NBC PRIMETIME RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF JAN. 2-8

BURBANK, Calif. -- January 10, 2006 -- NBC averaged a 3.3 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49 and 9.2 million viewers for the week of Jan. 2-8, 2006, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Primetime averages for the week of Jan. 2-8 in adults 18-49 were ABC (6.6/17), CBS (4.0/10), NBC (3.3/8), Fox (2.6/7), Univision (1.5/4), UPN (1.2/3) and WB (1.0/2). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were ABC (19.1 million), CBS (13.1 million), NBC (9.2 million), Fox (6.1 million), Univision (3.7 million), UPN (2.9 million) and WB (2.4 million). Ratings reflect "live plus same day" data unless otherwise noted.

NBC highlights for the week of Jan. 2-8:

* On Thursday, "My Name is Earl," on its new night at 9 p.m., was the week's #1 half-hour comedy in adults 18-49, scoring NBC's highest demo rating in the time period since the "Apprentice 3" finale last May 19. "Earl" was up 24 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's season-to-date average for the time period. And "The Office" followed at 9:30 with its best post-"Earl" retention rate ever and highest 18-49 rating ever for a regular-slot telecast.

* Also on Thursday, "Will & Grace," debuting in its new 8 p.m. time period, delivered a 21 percent increase in 18-49 versus NBC's season-to-date average for the slot. And that night's 8:30 p.m. premiere of "Four Kings" built on its "Will & Grace" lead-in by 20 percent in 18-49, to deliver a 14 percent improvement in 18-49 versus NBC's season average for the slot. Excluding the Dec. 22 telecast of "Deal or No Deal," "Will & Grace" earned NBC's highest 18-49 rating in its time period in nine months and "Four Kings" delivered NBC's highest rating in that slot in three months

* On Wednesday, the debut of "The Biggest Loser: Special Edition" weighed in with a 44 percent improvement in 18-49 rating versus NBC's season average for the time period, and an encore "Law & Order" at 10 p.m. ET delivered that series' highest rating for a rebroadcast in 16 months.

* On Tuesday, "Scrubs" returned to the NBC schedule with back-to-back original episodes that ranked #1 in the hour among all non-sports programs in competition with the primetime telecast of the Orange Bowl. Additionally, both "Law & Order: SVU," the top-rated non-sports telecast of the night, and "Fear Factor" ranked #1 among non-sports programs in their respective Tuesday slots.

* On Friday, "Most Outrageous Moments" posted an increase of 25 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's season average for the time period, and the special two-hour premiere of "The Book of Daniel" recorded a 17 percent improvement in 18-49 versus the network's season-to-date rating.

Additional NBC highlights for the week of Jan. 2-8:

On Monday, Jan. 2 at 9 p.m. ET, "Las Vegas" (4.0 rating, 9 share in adults 18-49, 11.5 million viewers overall) built on its 18-49 lead-in by 48 percent and ranked #2 in adults 18-34 and #1 among women 18-34. At 10 p.m. ET, "Medium" (4.3/10 in 18-49, 12.2 million viewers overall) built on its 18-49 lead-in by 8 percent and ranked #1 in the hour among women 18-49 and women 25-54.

On Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 8 p.m. ET, "Fear Factor" (3.2/8 in 18-49, 8.2 million viewers overall) was the #1 non-sports program in the hour in 18-49, trailing only the Orange Bowl telecast on ABC. "Fear" delivered its highest 18-49 rating so far this season in its regular 8-9 p.m. ET slot.

Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET, the fifth season premiere of "Scrubs" (3.8/9 in 18-49, 7.7 million viewers overall) delivered that series best-ever 18-49 rating in the Tuesday 9 p.m. half-hour (out of 20 "Scrubs" telecasts thus far in this slot). "Scrubs" ranked #1 among entertainment programs in the time period in 18-49, trailing only the Orange Bowl.

The 9:30 p.m. ET time-period debut of "Scrubs" (4.0/9 in 18-49, 7.8 million viewers overall) delivered that series' highest 18-49 rating since Sept. 28, 2004. It built on its own "Scrubs" lead-in by 8 percent in 18-49 to keep NBC the #1 non-sports choice in the time period.

