NBC WINS THE PRIMETIME WEEK IN ADULTS 18-49

NBC WINS THE PRIMETIME WEEK IN ADULTS 18-49

'THE OFFICE,' 'LAS VEGAS' AND 'THE BIGGEST LOSER' ALL HIT SEASON-HIGH RATINGS IN 18-49

'HEROES' IS THE #1 NEW SERIES OF THE WEEK AND THE SEASON IN 18-49, TOTAL VIEWERS AND OTHER KEY MEASURES

NBC IS UP 12 PERCENT IN 18-49 THROUGH THE FIRST 11 WEEKS OF THE 2006-07 SEASON WHILE THE OTHER MAJOR NETWORKS ARE ALL DOWN

BURBANK, Calif. � December 5, 2006 � NBC won the week of November 27-December 3 in adults 18-49, continuing the momentum of its November sweep, when it was the only network to show growth in all key adult demographics versus November 2005. NBC averaged a 3.7 rating, 10 share in 18-49 and 10.4 million viewers overall for the November 27-December 3 week, according to "live plus same day" in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

NBC also ranked #1 this week in the valuable demographic of adults 18-34, and was the only network showing growth in that category versus the same week last year (up 7 percent). NBC is also the only network showing growth season-to-date among adults 18-34, up 12 percent versus the first 11 weeks of last season.

"Heroes" was the #1 new series of the week in adults 18-49, 18-34, 25-54 and total viewers. Among all 98 programs this week, "Heroes" ranked #3 in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, trailing only "Gray's Anatomy" and "House" (excludes Fox's five-minute NFL post-game show on Sunday).

"Heroes" ranks as the season's #1 new series in the key demographics of adults 18-34, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54, as well as in total viewers. In adults 18-49 season-to-date, "Heroes" ranks #5 among all 122 programs, trailing only "Grey's Anatomy," "Desperate Housewives," "CSI" and "Lost." In adults 18-34 season-to-date, "Heroes" is the #3 show on television, behind only "Grey's Anatomy" and "Desperate Housewives."

Versus the 11th week of last season, NBC this week was up 6 percent in adults 18-49 (3.7 vs. 3.5), up 2 percent in adults 25-54 (4.3 vs. 4.2), up 7 percent in 18-34 (3.1 vs. 2.9) and up 1 percent in total viewers (10.36 million vs. 10.25 million). It's the sixth consecutive week NBC has improved on its 18-49 rating for the same week last year.

For the first 11 weeks of the 2006-07 television season, NBC is the only network showing year-to-year gains in adults 18-49. NBC is up 12 percent versus the same period last year (3.7 rating versus 3.3). In that same comparison, ABC is down 2 percent, CBS is down 5 percent and Fox is down 6 percent. Season-to-date in total viewers, only NBC and ABC are showing gains year-to-year. NBC is up 10 percent versus the opening 11 weeks of the last season (10.33 million vs. 9.43 million). ABC is up 5 percent by that measure, while CBS is down 4 percent and Fox is down 2 percent.

Primetime averages for the week of November 27-December 3 in adults 18-49 were NBC (3.7/10), ABC (3.5/9), CBS (3.4/9), Fox (3.2/9), Univision and CW (1.5/4) and Telemundo (0.4/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (11.8 million), NBC (10.4 million), ABC (10.1 million), Fox (8.2 million), CW (3.8 million), Univision (3.6 million) and Telemundo (0.9 million).

NBC highlights for the week of November 27-December 3:

* On Monday, "Heroes" hit a 6.8 rating in adults 18-49, the second-highest 18-49 rating for any first-year series on any network this season, trailing only its own prior week's record-setting 6.9. "Heroes" ranked #1 in its time period by all key measures including 18-49 and total viewers. In 18-49, "Heroes" outpaced its nearest competitors, CBS' original comedies, by 62 percent.

* Also on Monday, "Deal or No Deal" scored its second-highest 18-49 rating and overall viewership of the season, winning its hour in 18-49, total viewers and virtually all key measures. Monday's "Deal" ranked #5 among all programs this week in overall total viewers (17.7 million)

* NBC won Monday night in adults 18-49 and total viewers, marking the network's ninth Monday victory in the demo in 11 weeks this season, and third Monday win in total viewers.

