectacular, but NBC’s “Great News” did perform well enough to win its timeslot in adults 18-49.
According to fast national data posted by Showbuzz, Tuesday’s 9PM premiere drew a 1.2 adults 18-49 rating and averaged 5.22 million overall viewers. A second episode at 9:30PM fell to a 1.0 and 4.26 million.
Collectively, the averages positioned NBC as #1 for adults 18-49 and #2 for viewership in the 9PM hour. Granted, “Great News” faced re-run competition from both ABC and CBS.
The drop at the half-hour mark is not encouraging, but it is worth noting that the first episode was always going to be inflated due to the makeup of NBC’s scheduling. “Great News” directly followed an episode of “The Voice,” and some viewers from the popular music competition series — whether loosely curious about the show or too slow in changing the channel — were naturally going to linger for a few minutes.
The retention out of “The Voice” (1.8, 9.43 million) was ultimately underwhelming, but “Great News” did hold onto a greater share of its lead-in than the premiere of fellow midseason comedy “Trial & Error.” That broadcast followed the massively rated “This Is Us” season finale (3.4, 12.84 million) and barely outdrew this week’s “Great News” premiere (“T&E” posted a 1.4 and 5.92 million at 10PM and a 1.0 and 4.58 million at 10:30PM).
All things considered, “Great News” did not establish itself as a hit. It, nonetheless, performed well enough to avoid the “dead on arrival” distinction. With ratings down across the board, “Great News” would probably survive if it could deliver performances in this ballpark for the rest of its run.
Whether it will maintain this level of viewership remains to be seen.
— NBC closed its evening with “Chicago Fire” (1.3, 6.81 million).
