NBC PRIMETIME RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 20-26

BURBANK, Calif. -- March 28, 2006 -- NBC averaged a 3.2 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49 and 9.5 million viewers overall for the week of March 20-26, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Primetime averages for the week of March 20-26 in adults 18-49 were Fox (5.0/13), CBS (3.8/10), ABC (3.6/10), NBC (3.2/8), Univision (1.6/4), UPN (1.3/3), WB (1.1/3) and Telemundo (0.4/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (12.0 million), Fox (11.9 million), ABC (9.7 million), NBC (9.5 million), Univision (3.9 million), UPN (3.2 million), WB (2.5 million) and Telemundo (0.9 million).

NBC highlights for the week of March 20-26:

* On Monday, "Deal or No Deal" set new series records in both adults 18-49 (5.6/14) and total viewers (16.8 million), delivering NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the time period with regular programming in almost two years and the highest total viewership in the slot with regular programming in more than two years. "Deal or No Deal, " which has grown steadily in each of its four consecutive Monday telecasts, was up 87 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's pre-"Deal" non-sports season average for the time period.

* "Deal or No Deal" on Monday won its hour in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures against the return of Fox's "Prison Break," CBS' comedies and ABC's "Wife Swap" encore. For the week, Monday's "Deal or No Deal" ranked #8 (tied) in 18-49 and #6 in total viewers out of a total 124 programs on the six broadcast networks.

* On Tuesday, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" won its hour in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures, outperforming CBS' "Amazing Race" and ABC's "Boston Legal."

* On Wednesday, "Deal or No Deal" scored NBC's highest non-Olympic 18-49 rating in the time period in more than five years, winning its slot in 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.

* NBC won Thursday night in the key demographic of adults 18-49, with "Will & Grace" up 17 percent versus NBC's non-sports season average for the time period, "My Name is Earl" posting its highest rating since Jan. 19 and "ER" winning its slot in adults 18-34, adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers. For the week, "ER" ranked #8 (tied) out of a total 124 programs on the six broadcast networks in the key demographic of adults 18-49.

* On Friday, "Deal or No Deal" handily won its time period in both adults 18-49 and total viewers, delivering its highest Friday results to-date in the latter. Also on Friday, "Conviction" built on its lead-in by 30 percent in 18-49 to rank as the #1 non-sports telecast in the hour and #1 overall in key female demographics.

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 (3.8), NBC (3.1), WB (1.3), and UPN (1.2).

Additional NBC highlights for the week of March 20-26:

On Monday, March 20, from 8-9:02 p.m., ET "Deal or No Deal" (5.6 rating, 14 share in adults 18-49, 16.8 million viewers overall) set new series highs in both adults 18-49 and total viewers. "Deal" won the hour by all key ratings measures, outperforming the return of Fox's "Prison Break," CBS' original comedies and ABC's encore "Wife Swap."

"Deal or No Deal" delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the slot with regular programming in almost two years (matching the 5.6 delivered by "Fear Factor" on April 26, 2004) and highest total viewership with regular programming in more than two years (since Feb. 16, 2004). "Deal" was up 87 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's pre-"Deal" non-sports season average for the time period.

"Deal or No Deal" has exhibited steady grown over its four consecutive Monday telecasts since Feb. 27. In adult 18-49 rating, the "Deal" track has been 4.5, 4.9, 5.3, 5.6 ? an increase of 24 percent since week one. In total viewers, "Deal" has grown from 13.4 million on Feb. 27, to 14.7 million on March 6 to 15.5 million on March 13 to 16.8 million on March 20.

Monday from 9:02-10 p.m. ET, week four of "The Apprentice 5" (4.1/9 in 18-49, 10.2 million viewers overall) delivered the highest ratings of its current cycle. At 10 p.m. ET, an encore "Medium" averaged a 2.6/7 in 18-49 and 7.5 million viewers overall.

On Tuesday, March 21 at 9 p.m. ET, "Scrubs" averaged a 2.7/6 in 18-49 and 5.8 million viewers overall and at 9:30 p.m. an encore "Scrubs" delivered a 2.7/6 in 18-49 and 5.8 million viewers overall, retaining 100 percent of its 18-49 lead-in from the "Scrubs" original. "Scrubs" improved the hour by 17 percent versus the same night last year, when there was no "Idol" competition in the time period (2.7 vs. 2.3 last year with "Scrubs" encores).

