NBC TIES FOR #1 IN 18-49 FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 31-AUG. 6

BURBANK, Calif. � August 8, 2006 � NBC ranked #1 for the week in the key demographic of adults 18-49 (tied with CBS). NBC averaged a 2.3 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49 and 6.9 million viewers overall for the week of July 31-August 6, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

NBC had five of the top 10 programs the week in adults 18-49 (out of a total 117 programs this week) -- the "NBC Sunday Night Football" telecast of the pre-season Hall of Fame Game ranked #1, the nine-minute "NBC Sunday Night Football" pre-game show ranked #4, "Last Comic Standing" was #7, and Wednesday's "America's Got Talent and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" tied at #8.

Primetime averages for the week of July 31-Aug. 6 in adults 18-49 were NBC and CBS (2.3/7), Fox (2.2/7), ABC (1.8/6), Univision (1.4/5), UPN and WB (0.7/2) and Telemundo (0.4/1). Versus the same week last year, NBC was up 28 percent in 18-49 while the other major broadcast networks were down. In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (7.4 million), NBC (6.9 million), Fox (5.6 million), ABC (5.3 million), Univision (3.3 million), UPN (1.9 million), WB (1.7 million) and Telemundo (0.8 million).

Since the end of the traditional broadcast season, NBC is running #2 (tied with CBS) in adults 18-49. The current summer-to-date averages in 18-49 are Fox (2.4), NBC and CBS (2.1) and ABC (1.8) for the period May 25-August 6, 2006.

Summer-to-date, "America's Got Talent" is the top-rated new summer series of 2006. The top-rated original summer series overall this year are Fox's Wednesday and Thursday editions of "So You Think You Can Dance" (both averaging a 3.8 in 18-49) and NBC's "America's Got Talent" and "Last Comic Standing" and Fox's "Hell's Kitchen" (all averaging a 3.6 in 18-49).

NBC highlights for the week of July 31-Aug. 6:

* On Sunday, the "NBC Sunday Night Football" telecast of the Hall of Fame Game delivered the strongest results for a pre-season NFL match-up since August 2004 in adults 18-49, total viewers and household rating.

* Paced by "NBC Sunday Night Football," NBC won Sunday in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. This marks NBC's third Sunday win in five weeks in 18-49 and fourth Sunday victory in the last five week in total viewers.

* "Dateline NBC" reported the highest Sunday 7-8 p.m. ET 18-49 rating for any network this summer, excluding sports.

* On Tuesday, "Last Comic Standing" was the #1 show of the night on any network in the key demo of adults 18-49. It swept its hour, winning in adults 18-34, adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers. "Last Comic," which ranked #7 out of a total 117 programs this week in adults 18-49, was up 68 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's average in the time period last summer.

* Also on Tuesday, an encore "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" won its hour in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures, locking up its highest 18-49 rating and overall viewership in six weeks. "SVU" ranked #8 (tied) in adults 18-49 for the week.

* On Wednesday, "America's Got Talent" was up 7 percent in 18-49 rating versus the prior week and attracted its highest total viewership since July 12. "Talent" ranked #1 in its two-hour time period in adults 18-49 and total viewers. For the week, "America's Got Talent" was the #8 program in adults 18-49 and the #4 show of the week in total viewers

Excluding sports, 18-49 averages for the 2005-06 broadcast year to date are Fox (a 3.6 rating), CBS (3.4), ABC (3.2), NBC (2.9), WB (1.2) and UPN (1.1). This summer, non-sports 18-49 averages are: Fox (a 2.3 rating), NBC (2.1), CBS (2.1), ABC (1.7), UPN (0.7) and WB (0.7).

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 July 31-Aug. 6:

On Monday, July 31 at 9 p.m. ET, "Treasure Hunters" averaged a 1.9 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49 and 5.1 million viewers overall, posting its highest 18-49 rating since July 10. "Treasure Hunters" built by 58 percent in 18-49 rating versus its lead-in from the previous hour � a 1.2/4 in 18-49 and 3.4 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. for a casting special for the NBC.com series "StarTomorrow" from 8-9 p.m. At 10 p.m., an encore "Medium" averaged a 1.6/5 in 18-49 and 4.7 million viewers overall.