That night at 10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.5/14 in 18-49, 15.2 million viewers) was the dominant non-sports choice in the hour by all key measures and won the time period outright in all key adult female demos. "SVU" was the night's top-rated non-sports program in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.

On Wednesday, Jan. 4 from 8-10 p.m. ET, "The Biggest Loser: Special Edition" (3.6/9 in 18-49, 8.5 million viewers overall) was the #1 non-sports program in the time period in adults 18-49 and other key demos. Excluding "Deal or No Deal" on Dec. 21, this was NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this time period since April 13. "Biggest Loser: Special Edition" posted a 44 percent improvement in adults 18-49 versus NBC's season average for the time period (3.6 vs. 2.5). It increased from its first half-hour to its last by 40 percent in 18-49 (to a 4.2/10 from a 3.0/8) and by more than 2 million viewers overall (to 9.6 million from 7.6 million).

Wednesday, at 10 p.m. ET, an encore "Law & Order" (3.7/9 in 18-49, 10.3 million viewers overall) delivered the highest 18-49 rating for a "Law & Order" rebroadcast in more than 16 months (since Aug. 8, 2004), up 28 percent versus "L&O's" current season average for encore telecasts (3.7 vs. 2.9).

On Thursday, Jan. 5, from 8-8:30 p.m. ET, the new time period debut of "Will & Grace" (3.5/10 in 18-49, 8.0 million viewers overall) was up 21 percent versus NBC's season-to-date average for the time slot (3.5 vs. 2.9 in 18-49). "Will & Grace" delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the time period in nine months (since March 24), excluding the Dec. 22 telecast of "Deal or No Deal." "Will & Grace" was #1 for the half-hour among adults, men and women 18-34.

Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET, the premiere of "Four Kings" (4.2/11 in 18-49, 8.9 million viewers overall) built on its "Will & Grace" lead-in by 20 percent in 18-49 and, excluding "Deal or No Deal," delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the time period since the live "Will & Grace" season premiere on Sept. 29. "Four Kings" ranked #1 for the time slot among adults and men 18-34.

At 9 p.m. ET, the Thursday debut of "My Name is Earl" (5.2/13 in 18-49, 11.2 million viewers overall) earned NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this time period in seven months (since the "Apprentice 3" finale on May 19). "Earl" was up 24 percent versus NBC's season average for the time period (5.2 vs. 4.2 in 18-49), ranking #2 in 18-49 and 18-34 in this highly competitive time period.

At 9:30 p.m. ET, the time period premiere of "The Office" (4.5/11 in 18-49, 8.7 million viewers overall) hit a season-high 18-49 rating and delivered its best retention ever following "Earl" (87 percent). The 4.5 adult 18-49 rating scored by "The Office" is that series' highest rating ever for a regular-slot telecast and highest overall since the initial "Office" launch with a special Thursday preview last March 24.

At 10 p.m. ET, "ER" averaged a 6.2/19 in 18-49 and 14.0 million viewers overall. "ER" won the hour in adults, men and women 18-34 and also moved into the lead for the 10:30-11 p.m. half-hour among adults 18-49 and adults 25-54.

On Friday, Jan. 6 from 8-9 p.m. ET, the time period debut of "Most Outrageous Moments" (2.5/8 in 18-49, 7.4 million viewers overall) was up 25 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's season average for the slot (2.5 vs. 2.0). "Most Outrageous Moments" generated NBC's best performance in the time period in nine months (since March 18), excluding the Dec. 23 telecast of "Deal or No Deal."

Friday from 9-11 p.m. ET, the two-hour premiere of "The Book of Daniel" (2.7/8 in 18-49, 9.0 million viewers overall) delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the time period in six weeks (since the Nov. 25 telecast of "The Family Man") and second-highest in seven months (since May 20). "Book of Daniel" was up 17 percent versus NBC's season-to-date average for the time period (2.7 vs. 2.3). Starting Friday, Jan. 13, the limited series moves into its regular Friday 10-11 p.m. ET time period.

On Saturday, Jan. 7 from 10-11 p.m. ET, an encore "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.2/6 in 18-49, 7.5 million viewers overall) was the #1 non-sports program in the time period among adults 18-49.

On Sunday, Jan. 8 from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Crossing Jordan" (3.6/9 in 18-49, 12.0 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 20 percent and ranked #2 in adults 18-49.