'WINDFALL' WHIPS UP THE HIGHEST SUMMER-DRAMA DEBUT RATING IN NEARLY SIX YEARS

VERSUS NBC'S SLOT AVERAGE LAST SUMMER, THE 'WINDFALL' DEBUT IS UP 65 PERCENT AMONG ADULTS 18-49

BURBANK, Calif. � June 9, 2006 � Last night's debut of "Windfall" delivered the highest adult 18-49 rating for a premiering summer drama in nearly six years, according to preliminary "fast affiliate-based" in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

At 10 p.m. ET, the premiere of "Windfall" (3.3 rating, 9 share in adults 18-49, 9.0 million viewers overall) scored the highest 18-49 rating for a debuting summer drama since the summer of 2000 ("Mysterious Ways," NBC, July 24, 2000). "Windfall" easily topped last summer's two drama debuts, Fox's "The Inside" (a 2.0 rating on Wednesday, June 8) and ABC's "Empire" (1.9 on Tuesday, June 28).

Last night's "Windfall" premiere lifted NBC 65 percent above the network average for this time period last summer (3.3 vs. 2.0) and 50 percent above NBC's slot average this year since the close of the May sweep (3.3 vs. 2.2). In total viewers, "Windfall" is up 90 percent versus last summer's average 4.7 million viewers in the time period. "Windfall" beat every NBC result in this time period from last summer in 18-49 and total viewers.

Last night's premiere of "Windfall" was the time period's #1 non-sports choice in all key demographics (pending updates) and was #1 outright in all key adult-female categories. "Windfall" tied CBS' 9 p.m. ET encore of "CSI" as the night's #1 drama in 18-49 (pending updates).

From 8-10 p.m. ET last night, encore telecasts of "My Name is Earl" generated a 2.2/8 in 18-49 and 6.0 million viewers overall at 8 p.m., a 2.7/9 in 18-49 and 6.8 million viewers overall at 8:30, a 2.6/8 in 18-49 and 6.4 million viewers overall at 9 p.m. and a 2.6/7 and 6.2 million viewers overall at 9:30.

Preliminary 18-49 averages for Thursday night are: ABC, 3.5/10; Fox, 3.3/10; NBC 2.8/8; CBS, 2.7/8; WB, 0.8/2; UPN, 0.7/2. In overall total viewers, June 8 preliminary results are: CBS, 10.1 million; ABC, 8.8 million; Fox, 8.2 million; NBC, 7.2 million; WB, 2.1 million; UPN, 1.7 million

In local-market late-night results last night, "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (4.6 rating, 11 share in metered-market households) defeated CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" (3.7/9) while ABC's "Nightline" and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" were delayed by basketball. Jay has finished #1 versus regular late-night competition on 174 of 179 nights so far this broadcast year in the metered markets (including ties).

At 12:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (2.1/7) beat CBS' "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.7/6). Conan has finished #1 versus regular competition on 176 of 179 nights so far this broadcast year in the metered markets (including ties).

Note that all national ratings are "live plus same day" unless otherwise indicated. Metered-market household ratings are live only.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: What follows is the afternoon update with the final national Nielsen ratings.]

UPDATE: 'WINDFALL' WHIPS UP THE HIGHEST SUMMER-DRAMA DEBUT RATING IN NEARLY SIX YEARS

VERSUS NBC'S SLOT AVERAGE LAST SUMMER, THE 'WINDFALL' DEBUT IS UP 70 PERCENT AMONG ADULTS 18-49

BURBANK, Calif. � June 9, 2006 � Last night's debut of "Windfall" delivered the highest adult 18-49 rating for a premiering summer drama in nearly six years, according to updated in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

At 10 p.m. ET, the premiere of "Windfall" (3.4 rating, 10 share in adults 18-49, 9.0 million viewers overall) scored the highest 18-49 rating for a debuting summer drama since the summer of 2000 ("Mysterious Ways," NBC, July 24, 2000). "Windfall" easily topped last summer's two drama debuts, Fox's "The Inside" (a 2.0 rating on Wednesday, June 8) and ABC's "Empire" (1.9 on Tuesday, June 28).

Last night's "Windfall" premiere lifted NBC 70 percent above the network average for this time period last summer (3.4 vs. 2.0) and 55 percent above NBC's slot average this year since the close of the May sweep (3.4 vs. 2.2). In total viewers, "Windfall" is up 91 percent versus last summer's average 4.7 million viewers in the time period. "Windfall" beat every NBC result in this time period from last summer in 18-49 and total viewers.

Last night's premiere of "Windfall" was the time period's #1 non-sports choice in all key demographics and was #1 outright in all key adult-female categories. "Windfall" was the night's #1 drama in 18-49 ahead of such competition as CBS' encores of "CSI" at 9 p.m. and "Without a Trace" at 10 p.m.

From 8-10 p.m. ET last night, encore telecasts of "My Name is Earl" generated a 2.2/8 in 18-49 and 5.8 million viewers overall at 8 p.m., a 2.6/8 in 18-49 and 6.7 million viewers overall at 8:30, a 2.6/8 in 18-49 and 6.4 million viewers overall at 9 p.m. and a 2.5/7 and 6.1 million viewers overall at 9:30.

Updated 18-49 averages for Thursday night are: ABC, 3.5/11; Fox, 3.4/10; NBC 2.8/8; CBS, 2.7/8; WB, 0.8/2; UPN, 0.7/2. In overall total viewers, June 8 updated results are: CBS, 10.2 million; ABC, 8.9 million; Fox, 8.3 million; NBC, 7.2 million; WB, 1.9 million; UPN, 1.7 million

In local-market late-night results last night, "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (4.6 rating, 11 share in metered-market households) defeated CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" (3.7/9) while ABC's "Nightline" and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" were delayed by basketball. Jay has finished #1 versus regular late-night competition on 174 of 179 nights so far this broadcast year in the metered markets (including ties).

At 12:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (2.1/7) beat CBS' "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.7/6). Conan has finished #1 versus regular competition on 176 of 179 nights so far this broadcast year in the metered markets (including ties).

Note that all national ratings are "live plus same day" unless otherwise indicated. Metered-market household ratings are live only.