NBC PRIMETIME RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 8-14

BURBANK, Calif. -� May 16, 2006 -� NBC averaged a 3.4 rating, 9 share in adults 18-49 and 10.0 million viewers overall for the week of May 8-14 according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Primetime averages for the week of May 8-14 in adults 18-49 were Fox (4.5/13), CBS (4.0/11), NBC (3.4/9), ABC (3.3/9), Univision (1.4/4), UPN (1.3/3), WB (1.2/3) and Telemundo (0.4/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (13.2 million), Fox (10.8 million), NBC (10.0 million), ABC (8.7 million), Univision (3.3 million), WB (3.0 million), UPN (3.0 million) and Telemundo (0.8 million).

NBC highlights for the week of May 8-14:

* On Monday, "Deal or No Deal" dominated its time period in 18-49, 18-34, 25-54 and total viewers. Monday's "Deal" was up 20 percent in 18-49 versus the prior week and 68 percent versus NBC's regular program average for the time period this season prior to "Deal."

* On Tuesday, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" locked up a slot win in adults 18-49, beating its closest competitor, "The Unit" on CBS, by 30 percent in that key demo and topping "The Unit" and ABC's "Boston Legal" combined among adults 18-34.

* On Wednesday, "Deal or No Deal" won by all key measures, up 29 percent in 18-49 versus the prior week and up 113 percent versus NBC's regular-program average for the slot prior to "Deal."

* On Thursday, the penultimate episode of "Will & Grace" hit its highest numbers since March 30, the season finale of "My Name is Earl" scored its highest results since April 6 and the season finale of "The Office" retained a strong 93 percent of the "Earl" lead-in among adults 18-49.

* On Friday, the third-season finale of "Las Vegas" was #1 in adults 18-49 and most other key measures with its highest 18-49 rating and total viewership since March 17.

* Also on Friday, "Deal or No Deal" was #1 by all key measures, doubling its closest competition in 18-49 and total viewers. "Deal" was up by 80 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's pre-"Deal regular-program average for the time period.

* NBC won Friday night in adults 18-49 and total viewers, the network's 12th Friday win of the season in 18-49 and sixth in viewers.

* On Sunday, the series finale of "The West Wing" polled that drama's highest numbers to date as a Sunday series. The finale was up 32 percent in 18-49 versus the show's Sunday average this season and up 71 percent versus its lead-in, a special encore telecast of the drama's original debut episode.

* Also on Sunday, the two-hour season finale of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" apprehended its highest ratings since March 12, despite increased competition in the time period from the "Survivor" finale and reunion on CBS.

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: Fox (a 3.9 rating), CBS (3.8), ABC (3.6), NBC (3.1), WB (1.3), and UPN (1.2).

Additional NBC highlights for the week of May 8-14:

On Monday, May 8 from 8-9:02 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (4.8 rating, 13 share in adults 18-49, 15.9 million viewers overall) was a dominant #1 in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and total viewers.

"Deal" was up 20 percent in 18-49 rating versus the prior week and up 68 percent versus NBC's regular program average for the time period this season prior to "Deal." From its first half-hour to its second, "Deal" grew by 38 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 5.5/14 from a 4.0/12) and by more than 3.7 million viewers.

Also on Monday, at 10 p.m., "Medium" (4.1/10 in 18-49, 11.4 million viewers overall) summoned its highest 18-49 rating since March 6, ranking #2 in the hour in 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. "Medium" built by 11 percent in 18-49 rating versus its lead-in � a 3.7/9 in 18-49 and 9.5 million viewers overall from 9:02-10 p.m. by "The Apprentice 5."

On Tuesday, May 9 at 9 p.m. ET, "Scrubs" (2.8/7 in 18-49, 6.2 million viewers overall) ranked #2 among adults, men and women 18-34. "Scrubs" built by 56 percent on the 18-49 rating from the previous half-hour � a 1.8/4 in 18-49 and 5.3 million viewers overall for an encore "Most Outrageous Moments Live" from 8:30-9 p.m. ET. At 9:30 p.m. ET, an encore "Scrubs" averaged a 2.5/6 in 18-49 and 5.6 million viewers overall, generating NBC's best 18-49 rating in the slot in five weeks (since April 4) and ranking #2 in adults, men and women 18-34.

Tuesday at 10 p.m., "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.8/14 in 18-49, 12.9 million viewers overall) won the hour in adults 18-49 and other key measures. "SVU" beat the CBS special 10 p.m. telecast of "The Unit" by 30 percent in adults 18-49 (4.8 vs. 3.7 for "The Unit") and "The Unit" and ABC's "Boston Legal" combined among adults 18-34.

On Wednesday, May 10, from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (4.9/14 in adults 18-49, 15.5 million viewers overall) won its time period by all key ratings measures. In total viewers, this was the most-watched Wednesday edition of "Deal" since March 29.

