'NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL' COLTS-PATRIOTS UP 33% VS. 2005

"NBC SNF" Averaging 17.8 Million Viewers Through 9 Games, Up 11% from 2005 ABC MNF

NBC Wins Night in Metered Markets, Outrates "Desperate Housewives"

NEW YORK � November 6, 2006 � Last night's "NBC Sunday Night Football" AFC battle between the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots averaged a huge 21.98 million viewers, 33 percent higher than the comparable "ABC MNF" game in 2005 (16.5 million for Ravens-Steelers on 10/31/05) and one percent higher than the identical matchup on ABC in 2005 (21.86 million for Colts-Patriots on 11/7/05), according to fast national data from Nielsen Media Research.

Last night's "SNF" (8:21-11:31 p.m. ET) drew a 14.0 household rating and 22 share, 27 percent higher than ABC's ninth "MNF" telecast in 2005 (11.0/19) and just two percent lower than the Indianapolis-New England matchup on Monday night last year, despite facing much stiffer competition on the other networks.

Only three primetime NFL games in the past five years have rated higher than last night's Colts-Patriots matchup (14.8 for Steelers-Colts on ABC 11/28/05; 14.3 for Indianapolis-New York Giants on NBC 9/10/06; 14.3 for Indianapolis-New England on ABC 11/7/05).

"NBC Sunday Night Football" is averaging 17.8 million viewers through nine games, 11 percent better than "ABC MNF" though nine games (16 million) and is averaging an 11.4/18, up eight percent (10.6/18).

Last night's "SNF" broadcast drew an 8.6 rating in Adults 18-49, 139 percent higher than NBC's A18-49 rating on this same night last year (3.8 from 8:30-11 p.m. ET), 59 percent higher in households (14.0 vs. 8.8) and 65 percent higher in viewers (21.98 million vs. 13.36 million).

In the metered markets, NBC won the night in primetime and "NBC Sunday Night Football" outrated all of its head-to-head competition, including an original "Desperate Housewives."

50 million viewers watched all or part of last night's "SNF" game, second only to the Indianapolis-New York Giants "SNF" game this season.

"NBC Sunday Night Football" Top Ten Metered Markets
1. Indianapolis 47.8/60
2. Boston 32.6/49
3. Providence 31.1/43
4. Denver 21.4/29
5. Jacksonville 20.8/29
6. Las Vegas 20.5/30
7. Charlotte 18.6/27
t8. Greenville 18.4/26
t8. Tampa 18.4/26
10. Knoxville 16.9/24

Next week, the 7-1 Chicago Bears visit the NFC-East leading New York Giants on "NBC Sunday Night Football" in the first "flexible scheduling" matchup on NBC. The NFL this season is implementing for the first time in its history a primetime "flexible scheduling" element on Sundays in Weeks 10-15 and in Week 17 to ensure quality matchups with playoff implications in those weeks and give surprise teams a chance to play their way onto Sunday Night.