NBC WINS ITS SECOND STRAIGHT WEEK IN 18-49

'DEAL OR NO DEAL' IS THE WEEK'S #1 TELECAST IN 18-49, 'APPRENTICE,' 'LAST COMIC' AND 'WINDFALL' ALSO DELIVER TOP-10 RATINGS

BURBANK, Calif. � June 13, 2006 � NBC won the week of June 5-11 with a 2.5 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49, marking the network's second consecutive weeklong victory. NBC finished #2 for the week in total viewers with an average 7.3 million viewers overall. NBC also won the week among women 18-49 and adults, men and women 25-54, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Monday's season finale of "Deal of No Deal" was the week's #1 program in 18-49 and total viewers. It's the second week in a row "Deal" has ranked #1 in total viewers.

NBC programs accounted for four of the week's top 10 shows in adults 18-49, more than any other network. In addition to "Deal or No Deal," top-10 ratings were generated by Monday's "Apprentice 5" finale (tied for #4), Tuesday's "Last Comic Standing" (#7) and Thursday's premiere of the drama "Windfall" (tied for #9).

Versus its 18-49 rating for the same week last year, NBC was up 19 percent (2.5/8 vs. 2.1/7). In total viewers, the year-to-year increase is 12 percent (7.3 million vs. 6.5 million).

Primetime averages for the week of June 5-11 in adults 18-49 were NBC (2.5/8), Fox (2.4/7), ABC (2.1/7), CBS (2.0/6), Univision (1.3/4), UPN (0.8/3), WB (0.8/3) and Telemundo (0.4/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (8.2 million), NBC (7.3 million), Fox (6.0 million), ABC (5.8 million), Univision (3.1 million), WB (2.2 million), UPN (2.1 million) and Telemundo (0.8 million).

NBC highlights for the week of June 5-11:

* On Monday, the season finale of "Deal or No Deal" matched the show's second-highest 18-49 rating ever and set a series record in total viewers. It was the #1 primetime telecast in 18-49 and total viewers on any network since the May sweep.

* Also on Monday, the finale of "The Apprentice 5" ruled the slot in all key demographics while delivering the highest 18-49 and total viewer results of the show's fifth cycle. "Apprentice" tied for the week's second-highest non-sports rating in 18-49.

* On Tuesday, "Last Comic Standing" scored the night's #1 rating in 18-49 and was the #7 telecast of the week. "Last Comic" beat every NBC 18-49 result from last summer in the Tuesday 9 p.m. ET hour.

* On Wednesday, a two-hour encore telecast of "Dateline NBC" improved by 47 percent on NBC's 18-49 rating in the time period on the same night last year.

* On Thursday, the debut of "Windfall" delivered the highest adult 18-49 rating and biggest overall viewer total for a premiering summer drama in nearly six years, improving by 70 percent in 18-49 on NBC's summer 2005 average in the time period. "Windfall" tied for the week's #9 rating in 18-49.

* On Friday, "Dateline NBC" won its time slot in 18-49 and a "Windfall" encore tied for first, boosting NBC to a tie for the nightlong 18-49 win.

Excluding sports, 18-49 averages for the 2005-06 broadcast year to date are Fox (a 3.9 rating), CBS (3.6), ABC (3.5), NBC (3.1), WB (1.3), and UPN (1.2).

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 June 5-11:

On Monday, June 5 from 8-9:30 p.m. ET, the season finale of "Deal or No Deal" (5.6 rating, 17 share in adults 18-49, 18.1 million viewers overall) tied as the second-highest-rated "Deal" ever in 18-49 and set a new series record in total viewers. "Deal or No Deal" dominated the time period with the highest 18-49 rating and overall viewer total for any primetime telecast on any network since the close of the May sweep on May 24. "Deal" improved by 47 percent on NBC's 18-49 average in the slot during the regular season (5.6 vs. 3.8). From its first half-hour to its third, the June 5 "Deal" increased its 18-49 rating by 57 percent (to a 6.9/19 from a 4.4/15) and its total audience by 6.5 million viewers. The "Deal or No Deal" season finale featured an appearance by Celine Dion and a top prize of $5 million.

From 9:30-11 p.m. ET, the finale of "The Apprentice 5" (4.4/12 in 18-49, 11.2 million viewers overall) generated the highest 18-49 rating and biggest overall audience of the show's fifth cycle. Versus NBC's time-period result for the same night last year, "Apprentice" improved the slot by 69 percent in 18-49 (4.4 vs. 2.6 for drama encores). The June 5 "Apprentice" improved by 10 percent on the show's prior 18-49 average rating for cycle five. The "Apprentice" finale won the 9:30-11 p.m. time period in all key demographics.

