NBC Falls to Fifth Place: Network Finishes Sweeps Behind Univision for First Time Ever

For the first time in sweeps history, NBC is projected to fall to fifth place in the always important adults 18-49 demographic. According to Deadline.com, the former top network is fifth in the latest Nielsen TV Ratings.

Sweeps is considered the most important time of year for television networks. For three, four-week periods each year, Nielsen surveys the nation's television watching habits. This is when networks want shows to put forth their best material.

NBC actually won November sweeps thanks to "Sunday Night Football" and hit shows "Revolution" and "The Voice." However, since then, the network has spiraled downward in embarrassing fashion.

From January 31 to February 19, NBC averaged a 1.2 rating among adults 18-49. This put them below Univision's 1.5. Yes, that's right, the Spanish-language network actually beat NBC in the ratings.

For February sweeps CBS came in with a 4.9 rating, crushing the rest of the field. A lot of this could be off the momentum of hosting the Super Bowl, which is always a ratings giant. FOX came in second with a 2.0 and ABC finished third with a 1.7.

NBC's low ratings could be attributed to new shows such as "1600 Penn" and "Do No Harm," which have done terribly in the ratings. Even NBC's hit show "Smash" has not done well in its second season. New comedies "Go On" and "New Normal" are also struggling in the ratings making NBC's lineup quite weak at the moment.

There is always the next sweeps period for NBC to recover. NBC's top shows "Revolution" and "The Voice" return in March, so it will be interesting to see if the network can retain it's top spot. For now, the network finds itself in an embarrassing situation.

NBC is widely considered one of the "big four" television networks along with CBS, ABC, and FOX. To lose out to Univision and fall out of the top four must have executives quite nervous. Luckily the next sweeps are just a few weeks away, but if NBC doesn't get out of its fifth place hole, there may be some major changes at the network.

For the complete ratings story on NBC's last place finish you can go to Deadline.com.