'The Voice' Premiere Scores Biggest Non-Sports TV Rating In 6 Years

Forget "Smash!" Does NBC's fate rest in Christina Aguilera's perfectly manicured hands?

"The Voice" kicked off Season 2 with a bang, scoring 37.6 million total viewers and a 16.3 rating among the coveted adults 18-49 demo. While the numbers alone are phenomenal, they also broke records.

The star-studded reality competition had the highest ratings for a non-sports telecast on any network in six years. It’s the highest-rated show since the post-Super Bowl telecast of "Grey’s Anatomy" in 2006.

Aguilera, Blake Shelton, Adam Levine and Cee Lo Green also beat the post-Super Bowl episode of "Glee" last year by 47 percent in the demo. In fact, the entire Super Bowl XLVI telecast scored an estimated 111.3 million viewers, which narrowly beat the 111 million who watched last year's game.

"The Voice" airs Mondays at 8 p.m. EST on NBC.

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Comments

[fretplayer]

12:26 PM on 02/07/2012

I think it's probably because it followed the super bowl, we watched it for the first time because of that and really enjoyed it so we will be watching from now on. Will be interesting to see how it's ratings hold up as it goes along, but it is much better than Idol and that stupid X-factor

[DavidoLegEagle]

07:57 AM on 02/07/2012

Great to hear this news because "The Voice" features not only four great charismatic performing superstars, it also has the finest singing talent of any TV reality competition bar none. It's every bit as good as CBS' "Rockstar" a few years back and makes a show like Simon Cowell's "XFactor USA" look lame by comparison. The first season of "The Voice" was excellent and this season's display of singing talent is stacking up to be even better. I hope the show maintains its high TV ratings all throughout the season because it's superb in every respect.

[gambi63]

06:27 AM on 02/07/2012

I watched this show last year and I liked it. Glad to see that it is back. The talent is good. I think this show is better than American Idol. It is not a popularity contest.

[MellyG]

04:43 AM on 02/07/2012

I actually like this show. But IMO, the best part about it is the blind auditions. Well....AND seeing Adam Levine.

[rmoats8621]

03:27 AM on 02/07/2012

Love this show! IMO it's so much better than American Idol. I love the blind audition concept and how the contestant can pick their coach if they receive multiple "wants" from the coaches/judges.

[MikeyEditor]

02:46 AM on 02/07/2012

"Non Sports?" You are not that stupid. Folks are parties simply left the channel unchanged. Wait fr a weekday rating. This is as manufactured by NBA as listing Brian Williams hosting a denbate as one of the weekly installments of his evening show. As for last season's turnoffs, first is was on Fox. Secondly, most sports fans are not into 30-somethings-playing-teenagers-doing-showtunes. Thirdly, it was on Fox.

[soapstix]

11:22 PM on 02/06/2012

The ONLY Good thing about the Super Bowl is that it was over..............AND I could watch The Voice.

[da1nonlyphlegm]

11:17 PM on 02/06/2012

The only reason the ratings were high was because everyone was drunk and passed out and forgot to turn off their tv's. Watch next week it will probably be a quarter of what it was this week.

[Mailman]

10:30 PM on 02/06/2012

No more singing competitions please.

[crystal clear 919]

09:59 PM on 02/06/2012

I had never watched this show before last night. The ONLY reason I watched it was because it followed the Super Bowl.

[proudnative]

09:32 PM on 02/06/2012

BFD. Trust me, it was because of the Super Bowl, not because of the quality of the program. Also, HuffPost, please try to get your story straight. In another article I just read, you guys said that LAST year's superbowl just barely beat this year's. Please get your stuff straight...this is exhausting.

[positano1970]

09:17 PM on 02/06/2012

Why is Nielsen the "only game in town?" Why is it that only one company supposedly measures TV viewing? Why is there not another source for this information? And in this day and age, I think Nielsen reminds me of "the Emporer has no clothes" comment. Sweeps are an absolute joke. Neilsen has become totally inaccurate and irrelevant. Neilsen is the "Dodo" of the 21st Century. But advertisers and the networks will continue to see the "Emperor" with clothes because they have become so used to the ratings system and have not created a viable alternative system on which to base advertising fees. What to do?

[Natacha GelinLisaint]

09:00 PM on 02/06/2012

WOW? I love it. That Betty is so funny.

[charpist5]

07:53 PM on 02/06/2012

It is surprising. I think the show stinks. I did like the blind auditions last year, but I couldn't stand the regular shows, and the finale was singularly horrible...bland performances by the "stars," and loud, screechy performances by the finalists. So this year I am not watching any of it.

[soapstix]

11:31 PM on 02/06/2012

Each to their own. I think there was real talent on the program this year, and expct it to continue this year. Several artists have had big boosts in their careers, because of The Voice. After watching a few seasons of American Idol, and even the X Factor (with the biggest bully in town), and now The Voice, I am seeing how not just the winner can get some help by being on these shows but others too. It is a great stepping stone to many things for artists. I love music of all kinds and enjoy these musical shows as much as the days of musical movies.. Back in the day, watchingFred Astair sing and dance, as well as many other talented man and women was the absolute best time. Now we have new things, people and talent,and as long as I breath, I hope to enjoy it.

[IH8MediaHos]

07:30 PM on 02/06/2012

Why is it that the rejected contestants on The Voice still have far better voices than most of the contestents on "Idol"?

The Voice is the only talent competition that I will watch because of the quality of the contestents. However, someone needs to tell attention ho' Christina Aguilera to lay off the Red Bull before taping. She may have a beautiful voice, but sheesh, she's annoying....