NBC PRIMETIME RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF FEB. 27-MARCH 5

BURBANK, Calif. -- March 7, 2006 -- NBC averaged a 3.3 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49 and 9.6 million viewers for the week of Feb. 27-March 5, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Primetime averages for the week of Feb. 27-March 5 in adults 18-49 were Fox (5.5/14), ABC (4.6/12), CBS (3.8/10), NBC (3.3/8), Univision (1.6/4), WB (1.4/3), UPN (1.1/3) and Telemundo (0.5/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were Fox (13.5 million), ABC (12.6 million), CBS (12.3 million), NBC (9.6 million), Univision (3.7 million), WB (3.2 million), UPN (2.7 million) and Telemundo (1.0 million).

NBC highlights for the week of Feb. 27-March 5:

* "Deal of No Deal" ran Monday through Friday in the 8-9 p.m. ET time period and upgraded the hour by an average of 38 percent in adult 18-49 rating (3.6 vs. 2.6) and 3.7 million viewers overall (11.0 million vs. 7.3 million) versus NBC's non-Olympic first-quarter average. "Deal" built significantly through each individual telecast, with an average gain from its first half-hour to its second of 25 percent in 18-49 (to a 4.0 rating from a 3.2) and of 1.7 million viewers overall (to 11.9 million persons from 10.2 million).

* On Monday, the return of "Deal or No Deal" delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the time period with regular programming in more than a year and the highest total viewership in nearly two years. "Deal or No Deal" ranked #1 in adults 18-34, adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers.

* On Friday, "Deal or No Deal" matched the highest 18-49 rating in the time period for any network in more than three years, excluding sports telecasts, and scored NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the slot in four years, excluding Olympics. "Deal" was up 82 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's season average for the time period and ranked #1 in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and other key measures.

* Also on Friday, in its new night and time period debut, "Las Vegas" was #1 in 18-49 with the highest non-sports rating in the time period for any one of the six broadcast networks in 22 months, while the debut of "Conviction" was up 26 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's non-sports season average for its time period. "Conviction" finished within 0.1 of a rating point of the time period lead in 18-49 and dominated the hour among adults, men and women 18-34.

* On Tuesday, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" won its hour in 18-49, 25-54 and total viewers. Also on Tuesday, "Deal or No Deal" delivered NBC's highest rating in the time period versus "American Idol" in nearly two years, excluding Olympics.

* On Thursday, "My Name is Earl" delivered its highest 18-49 rating and total viewership since Jan. 12, up 21 percent in the demo versus NBC's pre-"Earl" season average for the time period.

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.

Non-sports averages for the 2005-06 television season among adults 18-49 are: ABC (a 3.8 rating), CBS (3.8), Fox (3.6), NBC (3.1), WB (1.4), UPN (1.2).

Additional NBC highlights for the week of Feb. 27-March 5:

On Monday, Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. ET, Deal or No Deal" (4.5 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49, 13.4 million viewers overall) delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this time period with regular programming in more than a year (since Feb. 14, 2005) and highest total viewership with regular programming in the slot in nearly two years (since April 12, 2004)

Monday's "Deal or No Deal" ranked #1 in adults 18-34, adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers. From its first to its second half-hour, it increased 31 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 5.1/13 from a 3.9/10) and by more than 2.5 million viewers (to 14.7 million from 12.2 million). In adults 18-49, "Deal" was up 73 percent versus the first quarter 2006 average in this time period for original episodes of "Surface" (4.5 vs. 2.6).

That night at 9 p.m. ET, the premiere of "The Apprentice 5" (3.9/9 in 18-49, 9.7 million viewers overall) improved by 3 percent versus NBC's 18-49 non-sports average in the time period this season. At 10 p.m. ET, "Medium" averaged a 3.9/9 in 18-49 and 10.4 million viewers overall versus "CSI: Miami" on CBS and the conclusion of the two-hour finale of "The Bachelor" on ABC.

On Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (3.3/8 in 18-49, 10.0 million viewers overall) delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this time period versus "American Idol" in nearly two years, excluding Olympics (since a March 9, 2004 "Friends" encore special). "Deal" virtually doubled NBC's non-sports averages for this slot this season facing "Idol" (1.7 rating in 18-49, 4.5 million viewers overall) and was up 83 percent in 18-49 rating (3.3 vs. a 1.8) versus the same night last year.

At 9 p.m. ET, "Scrubs" (2.9/7 in 18-49, 6.7 million viewers overall) finished #2 in this highly competitive time period in adults, men and women 18-34. The 9:30 p.m. edition of "Scrubs (3.6/8 in 18-49, 8.2 million viewers overall) increased 24 percent in 18-49 versus lead-in to post a 38 percent improvement over the 2.6 in 18-49 that NBC averaged in this slot on the same night last year.