* On Tuesday, "Law & Order: SVU" dominated its time period by all key measures, while "Friday Night Lights" scored its highest Tuesday overall viewership since October 24 and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" locked up its largest overall viewer total since October 17.

* On Wednesday, "The Biggest Loser" weighed in with its highest results of the season in 18-49, total viewers and other measures. "Loser" ranked #2 in the hour in adults 18-49 and other key measures and #1 among women 18-34.

* On Thursday, "The Office" hit its highest 18-49 rating of the season, up 29 percent versus NBC's average in the time period last season, excluding sports,

* Also on Thursday, "ER" won its hour in adults 18-49, total viewers and all other key measures against rivals that benefited from sizable lead-in advantages. "ER" ranked #5 among all programs this week in adults 18-49.

* On Friday, a special two-hour "Las Vegas" rolled that series' highest numbers of the season in 18-49 and total viewers. "Vegas," which grew throughout the two-hour telecast, was a strong #1 in 18-49, total viewers and all other key measures in its second hour from 10-11 p.m. ET.

* Paced by "NBC Sunday Night Football," NBC soared 74 percent above its nightlong 18-49 average for the same Sunday last year.

Ratings reflect "live plus same day" data unless otherwise noted. Season-to-date figures are averages of "live plus seven day" data except for the two most recent weeks, which are "live plus same day."

Additional NBC highlights for the week of November 27-December 3:

On Monday, Nov. 27 at 8 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (5.3 rating, 13 share in adults 18-49, 17.7 million viewers overall) ranked #1 by virtually all key measures, including adults 18-49 and total viewers, delivering its second-highest 18-49 rating and total viewership of the current season. In 18-49, "Deal" won its time period with a 33 percent margin over second place (5.3 vs. a 4.0 for Fox's "Prison Break" fall finale).

Monday at 9 p.m. ET, "Heroes" (6.8/16 in 18-49, 15.6 million viewers overall) hit the second-highest 18-49 rating for any first year series on any network this season, trailing only the prior week's "Heroes" and its record-setting 6.9 rating.

"Heroes ranked #1 in all key measures, including adults 18-49 and total viewers. In 18-49, its margin of victory was 62 percent (6.8 vs. 4.2 for CBS' comedies). "Heroes" was up by 70 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's non-sports average in this time period last season (6.8 vs. 4.0). It was network television's #1 show Monday night in adults 18-49.

At 10 p.m. ET, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" (3.2/8 in 18-49, 7.3 million viewers overall) hit its highest 18-49 rating in three weeks (since November 6).

NBC won Monday night in adults 18-49, marking the network's ninth Monday win in 11 weeks this season. NBC also won Monday night in total viewers, for the third time this season in that measure. Versus the same night last year, NBC was up 34 percent in 18-49 (5.1 vs. 3.8) and by 21 percent or approximately 2.4 million viewers overall (13.6 million vs. 11.2 million).

On Tuesday, Nov. 28 at 8 p.m. ET, "Friday Night Lights" (2.4/6 in 18-49, 6.2 million viewers overall) delivered its highest overall viewership for a Tuesday telecast since October 24 and matched its highest 18-49 rating over that same span.

At 9 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (3.1/8 in 18-49, 9.8 million viewers overall) matched its highest 18-49 rating since October 24 and delivered its highest overall viewership since October 17.

At 10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.2/14 in 18-49, 14.6 million viewers overall) dominated its time period by all key ratings measures including adults 18-49 and total viewers. In 18-49, its margin of victory was 73 percent over its nearest competitor, ABC's "Boston Legal."

On Wednesday, Nov. 29 from 8-9 p.m. ET, the special "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" (2.6/7 in 18-49, 9.4 million viewers overall) was up 30 percent in adults 18-49 (2.6 vs. 2.0) versus last year's special on November 30, 2005. "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" was #2 in the hour in total viewers and #1 among kids 2-11.

Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET, "The Biggest Loser' (3.6/9 in 18-49, 9.2 million viewers overall) weighed in with its highest numbers of the season. "Loser" ranked #2 in the hour in adults 18-49 and other key measures and #1 among women 18-34.

At 10 p.m. ET, "Medium" (3.0/8 in 18-49, 8.0 million overall) was up 20 percent in adults 18-49 versus its prior week performance. "Medium" ranked #2 in the hour in 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.

