WINTER GAMES, `FRIENDS' KEEP NBC ON TOP.Byline: Valerie Kuklenski Staff Writer HAVING ALREADY CROWED about the ratings delivered by the Winter Olympics, NBC NBC in full National Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. commercial broadcasting company. It was formed in 1926 by RCA Corp., General Electric Co. (GE), and Westinghouse and was the first U.S. company to operate a broadcast network. executives Tuesday boasted about strong results in the February sweeps for the network's regularly scheduled programs. ``We won 21 nights in a row in (adults) 18-49, which is the longest winning streak Noun 1. winning streak - a streak of wins streak, run - an unbroken series of events; "had a streak of bad luck"; "Nicklaus had a run of birdies" in people meter The People Meter is a device and system used by Nielsen Media Research in the USA to allow a relatively passive measurement of the viewing habits of TV and cable audiences. The people meter was invented by a British company called Audits of Great Britain, or AGB for short. history,'' said Scott Sassa Scott Sassa Scott Sassa is currently Founder and CEO of uber.com a consumer internet site. Prior to that, he served as Residence with Kleiner Perkins, a leading technology venture capital firm. , president of NBC West Coast. ``It's really no surprise to us that we dominated February outside of the Olympics because that's what we've been doing all season.'' NBC posted an average household rating of 19.2 for the Salt Lake Games, about the same as the 1988 Games in Calgary, Alberta, and hit 25.2 for the opening ceremonies and 22.3 for the closing ceremonies. For the season to date, NBC's Nielsen ratings Nielsen ratings National ratings of the popularity of U.S. television shows. Developed by A.C. Nielsen in 1950, the system now samples television viewing in about 5,000 homes. have it No. 1 in the 18-49 demographic most popular with advertisers, as well as adults 18-34 and 25-54 and total viewers. ``We will win this season by the biggest margin of victory by any network in four years,'' said Jeff Zucker Jeffrey Zucker (born April 9, 1965) is an American television executive, and President & CEO of NBC Universal. He is a 5-time Emmy Award winner known for his aggressive promotion of his network's programs. , president of NBC Entertainment. ``This in a season that many had predicted would mark the end of NBC dominance. Instead our dominance has only grown, and the fact is we would have had this huge margin even without the Olympics.'' Much of NBC's current success rides on ``Friends,'' which earlier this month renewed for one more season with another raise for its generously paid cast. Sassa pointed out that ``Friends'' is up 15 percent in adults 18-49 from last season, making it the fastest-growing comedy on the air - in its eighth season. ``Friends'' co-creators Marta Kauffman Marta Kauffman (born September 21, 1956) is an American TV producer and writer and the creator of the TV series Friends with David Crane. Both Crane and Kauffman were also executive producer of the show, along with Kevin S. Bright. , David Crane David Crane may refer to:
Kauffman and Crane took pleasure in denouncing the recent tabloid report that predicted Rachel, played by Jennifer Aniston, would die in childbirth. ``That was our favorite headline ever,'' Crane said. ``We know that she's going to have the baby. At the moment, we've been talking about the idea that it may in fact be the longest labor in the history of the hospital.'' One thing is certain: The big event will air on May 16, the final Thursday of the May ratings period. ``When else would she have the baby?'' Kauffman said, laughing. Asked how the love triangle of Joey, Ross and Rachel will be sorted out in the delivery room, Kauffman just said, ``Well, the show is called `Friends.''' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Fewer viewers tuned in for the Olympics closing ceremony than for the opening ceremony, but there were enough watchers to make NBC No. 1 among networks Sunday night. Associated Press |
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