At 10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: SVU" (4.8/12 in 18-49, 13.5 million viewers overall) was #1 in the hour in 18-49, total viewers and other key measures, outperforming original episodes of CBS' "Amazing Race" and ABC's "Boston Legal."

On Wednesday, March 22 at 8 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (5.1/14 in 18-49, 15.0 million viewers overall) scored NBC's top non-Olympic 18-49 rating in this time period in more than five years (since "Ed" on Feb. 14, 2001) and NBC's highest non-Olympic viewership in more than four years (since Jan. 23, 2002). "Deal" won the hour in 18-49, total viewers and most key measures.

These were the third-highest numbers to-date for a "Deal or No Deal" (and the highest ever for a non-Monday telecast), trailing only Monday, March 20 and Monday, March 13. "Deal" more than doubled NBC's non-sports season average for the time period in 18-49 (5.1 vs. 2.5).

Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET, "Law & Order" delivered a 2.6/6 in 18-49 and 9.0 million viewers in an extremely competitive time slot opposite Fox's "American Idol," ABC's "Lost" and CBS' "Criminal Minds." "Law & Order" grew by 17 percent in adults 18-49 from half-hour to half-hour.

At 10 p.m. ET, the series premiere of "Heist"(3.0/8 in 18-49, 8.7 million viewers overall) built on NBC's lead-in from the previous hour by 15 percent in 18-49. "Heist" ranked #2 for the time period among men 18-49 and 25-54.

On Thursday, March 22 at 8 p.m. ET, "Will & Grace" (3.5/10 in 18-49, 8.8 million viewers overall) was up 17 percent versus NBC non-sports season average for the time period, ranking #1 (or tied for #1) among women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 and #2 (tied) in adults 18-49.

Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET, an encore "My Name is Earl" (3.8/10 in 18-49, 8.7 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 9 percent in 18-49 to post NBC's highest non-Olympic 18-49 rating in this time period since Jan. 12.

Thursday at 9 p.m. ET, "My Name is Earl" (5.2/13 in 18-49, 11.3 million viewers overall) scored its highest 18-49 rating since Jan. 19, up 16 percent versus a week earlier. "Earl" was the time period's #1 non-sports choice in adults 18-49 and beat all competition in all key adult-female demographics.

In the 9:30 p.m. ET slot Thursday night, an encore telecast of "The Office" averaged a 4.2/10 in 18-49 and 8.6 million viewers overall. Even in rebroadcast and following a first-run "Earl," "The Office" retained 81 percent of its 18-49 lead-in.

Thursday at 10 p.m. ET, "ER" (5.6/15 in 18-49, 13.5 million viewers overall) was a decisive #1 for the time period in adults 18-34, adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers.

NBC won Thursday night in the key demographic of adults 18-49.

On Friday, March 23, at 8 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (3.9/12 in 18-49, 12.5 million viewers overall) handily won its time period in 18-49 and total viewers. "Deal" attracted its second-highest Friday 18-49 rating to date and its largest Friday total viewership. "Deal or No Deal" was up 77 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's pre-"Deal" season average for the time period (3.8 vs. 2.2). At 9 p.m., an encore "Law & Order: SVU" averaged a 2.3/7 in 18-49 and 7.9 million viewers overall.

At 10 p.m. ET, "Conviction" (2.9/8 in 18-49, 8.9 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 30 percent in 18-49. "Conviction" was the time period's #1 non-sports telecast and ranked #1 over all competition in women 18-49 and women 25-54.

On Sunday, March 26, from 7-8 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" averaged a 2.2/6 in 18-49 and 9.5 million viewers overall), up 16 percent in 18-49 versus its Sunday season average.

Sunday at 8 p.m. ET, "The West Wing" (2.2/5 in 18-49, 7.9 million viewers overall) matched its highest 18-49 rating since its live debate episode on Nov. 6. At 9 p.m., "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" averaged a 2.7/6 in 18-49 and 9.2 million viewers overall. At 10 p.m. ET, "Crossing Jordan" delivered a 3.0/7 in 18-49 and 10.6 million viewers overall, having built on its 18-49 lead-in by 11 percent.