NBC PRIMETIME RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF JAN. 16-22

BURBANK, Calif. -- January 24, 2006 -- NBC averaged a 3.3 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49 and 9.6 million viewers for the week of Jan. 16-22, 2006, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Primetime averages for the week of Jan. 16-22 in adults 18-49 were Fox (7.9/20), ABC (4.0/10), CBS (3.6/9), NBC (3.3/8), Univision (1.8/4), WB (1.4/3) and UPN (1.0/2). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were Fox (19.2 million), CBS (11.9 million), ABC (11.5 million), NBC (9.6 million), Univision (4.1 million), WB (3.2 million) and UPN (2.6 million).

NBC highlights for the week of Jan. 16-22:

* NBC's coverage of "The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards" won Monday night in adults 18-49, 18-34, 25-54 and total viewers, scoring NBC's highest-rated non-Olympic Monday in 18-49 in 20 months and its "most-watched" non-Olympic Monday in total viewers in more than six years.

* The "Golden Globes" telecast was up 11 percent in adults 18-49 and 1.9 million total viewers versus last year's Sunday telecast and was up 75 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's current season-to-date average for Monday night.

* On Tuesday, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" delivered its highest 18-49 rating since November and dominated its time period, topping its nearest competitor in adults 18-49, the premiere of CBS's "Love Monkey," by 69 percent.

* On Thursday, "Four Kings" built on its 18-49 lead-in from "Will & Grace" for a third consecutive week.

* Also on Thursday, "My Name is Earl" was the week's #1-ranked comedy in adults 18-49. It was up 26 percent versus NBC's pre-"Earl" 18-49 average in that time period. At 9:30, "The Office" retained a solid 85 percent of that lead-in and has generated its three highest retention of its "Earl" lead-in in its three telecasts thus far on Thursday night.

* On Friday, "Dateline NBC" ranked #1 in adults 18-49 in the 9 p.m. ET hour, improving on NBC's season average in the time period by 17 percent.

* On Sunday, "Dateline NBC" reported its highest Sunday rating among adults 18-49 since July 10, 2005.

Ratings reflect "live plus same day" data unless otherwise noted. Season-to-date figures are averages of live-only results through Dec. 25 and "live plus seven day" data since then, except for the two most recent weeks, which are live plus same day.

Additional NBC highlights for the week of Jan. 16-22:

On Monday, Jan. 16 from 8-11 p.m. ET, "The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards" (6.3 rating, 15 share in adults 18-49, 18.8 million viewers overall) gave NBC its highest-rated non-Olympic Monday in 20 months (since May 3, 2004). In total viewers this was NBC's biggest non-Olympic Monday in more than six years (since May 3, 1999). The "Golden Globes" telecast was up 75 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's season average for Monday night (6.3 vs. 3.6) and was up 11 percent in adults 18-49 and an average 1.9 million total viewers versus last year's telecast on Sunday, Jan. 16, 2005. The "Golden Globes" currently ranks as the #1 awards telecast of the season to date in adults 18-49 and in total viewers.

NBC won Monday night in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and total viewers.

On Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 9 p.m. ET, "Scrubs" (2.9/6 in 18-49, 5.9 million viewers overall) was up 12 percent in 18-49 versus the same night last year, which was also in head-to-head competition with the season premiere of "American Idol." At 9:30 p.m. ET, a second original "Scrubs" (3.0/6 in 18-49, 5.9 million viewers overall) was up 43 percent (3.0 vs. 2.1) versus NBC's performance in this time period on the same night last year versus the premiere of "Idol." Both the 9 p.m. and 9:30 telecasts of "Scrubs" finished #2 in their time periods among adults, men and women 18-34.

Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.9/14 in 18-49, 16.1 million viewers) dominated the time period in all key ratings categories. In adults 18-49, "SVU" won the hour by a 69 percent margin (5.9 vs. a 3.5 for CBS's premiere of "Love Monkey" in second place). Among adults 18-34, "SVU" beat the ABC-CBS competition combined. This was the highest-rated episode of "SVU" since Nov. 29.

On Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 9 p.m., "The Biggest Loser: Special Edition" (3.2/7 in 18-49, 7.1 million viewers overall) improved by 19 percent over the prior week in 18-49 (3.2 vs. 2.7) and by 33 percent versus NBC's pre-"Loser" average in the time period (3.2 vs. 2.4). The Jan. 18 edition also built on its 18-49 lead-in by 68 percent. At 10 p.m. ET that night, "Law & Order (4.1/10 in 18-49, 12.4 million viewers overall) matched its highest 18-49 rating in more than three months (since Sept. 28) and built on its 18-49 lead-in by 28 percent.

On Thursday, Jan. 19 from 8-8:30 p.m. ET, "Will & Grace" averaged a 3.2/9 in 18-49 and 7.5 million viewers overall and at 8:30, "Four Kings" (3.5/9 in 18-49, 7.4 million viewers overall) built on that 18-49 lead-in by 9 percent. "Four Kings" has built on its 18-49 lead-in with each of its three telecasts to date.

At 9 p.m. ET Thursday, "My Name is Earl" (5.3/13 in 18-49, 10.8 million viewers overall) built on its 18-49 lead-in by 51 percent to lift NBC 26 percent above its season average in the time period prior to "Earl" (5.3 vs. 4.2). Last week's "Earl" won its highly competitive time period among men 18-34. "Earl" is the season's #1 comedy and #1 first-year series in 18-49.

At 9:30 p.m. ET Thursday, "The Office" (4.5/11 in 18-49, 8.7 million viewers overall) retained a solid 85 percent of its 18-49 lead-in from "My Name is Earl." In its first three weeks on NBC's Thursday schedule, "The Office" has delivered its three strongest retentions to date of its 18-49 lead-in from "Earl." "The Office" finished #2 in the competitive time period in 18-49, topping ABC's rival comedy "Crumbs" (3.4/8) by a 32 percent margin and Fox's "The O.C." (2.7/6 that half-hour) by 67 percent.

On Friday, Jan. 20 at 9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (2.8/8 in 18-49, 8.5 million viewers overall) won the time period in adults 18-49. "Dateline" improved on NBC's 18-49 season average in the time period by 17 percent (2.8 vs. 2.4).

On Saturday, Jan. 21 at 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.2/7 in 18-49, 7.7 million viewers overall) built on its 18-49 lead-in by 38 percent.

On Sunday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m., "Dateline NBC" (2.3/6 in 18-49, 8.9 million viewers overall) reported its highest Sunday 18-49 rating since July 10 and improved on its 18-49 average for this season by 35 percent (2.3 vs. 1.7). It was the network's highest 18-49 rating in the time period since Nov. 27 ("Shrek").

Also on Sunday, "The West Wing" at 9 p.m. ET (1.9/4 in 18-49, 7.8 million viewers overall) improved week-to-week by 19 percent in 18-49 (1.9 vs. 1.6), "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (3.1/6 in 18-49, 10.5 million viewers overall) improved on its 18-49 lead-in by 63 percent and "Crossing Jordan" (3.3/8 in 18-49, 11.1 million viewers overall) built on its 18-49 lead-in by 6 percent.