On Tuesday, August 1 at 9 p.m. ET, "Last Comic Standing" (3.2/9 in 18-49, 7.6 million viewers overall) was the #1 telecast of the night in the key demographic of adults 18-49. "Last Comic" was #1 in its hour among adults 18-34, adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers. "Last Comic" increased 60 percent in adults 18-49 versus its lead-in � a 2.0/6 in 18-49 and 5.0 million viewers overall for "Fear Factor" from 8-9 p.m.

"Last Comic" was up 68 percent in adult 18-49 rating versus NBC's average in this time period last summer (3.2 vs. 1.9) and topped every NBC result in this time period for the summer of 2005.

Also on Tuesday from 10-11 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.1/9 in 18-49, 8.9 million viewers overall) locked up its highest 18-49 rating and total viewership in six weeks (since June 20). "SVU" ranked #1 for its time period in adults 18-34, 18-49, 25-54, total viewers and other key measures. "SVU" was up 11 percent in 18-49 rating versus the prior week (a 2.8 on July 25) and 35 percent versus the week before that (a 2.3 on July 18).

On Wednesday, August 2 from 8-10 p.m. ET, "America's Got Talent" (3.1/10 in adults 18-49, 10.5 million viewers overall) was up 7 percent in 18-49 rating versus the prior week and attracted its highest total viewership since July 12. "Talent" was #1 for the two-hour time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. "America's Got Talent" was up 48 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's average in the time period last summer (3.1 vs. 2.1).

Also on Wednesday, at 10 p.m. ET, an encore "Law & Order" (2.4/7 in adults 18-49, 7.7 million viewers overall) apprehended its highest 18-49 rating since July 5 to finish within 0.1 of an 18-49 rating point of the time period lead.

On Thursday, August 3 at 8 p.m. ET, an encore "My Name is Earl" (2.0/7 in 18-49, 5.5 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in the time period among adults 18-49 and ranked #1 (tied with CBS' first-run "Big Brother") among men 18-34 and men 18-49. At 8:30 p.m., an encore telecast of "The Office" averaged a 1.8/6 in 18-49 and 4.4 million viewers overall.

Thursday from 9-10 p.m. ET, the "America's Got Talent" results show (2.3/7 in 18-49, 7.9 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in from "The Office" by 28 percent in 18-49 rating and by more than 3.5 million viewers overall. At 10 p.m., "Windfall" averaged a 1.6/5 in 18-49 and 4.1 million viewers overall.

On Friday, August 4 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.5/6 in 18-49, 5.9 million viewers overall) was #1 for the hour in adults 18-49 (tied) and was #1 outright among adults 25-54. At 9 p.m. ET, an encore "Las Vegas" averaged a 1.4/5 in 18-49 and 4.5 million viewers overall, and at 10 p.m., a "Law & Order" rebroadcast averaged a 1.5/5 in 18-49 and 5.3 million viewers overall. NBC finished #1 for the night in 18-49 (tied with CBS). It's the 17th time this season NBC has ranked #1 or tied for #1 on a Friday night in 18-49.

On Saturday, August 5 from 8-10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Dateline NBC" (1.5/6 in 18-49, 6.1 million viewers overall) matched NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the time period this summer and delivered the network's highest total viewership in the slot since May 13. "Dateline" tied for #1 for the time period in adults 18-49 and was #1 outright among adults 25-54 and total viewers.

NBC finished 0.1 of a rating point out of first place on Saturday in adults 18-49 and won Saturday night in overall total viewers.

On Sunday, August 5 from 7-8 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (2.2/7 in 18-49, 6.9 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and other key measures. This is the highest non-sports 18-49 rating in the time period for any network this summer and highest rating including sports since June 25 (NASCAR overrun on Fox).

Also on Sunday, the "NBC Sunday Night Football" telecast of the pre-season Hall of Fame Game between the Oakland Raiders and the Philadelphia Eagles (3.9/11 in 18-49, 10.6 million viewers overall, 6.8/12 in households from 8:09-11 p.m. ET) ranked #1 in the time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures and was the week's #1 telecast in adults 18-49. This is the highest-scoring pre-season NFL game since August 30, 2004 in adults 18-49, total viewers and household rating.

From 8-8:09 p.m. ET Sunday, the Hall of Fame Game Pre-Kickoff telecast averaged a 3.6/12 in 18-49, 9.9 million viewers overall and a 6.4/12 in households.

NBC won Sunday night in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. In adults 18-49 this marks NBC's third Sunday win in five weeks and in total viewers it's NBC's fourth Sunday victory in five weeks.