On Thursday, Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. ET, "My Name is Earl" (4.1/11 in 18-49, 9.5 million viewers overall) matched its season-high 18-49 rating and attracted its largest overall viewership since October 12 (live plus same day). "Earl" ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and #1 among adults 18-34.

At 8:30 p.m. ET, "The Office" (4.4/11 in 18-49, 9.7 million viewers overall) hit a season-high rating in the key demographic of adults 18-49 (its highest since March 2 of last season) and its highest overall viewership since September 21.

"The Office" built on its "Earl" lead-in by 7 percent. "The Office" has equaled or built on its "Earl" lead-in with all nine original episodes this season after never having built on an original "Earl" lead-in last season.

Thursday from 9-9:31 p.m. ET, the sixth-season premiere of "Scrubs" (3.6/9 in 18-49, 7.7 million viewers overall) was up 9 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's season average for this slot. This was the highest-rated "Scrubs" in both 18-49 and total viewers since February 28 last season.

From 9:31-10:01 p.m., "30 Rock" (2.7/7 in 18-49, 6.0 million viewers overall) was up 13 percent in 18-49 versus its previous Thursday rating (a 2.4 for a "super-sized" episode from 9:20-10:01 p.m. on November 16)

From 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "ER" (5.8/15 in 18-49, 13.4 million viewers overall) matched its highest 18-49 rating since October 12. "ER" won the time period in all key ratings measures against rival programming that benefited from sizable lead-in advantages. "ER" built on NBC's 18-49 rating in the previous half-hour by 115 percent. "ER' generated a 53 percent margin of victory in 18-49 over second place (5.8/15 vs. a 3.8/10 for ABC's "Men in Trees").

On Friday, Dec. 1 at 8 p.m. ET, "1 vs 100" (2.8/9 in 18-49, 9.2 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in the hour in 18-49. "1 vs 100" was up 56 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's result in this time period on the same night last year.

Friday from 9-11 p.m. ET, a special two-hour "Las Vegas" (3.2/10 in 18-49, 10.2 million viewers overall) rolled the series' highest numbers in 18-49 and total viewers of the season (since March 3). From its first half-hour to its fourth, this two-hour "Las Vegas" grew by 29 percent in 18-49 (to a 3.6/11 from a 2.8/8) and by more than 2.2 million viewers overall (to 11.2 million from 8.9 million).

From 10-11 p.m., "Las Vegas" ranked #1 in adults 18-49, total viewers and virtually all other key ratings measures. Overall from 9-11 p.m. ET, "Las Vegas" ranked #2 in 18-49, total viewers and all other key measures.

On Saturday, Dec. 2 from 8-10 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.7/5 in 18-49, 6.6 million viewers overall) reported its top Saturday 18-49 rating in three weeks and NBC's biggest overall viewership in the time period since a NASCAR race on October 14. At 10 p.m., an encore "Law & Order: SVU" (1.8/5 in 18-49, 6.8 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in the hour in 18-49 and total viewers and was the #1 non-sports choice in the hour by both measures.

On Sunday, Nov. 19, the "NBC Sunday Night Football" telecast of the Seattle Seahawks versus the Denver Broncos averaged a 5.6/14 in adults 18-49, 15.4 million viewers overall and a 10.0/16 household rating and share from 8:21-11:40 p.m. ET.

Seahawks-Broncos football is up 75 percent versus the 3.2/7 NBC averaged from 8:30-11 p.m. on the same night last year. Versus the comparable night on NBC in 2005, NBC's Sunday primetime average this week was up 74 percent in 18-49 (4.7/12 vs. 2.7/6) and up 32 percent in total viewers (13.133 million vs. 9.971 million).

Also on Sunday, "Football Night in America 2" from 7:30-7:59 p.m. ET averaged a 1.7/5 in 18-49, 4.6 million viewers overall and a 3.1/5 in households. "Football Night in America 3" from 7:59-8:13 p.m. delivered a 2.7/7 in 18-49, 7.7 million viewers overall and a 4.9/8 in households. From 8:13-8:21 p.m., "NBC Sunday Night Football Pre Kickoff" averaged a 3.0/8 in 18-49, 9.0 million viewers overall and a 5.7/9 in households. Note: "Football Night in America" from 7-7:30 p.m. ET was sustaining programming and does not figure in the nightly or weekly primetime averages.