NBC won Monday night in all key ratings categories.

On Tuesday, June 6 at 8 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Last Comic Standing" (2.1/7 in 18-49, 4.9 million viewers overall) tied for #2 in the time period among adults 18-49.

At 9 p.m. ET Tuesday, the regular first-run edition of "Last Comic Standing" (4.0/11 in 18-49, 8.6 million viewers overall) delivered the night's #1 rating in 18-49 with a 90 percent build on the "Last Comic" result in the previous hour with an encore telecast. The 9 p.m. edition of "Last Comic Standing" was #1 in the time period in all key demographics with an 8 percent improvement on the show's 8-10 p.m. average of the prior Tuesday in 18-49. The June 6 "Last Comic" beat every NBC result in this time period last summer in 18-49. From its first half-hour to its second, "Last Comic" increased its 18-49 rating by 13 percent (to a 4.3/12 from a 3.8/11) and built its overall audience by more than 1 million viewers.

Also Tuesday, at 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.4/7 in 18-49, 6.7 million viewers overall) tied for first for the time slot in adults, men and women 18-49 and was #1 outright among adults, men and women 18-34.

On Wednesday, June 7 from 8-10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Dateline NBC" (2.8/9 in 18-49, 7.7 million viewers overall) finished #2 in 18-49 and most other key ratings categories and was #1 among men 25-54. "Dateline NBC" built audience steadily throughout its two-hour time period -- from its first half-hour to its fourth, the "Dateline" encore built its 18-49 rating by 62 percent (to a 3.4/9 from a 2.1/7) and its overall audience by 2.6 million viewers. "Dateline" improved on NBC's rating in this time period on the same night last year by 47 percent in 18-49 (2.8/9 vs. 1.9/6).

Also on Wednesday, at 10 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "Law & Order" (2.5/7 in 18-49, 7.8 million viewers overall) finished #2 for the time period in 18-49 and #1 among adults 18-34.

On Thursday, June 8 from 8-10 p.m. ET, 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.

At 10 p.m. ET, the premiere of "Windfall" (3.4/10 in 18-49, 9.0 million viewers overall) delivered the highest 18-49 rating and biggest overall audience 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). The "Windfall" debut lifted NBC 70 percent above the network average for this time period last summer (3.4 vs. 2.0). In total viewers, "Windfall" is up 91 percent versus last summer's average 4.7 million viewers in the time period.

The 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. ET and "Without a Trace" at 10 p.m. "Windfall" was the week's #2 drama in 18-49 behind Monday's "CSI: Miami" rebroadcast on CBS.

On Friday, June 9 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.7/6 in 18-49, 6.5 million viewers overall) won the time period in 18-49, 25-54, total viewers and other key categories.

Friday at 9 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of Thursday's premiere of "Windfall" (1.6/5 in 18-49, 4.8 million viewers overall) tied for the time-period win in adults 18-49.

Also on Friday, at 10 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.9/6 in 18-49, 6.2 million viewers overall) improved by 27 percent on its 18-49 rating in this slot the previous Friday. The June 9 "SVU" finished its hour #2 in 18-49 and tied for #1 among adults, men and women 18-34.

NBC tied for the nightlong win Friday in 18-49, marking the 14th time this season NBC has won or tied for first on a Friday night.

On Saturday, June 10, NBC Sports coverage of game three of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Edmonton Oilers averaged a 1.0/4 in 18-49, 2.5 million viewers overall and a 1.6/3 in households from 8-11 p.m. ET. The telecast is up by 25 percent in 18-49 and 29 percent in total viewers versus the third game of the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Calgary Flames, which earned a 0.8/3 in 18-49, 2.0 million viewers overall and a 1.4/3 in households on ABC May 29, 2004

On Sunday, June 11 from 7-9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.8/6 in 18-49, 6.3 million viewers overall) reported NBC's strongest 18-49 rating in the time period in four weeks. From its first hour to its second, "Dateline" increased its 18-49 rating by 40 percent (to a 2.1/6 from a 1.5/5).

At 9 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" averaged a 2.1/6 in 18-49 and 8.0 million viewers overall. This is "Criminal Intent's" top 18-49 rating since May 14.

At 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of the previous Thursday's premiere of "Windfall" delivered a 2.1/6 in 18-49 and 6.2 million viewers overall. The "Windfall" rebroadcast increased its audience from half-hour to half-hour in all key demographics.