'LAW & ORDER' DRAMAS 'SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT' AND 'CRIMINAL INTENT' LOCK UP STRONG NUMBERS IN THEIR 2006-07 SEASON DEBUTS

BURBANK, Calif. � September 20, 2006 � NBC's "Law & Order" dramas "Special Victims Unit" and "Criminal Intent" delivered strong ratings results in their 2006-07 season debuts, with the former winning its time period by all key measures and the latter soaring 29 percent above its year-ago premiere on Sunday, according to preliminary "fast affiliate-based" "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Last night at 10 p.m. ET, the eighth-season premiere of "Law & Order: SVU" (5.1 rating, 14 share in adults 18-49, 14.4 million viewers overall) led its time period in all key ratings measures. In adults 18-49, "SVU" outperformed the series debut of CBS' "Smith" and the season premiere of ABC's "Boston Legal" by a 46 percent margin (a 5.1 rating for "SVU" vs. a 3.5 for both competing series). From half-hour to half-hour, "SVU" built by 0.4 of a rating point while "Smith" declined by 0.2 and "Boston Legal" dropped by 0.5.

At 9 p.m. ET, the sixth-season premiere of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (4.0/10 in 18-49, 11.6 million viewers overall) surged 29 percent in 18-49 rating versus its year-ago premiere on Sunday night (a 3.1/7 on September 25, 2005). Last night's season debut marked the series' highest rating since Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005. "Criminal Intent" ranked #2 in the hour in 18-49, topping the season debut of CBS' "The Unit" (3.5/9) and Fox's "Standoff" (3.3/8). "Criminal Intent" built on its lead-in by 21 percent in 18-49 rating.

At 8 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" averaged a 3.3/9 in 18-49 and 10.7 million viewers overall. This was up 22 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's non-sports season average in the time period last season (a 2.7). "Deal" grew by 28 percent from half-hour to half-hour in this highly competitive time period.

Preliminary 18-49 averages for Tuesday night are: ABC, 4.6/12; Fox, 4.5/12; NBC, 4.1/11 and CBS, 3.4/9. In overall total viewers, September 19 preliminary results are: ABC, 15.9 million; NBC, 12.2 million; CBS, 12.0 million and Fox, 10.7 million.

In local-market late-night results last night, "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (4.9 rating, 13 share in metered-market households) defeated CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" (3.1/8) and ABC's "Nightline" (3.3/8) and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (1.6/5).

At 12:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (2.3/8) beat CBS' "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.4/5) and the second half of Kimmel.

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: 'LAW & ORDER' DRAMAS 'SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT' AND 'CRIMINAL INTENT' LOCK UP STRONG NUMBERS IN THEIR 2006-07 SEASON DEBUTS

UPDATE: 'LAW & ORDER' DRAMAS 'SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT' AND 'CRIMINAL INTENT' LOCK UP STRONG NUMBERS IN THEIR 2006-07 SEASON DEBUTS

BURBANK, Calif. � September 20, 2006 � NBC's "Law & Order" dramas "Special Victims Unit" and "Criminal Intent" delivered strong ratings results in their 2006-07 season debuts, with the former winning its time period by all key measures and the latter soaring 29 percent above its year-ago premiere on Sunday, according to updated "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Last night at 10 p.m. ET, the eighth-season premiere of "Law & Order: SVU" (5.2 rating, 14 share in adults 18-49, 14.5 million viewers overall) led its time period in all key ratings measures. In adults 18-49, "SVU" outperformed the series debut of CBS' "Smith" by 44 percent (5.2 vs. 3.6) and the season premiere of ABC's "Boston Legal" by a 53 percent margin (5.2 vs. 3.4). From half-hour to half-hour, "SVU" built by 0.4 of a rating point while "Smith" declined by 0.1 and "Boston Legal" dropped by 0.3.

At 9 p.m. ET, the sixth-season premiere of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (4.0/10 in 18-49, 11.6 million viewers overall) surged 29 percent in 18-49 rating versus its year-ago premiere on Sunday night (a 3.1/7 on September 25, 2005). Last night's season debut marked the series' highest rating since Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005. "Criminal Intent" ranked #2 in the hour in 18-49, topping the season debut of CBS' "The Unit" (3.4/9) and Fox's "Standoff" (3.2/8). "Criminal Intent" built on its lead-in by 18 percent in 18-49 rating.

At 8 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" averaged a 3.4/10 in 18-49 and 10.8 million viewers overall. This was up 26 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's non-sports season average in the time period last season (a 2.7). "Deal" grew by 27 percent from half-hour to half-hour in this highly competitive time period.

Updated 18-49 averages for Tuesday night are: ABC and Fox, 4.6/12; NBC, 4.2/11 and CBS, 3.5/9. In overall total viewers, September 19 updated results are: ABC, 16.0 million; NBC, 12.3 million; CBS, 12.1 million and Fox, 10.7 million.

In local-market late-night results last night, "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (4.9 rating, 13 share in metered-market households) defeated CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" (3.1/8), and ABC's "Nightline" (3.3/8) and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (1.6/5).

At 12:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (2.3/8) beat CBS' "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.4/5) and the second half of Kimmel.

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