"Deal" was up 29 percent in 18-49 rating versus the prior week and up 113 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's regular-program season average for the time period prior to "Deal" (4.9 vs. 2.3). From its first half-hour to its second, "Deal" grew by 23 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 5.4/15 from a 4.4/13).

Also on Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (3.5/8 in 18-49, 10.3 million viewers overall) reported NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the hour since the Winter Olympics in February. "Dateline" posted a 67 percent improvement in adults 18-49 (3.5 vs. 2.1) versus NBC's average in the time period prior to "Dateline" and since "Idol" moved into the 9-9:30 p.m. half-hour on March 15. From its first half-hour to its second, "Dateline" grew by 45 percent in 18-49 (to a 4.2/10 from a 2.9/7) and by more than 2.7 million viewers overall.

At 10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order" (4.2/11 in 18-49, 12.7 million viewers overall) captured its highest 18-49 rating and total viewership since Feb. 8. "Law & Order" ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and #1 (tied) in adults 18-34. Versus the same night last year, "Law & Order" was up 11 percent in 18-49 (4.2 vs. 3.8).

Thursday May 11 at from 8-8:39 p.m. ET, "Will & Grace" (3.6/11 in 18-49, 9.4 million viewers overall) hits its highest 18-49 rating and total viewership since March 30, ranking #2 in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures, ahead of Fox's "That '70s Show," ABC's "American Inventor," WB's "Smallville" and UPN's "Everybody Hates Chris."

From 8:39-9:20 p.m., the season finale of "My Name is Earl" (4.2/11 in 18-49, 9.4 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 17 percent in 18-49 to rank #2 in adults 18-49 and numerous key ratings measures. "Earl" delivered its highest 18-49 rating and total viewership since April 6.

From 9:20-10:01 p.m. ET, the season finale of "The Office" (3.9/10 in 18-49, 7.7 million viewers overall) retained 93 percent of its 18-49 lead-in from "Earl" and matched its highest 18-49 rating since March 30.

From 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "ER" (5.5/15 in 18-49, 13.2 million viewers overall) sewed up its highest 18-49 rating since March 30 and its highest viewership since March 23. "ER" ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and total viewers and #1 in adults, men and women 18-34. In 18-49, "ER" cut CBS' lead to 5 percent (a 5.8 vs. a 5.5) down from a 134 percent advantage in the 9:30-10 p.m. half-hour. In total viewers, "ER" cut the CBS advantage by nearly 15 million viewers versus the preceding half-hour.

On Friday, May 12 at 8 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (3.6/13 in 18-49, 12.7 million viewers overall) dominated its time period in all key measures, doubling its closest competition in adults 18-49 and total viewers. "Deal" hit its highest Friday numbers since March 31 and has posted growth on Friday night for the last three weeks in a row.

"Deal" improved on NBC's regular-program 18-49 average for the time period this season prior to "Deal" by 80 percent (3.6 vs. 2.0). From its first half-hour to its second, "Deal" increased by 25 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 4.0/14 from a 3.2/12) and its overall viewership grew by 2.0 million viewers.

Friday at 9 p.m. ET, the third-season finale of "Las Vegas" (3.2/10 in 18-49, 9.8 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in the time period in adults 18-49 and other key measures with its highest 18-49 rating and total viewer tally since March 17. The "Las Vegas" margin of victory in 18-49 was 41 percent (3.1 vs. a 2.2 for CBS' second-place "Close to Home"). At 10 p.m., "Conviction" averaged a 1.9/6 in 18-49 and 6.2 million viewers overall.

NBC won Friday night in adults 18-49 and total viewers, the network's 12th Friday win of the season in 18-49 and sixth in viewers.

On Saturday, May 13 at 10 p.m. ET, an encore "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2.3/7 in 18-49, 8.3 million viewers overall) locked up NBC's highest 18-49 rating and total viewership in the time period since the Winter Olympics in February. "Criminal Intent" was the #1 non-sports choice in the hour by most key measures.

On Sunday, May 14 at 8 p.m. ET, the series finale of "The West Wing" (2.9/8 in 18-49, 11.8 million viewers overall) delivered that series' highest results to date as a Sunday series, up 32 percent in 18-49 rating versus its Sunday average (2.9 vs. 2.2). "The West Wing" finale built by 71 percent in 18-49 rating and by more than 4.2 million total viewers versus its lead-in � a 1.7/6 in 18-49 and 5.8 million viewers overall for an encore telecast of the original debut episode of "The West Wing" from 7-8 p.m. ET.

Also on Sunday from 9-11 p.m. ET, the two-hour fifth-season finale of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (3.6/8 in 18-49, 11.9 million viewers overall) captured that series' highest 18-49 rating since March 12, despite atypical competition from CBS' "Survivor" finale and reunion.