'HEROES' DEBUT PACES NBC'S SECOND MONDAY WIN OF THE NEW SEASON

'HEROES' PREMIERE DELIVERS NBC'S HIGHEST 18-49 RATING FOR ANY FALL DRAMA DEBUT IN FIVE YEARS

BURBANK, Calif. � September 26, 2006 � Paced by the series debut of "Heroes," which posted the highest rating for any NBC drama premiere in five years, NBC won its second Monday night of the 2006-07 season in adults 18-49, according to preliminary "fast affiliate-based" "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Versus the second Monday night of last season, NBC's performance last night was up by 18 percent in adults 18-49 and up by 12 percent in overall total viewers.

At 9 p.m. ET, the debut of "Heroes" (5.9 rating, 14 share in 18-49, 14.3 million viewers overall) delivered NBC's highest 18-49 for any fall drama premiere in five years (since "Crossing Jordan" on Monday, Sept. 24, 2001). "Heroes" soared above the time period competition in the key demographic of adults 18-49, with a 31 percent margin of victory over second place (5.9 vs. a 4.5 for CBS' comedies). Pending updates, "Heroes" also won the hour in total viewers, adults, men and women 18-34 and other key measures.

"Heroes" was up 48 percent versus NBC's 2005-06 season average in the time period, excluding sports (5.9 vs. 4.0). From its first half-hour to its second, "Heroes" grew by 13 percent (to a 6.3/15 from a 5.6/14) and by 1.1 million viewers overall.

Pending updates, "Heroes" is within one tenth of an 18-49 rating point of the highest rating so far this fall for any new series premiere, close behind Sunday's debut of "Brothers & Sisters" on ABC. By comparison, "Brothers & Sisters" benefited from a 9.6 lead-in rating in 18-49 from "Desperate Housewives," while "Heroes" had a 3.8 rating lead-in last night.

The powerful "Heroes" premiere will be rebroadcast on NBC tonight at 8 p.m. ET and on the SCI FI Channel this Friday, September 29, at 7 p.m. ET.

NBC kicked off Monday night at 8 p.m., ET with "Deal or No Deal" (3.8/11 in 18-49, 13.0 million viewers overall), which finished #1 in its time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. "Deal" was up 31 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's results in this time period on the same night last year.

At 10 p.m. ET, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" (4.4/12 in 18-49, 11.2 million viewers overall) was up 10 percent in adults 18-49 versus NBC's season average for the time period last year (4.4 vs. 4.0, excluding sports). "Studio 60" ranked #2 in most key demographics and was #1, tied with "CSI: Miami," in adults 18-34.

Preliminary 18-49 averages for Monday night are: NBC, 4.7/12; CBS, 4.4/11; ABC and Fox, 2.7/7; CW, 1.2/3. In overall total viewers, September 25 preliminary results are: CBS, 13.5 million; NBC, 12.8 million; Fox, 7.4 million; ABC, 6.4 million; CW, 3.4 million

In local-market late-night results last night, "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (4.4 rating, 11 share in metered-market households) defeated CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" (3.7/10), and ABC's "Nightline" (2.4/6) and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (1.3/4 with an encore telecast).

At 12:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (1.9/7) beat CBS' "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.8/7) 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: 'HEROES' DEBUT PACES NBC'S SECOND MONDAY WIN OF THE NEW SEASON

UPDATE: 'HEROES' DEBUT PACES NBC'S SECOND MONDAY WIN OF THE NEW SEASON

'HEROES' PREMIERE DELIVERS NBC'S HIGHEST 18-49 RATING FOR ANY FALL DRAMA DEBUT IN FIVE YEARS

BURBANK, Calif. � September 26, 2006 � Paced by the series debut of "Heroes," which posted the highest rating for any NBC drama premiere in five years, NBC won its second Monday night of the 2006-07 season in adults 18-49, according to updated "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Versus the second Monday night of last season, NBC's performance last night was up by 18 percent in adults 18-49 and up by 17 percent in overall total viewers.

At 9 p.m. ET, the debut of "Heroes" (5.9 rating, 14 share in 18-49, 14.1 million viewers overall) delivered NBC's highest 18-49 for any fall drama premiere in five years (since "Crossing Jordan" on Monday, Sept. 24, 2001). It's also the highest-rated premiere of a 9 p.m. ET drama on any network since "Desperate Housewives" launched on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2004. "Heroes" soared above the time period competition in the key demographic of adults 18-49, with a 37 percent margin of victory over second place (5.9 vs. a 4.3 for CBS' comedies). "Heroes" also won the hour in adults 18-34, adults 25-54, total viewers and other key measures.

"Heroes" was up 48 percent versus NBC's 2005-06 season average in the time period, excluding sports (5.9 vs. 4.0). From its first half-hour to its second, "Heroes" grew by 11 percent (to a 6.2/15 from a 5.6/14) and by 1.1 million viewers overall.

"Heroes" finished within one tenth of an 18-49 rating point of the highest rating so far this fall for any new series premiere, close behind Sunday's debut of "Brothers & Sisters" on ABC. By comparison, "Brothers & Sisters" benefited from a 9.6 lead-in rating in 18-49 from "Desperate Housewives," while "Heroes" had a 3.8 rating lead-in last night.

The powerful "Heroes" premiere will be rebroadcast on NBC tonight at 8 p.m. ET and on the SCI FI Channel this Friday, September 29, at 7 p.m. ET.

NBC kicked off Monday night at 8 p.m., ET with "Deal or No Deal" (3.8/10 in 18-49, 13.0 million viewers overall), which finished #1 in its time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. "Deal" was up 31 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's results in this time period on the same night last year.

At 10 p.m. ET, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" (4.2/11 in 18-49, 10.8 million viewers overall) was up 5 percent in adults 18-49 versus NBC's season average for the time period last year (4.2 vs. 4.0, excluding sports). "Studio 60" ranked #2 in the time period in most key demographics and #1 among men 18-34.

Updated 18-49 averages for Monday night are: NBC, 4.7/12; CBS, 4.4/11; Fox, 2.8/7; ABC, 2.7/7 and CW, 1.1/3. In overall total viewers, September 25 updated results are: CBS, 13.4 million; NBC, 12.6 million; Fox, 7.5 million; ABC, 6.4 million; CW, 3.2 million

In local-market late-night results last night, "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (4.4 rating, 11 share in metered-market households) defeated CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" (3.7/10), and ABC's "Nightline" (2.4/6) and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (1.3/4 with an encore telecast).

At 12:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (1.9/7) beat CBS' "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.8/7) 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.