At 10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.9/12 in 18-49, 13.8 million viewers overall) won the hour in adults 18-34, 18-49, 25-54 and total viewers, outperforming the premiere of "Amazing Race 9" on CBS and "Boston Legal" on ABC.

On Wednesday, March 1 at 8 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (3.2/9 in 18-49, 10.2 million viewers overall) improved by 60 percent in 18-49 and by 3.5 million viewers on NBC's non-sports average for the time period this season facing "American Idol." Excluding the Olympics, this was NBC's top rating in this time period opposite "Idol" since May 5, 2004. "Deal" was #2 by all key measures, trailing only "American Idol." At 9 p.m. ET, an encore "Law & Order" averaged a 2.3/6 in 18-49 and 8.1 million viewers overall.

Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order" (4.0/11 in 18-49, 12.4 million viewers overall) pulled to within 0.3 of a point of the time period lead in adults 18-49 and won the hour in adults 18-34

On Thursday, March 2 at 8 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" averaged a 2.9/7 in 18-49 and 9.5 million viewers overall versus Fox's "American Idol" and CBS' "Survivor."

Thursday at 9 p.m. ET, "My Name is Earl" (5.1/12 in 18-49, 11.3 million viewers overall) delivered its highest 18-49 rating and total viewership since Jan. 12. "Earl" was up 21 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's pre-"Earl" season average for the time period.

At 9:30 p.m. ET, "The Office" (4.4/10 in 18-49, 8.4 million viewers overall) retained 86 percent of its "Earl" lead-in. Through seven telecasts this season on Thursday, "The Office" has averaged an 88 percent retention rate following "Earl," versus a 71 percent retention this season when the two comedies aired on Tuesday. "The Office" was #2 for the time period in adults, men and women 18-34.

That night at 10 p.m., "ER" (5.8/15 in 18-49, 12.9 million viewers overall) pulled to within 0.1 of a point of the lead in 18-49, despite a 5.0 rating point advantage for CBS in the 9:30-10 p.m. half-hour. "ER" ranked #1 in adults, men and women 18-34.

On Friday, March 3, at 8 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (4.0/12 in 18-49, 12.0 million viewers overall) matched the highest non-sports rating for any network in this time period in more than three years (since CBS' Dec. 13, 2002 telecast of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"). For NBC this was the highest non-Olympic rating in the time period in four years (since "Providence" on Jan. 11, 2002). In total viewers, it was NBC's best non-Olympic number in the slot in three years (since "Mr. Sterling" on Jan. 10, 2003).

"Deal or No Deal" was up 82 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's season average for the time period (4.0 vs. 2.2). "Deal was #1 in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and other key categories.

At 9 p.m. ET, the Friday premiere of "Las Vegas" (3.7/11 in 18-49, 11.0 million viewers overall) won the hour in 18-49 with the highest non-sports rating in the time period for any of the six broadcast networks in 22 months (since "Dateline NBC" on April 23, 2004). "Las Vegas" was up 42 percent in 18-49 (3.7 vs. 2.6) versus NBC's season average for the time period, excluding sports. In total viewers, it was NBC's best non-Olympic result in the slot in nine months.

That night at 10 p.m., ET, the premiere of "Conviction" (3.4/10 in 18-49, 10.3 million viewers overall) was up 26 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's season average for the time period excluding sports (3.4 vs. 2.7). "Conviction" delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating and total viewership in the hour with regular programming since April 15, 2005. It finished within 0.1 of a rating point of the time period lead in 18-49 and dominated the slot among adults, men and women 18-34.

NBC won its fifth Friday in a row in 18-49 (including one tie) and its seventh of the season.

On Saturday, March 4, at 8 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.6/5 in 18-49, 6.4 million viewers overall), was #2 in 18-49 and #1 in total viewers. At 9 p.m. ET, an encore "Law & Order: SVU" (2.1/6 in 18-49, 7.3 million viewers overall) scored NBC's highest non-Olympic 18-49 rating in the slot since Oct. 15, up 24 percent in the demo versus NBC's non-sports season average for the hour (2.1 vs. 1.7). "SVU" was #2 in adults 18-49 and #1 in total viewers, women 18-49 and women 25-54. At 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of Friday's premiere episode of "Conviction" (2.1/6 in 18-49, 6.9 million viewers overall) tied for the time period win in 18-49 and was #1 outright among adults 18-34 and all key adult female demos.

On Sunday, March 5, versus ABC's Academy Awards telecast, "Dateline NBC" from 7-9 p.m. ET averaged a 2.2/6 in 18-49 and 8.1 million viewers overall. At 9 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" delivered a 2.1/5 in 18-49 and 7.0 million viewers overall. And at 10 p.m. ET, an encore "Crossing Jordan" averaged a 1.8/4 in 18-49 and 5.4 million viewers overall.