Nbc Wins 10th May Sweeps In 11 Years

The May sweeps period sputtered to a close Wednesday night with NBC, which locked up the ratings race early in the game, winning its 10th victory in 11 years.

NBC execs were elated over their May sweeps victory, especially after last year’s upset, when the peacock placed third, the first time in a decade NBC had not taken the spring ratings race.

NBC boasts the top three shows for the sweeps: “ER,” “Friends” and “Seinfeld,” in that order. It’s the first time in TV history that the top two shows in a sweeps period are new series.

NBC also beefed up its May sweeps showing with “Jurassic Park,” the sweeps’ top-rated movie, and “Virus,” the top-rated made-for-TV movie.