NBC PRIMETIME RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF OCT. 24-30

BURBANK, Calif. -- November 1, 2005 -- NBC averaged a 3.0 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49 and 8.7 million viewers for the week of Oct. 24-30, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Primetime averages for the week of Oct. 24-30 in adults 18-49 were CBS (3.8/10), Fox (3.7/10), ABC (3.5/9), NBC (3.0/8), WB (1.6/4) and UPN (1.5/4). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (12.6 million), Fox (10.3 million), ABC (9.5 million), NBC (8.7 million), WB (3.7 million) and UPN (3.6 million). Note that NBC's schedule included encore telecasts of such key series as "ER," "My Name is Earl," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Law & Order," "Joey," "Will & Grace" and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent."

NBC highlights for the week of Oct. 24-30:

* On Tuesday, a 90-minute edition of "The Biggest Loser" delivered that series' highest 18-49 rating and largest total viewership of the current season in competition with World Series Game 3.

* On Wednesday, opposite the deciding game of the World Series, "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart" delivered its highest numbers to-date in both adults 18-49 and total viewers, while "E-Ring" scored its second-highest 18-49 rating to-date.

* On Thursday, "The Apprentice" scored its highest 18-49 rating of the season.

* On Friday, "Three Wishes" won its hour in adults 18-49 and total viewers for the second week in a row.

* On Sunday, an encore "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" delivered that series' highest regular-time-period 18-49 rating and total viewership since last March and highest in both categories for a rebroadcast since April 2004.

Additional NBC highlights for the week of Oct. 24-30

On Monday, Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. ET, "Surface" (2.9 rating, 8 share in 18-49, 9.3 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in its time period in adults 18-49 (tie), 25-54 and total viewers. At 9 p.m. ET, "Las Vegas" delivered a 3.8/9 in 18-49 and 11.3 million viewers overall, building on its lead-in by 31 percent. At 10 p.m. ET, "Medium" (4.6/11 in 18-49, 12.8 million viewers overall) built on its 18-49 lead-in by 21 percent and posted a 48 percent improvement in 18-49 versus NBC's fourth quarter 2004 average for the time period (4.6 vs. 3.1).

On Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 8-9:30 p.m. ET, "The Biggest Loser" (3.8/10 in 18-49, 9.1 million viewers overall) delivered that series' highest 18-49 rating and largest total viewership this season thanks to its special 90-minute time period. "Loser" increased its 18-49 rating by 60 percent from its first to its third half-hour and from 9-9:30 p.m. was the #1 non-sports program in adults 18-49 with a 4.8 rating in the demographic, topping ABC's "Commander-in-Chief" (4.3 in that half-hour) and CBS' "Amazing Race" (3.8 in that half-hour). At 9:30 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "My Name is Earl" delivered a 3.5/8 in 18-49 and 8.3 million viewers overall. At 10 p.m. ET, an encore "Law & Order: SVU" (4.0/10 in 18-49, 11.3 million viewers overall) was the #1 non-sports program opposite the World Series, outperforming the first-run competition of ABC's "Boston Legal" and CBS' "Close to Home."

On Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 9 p.m. ET, "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart" (3.0/7 in 18-49, 7.4 million viewers overall) delivered its highest results to-date in both adults 18-49 and total viewers. "Apprentice: Martha Stewart" has increased its 18-49 viewership with each of its last four telecasts. At 8 p.m. ET, "E-Ring" (2.6/7 in 18-49, 8.7 million viewers overall) posted its second-highest 18-49 rating to-date despite the night's World Series competition.

On Thursday, Oct. 27, at 9 p.m. ET, "The Apprentice" (5.0/12 in 18-49, 10.6 million viewers overall) scored its highest 18-49 rating of the current season. "Apprentice" ranked #2 for the time period in 18-49 and total viewers, outperforming the hour's third-place program by a 117 percent margin.

On Friday, Oct. 28, from 9-10 p.m. ET, "Three Wishes" (2.3/7 in 18-49, 8.5 million viewers overall) was #1 in adults 18-49 and total viewers for the second consecutive week. "Three Wishes" built on its lead-in by 64 percent in 18-49. At 10 p.m. ET, an encore "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2.4/8 in 18-49, 8.5 million viewers overall) matched NBC's highest slot rating of the season in 18-49 and set a new NBC season high for the time period in total viewers.

On Sunday, Oct. 30, at 9 p.m. ET, an encore "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (4.2/10 in 18-49, 13.7 million viewers overall) hit its highest regular-time-period 18-49 rating, first-run or encore, since March 20 and its largest overall viewership for a regular telecast since March 13. For a rebroadcast, it was "Criminal Intent's" strongest 18-49 rating since April 25, 2004 and its highest total viewership since April 18, 2004. "Criminal Intent," which was up 40 percent in 18-49 versus the prior week and grew 83 percent versus its lead-in, ranked #2 in the time period in adults 18-49 and #1 among men 25-54.