'NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL' IS THE #1 PROGRAM OF THE WEEK OF SEPT. 17-23, GIVING 'SNF' THE TOP SPOT FOR A THIRD STRAIGHT WEEK

SUNDAY'S COWBOYS-BEARS GAME IS THE TOP-RATED TELECAST ON TELEVISION SINCE LAST MAY'S 'IDOL' FINALE

NBC RANKS #2 FOR THE WEEK IN 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS

WEEK TWO OF 'THE BIGGEST LOSER' WINS ITS SLOT IN 18-49, VIEWERS AND OTHER KEY MEASURES, PACING NBC TO A TUESDAY WIN

BURBANK, Calif. � September 25, 2007 � Paced by "NBC Sunday Night Football," the #1 telecast for a third week in a row, NBC ranked #2 for the week of September 17-23 in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures, averaging a 2.8 rating, 8 share in 18-49 and 7.6 million viewers overall, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

With a 7.8 rating, 20 share in adults 18-49 and an average 19.0 million total viewers, this week's "NBC Sunday Night Football" telecast featuring the Dallas Cowboys versus the Chicago Bears is the top-rated program on network television since the finale of "American Idol" on May 23. It was also the top-scoring NBC telecast in 18-49 since an NFL Playoff telecast on January 6.

For a third week in a row, "NBC Sunday Night Football" was the #1 program of the week in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. It's the first time since at least 1992 that "NBC Sunday Night Football" or "ABC Monday Night Football" has ranked #1 in total viewers for three weeks in a row.

Primetime averages for the week of September 17-23 in adults 18-49 were Fox (2.9/8), NBC (2.8/8), CBS (2.4/7), ABC (1.9/5), Univision (1.5/4), CW (1.1/3) and Telemundo (0.4/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (8.9 million), NBC (7.6 million), Fox (7.4 million), ABC (5.7 million), Univision (3.5 million), CW (2.8 million) and Telemundo (1.0 million).

NBC highlights for the week of September 17-23:

* The "NBC Sunday Night Football" telecast of the Dallas Cowboys versus the Chicago Bears was the top-rated telecast on any network since the finale of "American Idol" on May 23. The game ranked #1 among all programs this week in adults 18-49 (7.8/20), adults 25-54 (8.5/20), total viewers (19.0 million) and numerous other key measures

* NBC won Sunday night in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures opposite series premieres on CBS and Fox. It was NBC's top Sunday average in both 18-49 and total viewers since December 10, 2006.

* On Tuesday, a two-hour telecast of "The Biggest Loser" ranked #1 in its time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures, pacing NBC to a Tuesday primetime win in adults 18-49. This marks NBC's 14th Tuesday victory in adults 18-49 in the last 16 weeks.

* "Biggest Loser," in the second week of its current cycle, gained 10 percent in 18-49 rating versus its season premiere a week earlier. "Loser" also was up 17 percent in 18-49 and 12 percent in total viewers versus its week-two results of one year earlier.

* Also on Tuesday, an encore "Law & Order: SVU" won its time period in adults 18-49 and other key demographic measures.

* On Wednesday, the two-hour "Last Comic Standing" finale ranked #1 in 18-49 in its second hour, having increased by 19 percent in the demo from its first to its fourth half-hour. "Last Comic" was up 3 percent in 18-49 versus its year-ago finale.

* On Thursday, an encore telecast of "The Office" scored that series' highest 18-49 rating and total viewership of the summer, and a "My Name is Earl" rebroadcast delivered that show's highest 18-49 rating in 12 weeks (since June 28) and biggest overall viewership in 19 weeks (since May 10).

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 September 17-23:

On Monday, Sept. 17 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (3.1 rating, 9 share in adults 18-49, 11.7 million viewers overall), ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and #1 in adults 25-54, total viewers and key female demographics. In adults 18-49, "Deal" finished 0.2 of a rating point out of first place (3.1 vs. a 3.3 for the season premiere of Fox's "Prison Break"). From its first to its second half-hour, "Deal" increased by 21 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 3.4 from a 2.8). "Deal" matched NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the slot since April 30.

Monday at 9 p.m. ET, a special telecast of "The Singing Bee" (2.8/7 in 18-49, 7.8 million viewers overall) scored NBC's highest 18-49 rating and biggest overall viewership in the time period since the season finale of "Heroes" on May 21. From its first to its second half-hour, this special one-hour "Singing Bee" increased by 13 percent (to a 2.9 from a 2.6). And at 10 p.m., an encore telecast of "Heroes" (1.6/4 in 18-49, 3.9 million viewers overall) delivered that series' highest results of this summer's six encore telecasts, up 33 percent versus its previous summer high (1.6 vs. 1.2 on August 20). The "Heroes" rebroadcast ranked #1 for its time period among men 18-34.

On Tuesday, Sept. 18 from 8-10 p.m. ET, "The Biggest Loser" (3.4/9 in 18-49, 7.9 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in every half-hour in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54, total viewers and other key measures, against original competition that included the season finale of "Big Brother" on CBS, the season premiere of "Beauty & the Geek" on CW and the special "Elvis: Viva Las Vegas" on ABC.

"Biggest Loser," in its second week of the current cycle, gained 10 percent in 18-49 rating versus its season premiere a week earlier (3.4 vs. 3.1). "Loser" was up 17 percent in 18-49 and 12 percent in total viewers versus its week-two results of one year ago (a 2.9/6 in 18-49 and 7.1 million viewers from 8-10 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 27)

From its first to its fourth half-hour, "Loser" added 41 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 3.8 from a 2.7) and 39 percent, or more than 2.5 million persons, in overall total viewers (to 9.1 million from 6.5 million).

Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.1/6 in 18-49, 5.9 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in adults 18-49 and other key demographics.

On Wednesday, Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (2.5/8 in 18-49, 9.9 million viewers overall) scored NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the time period in five months (since April 18) and delivered the network's highest overall viewership in the slot in nine months (since December 13, 2006). "Deal" was #1 in total viewers in the hour and finished within 1 share of the time period lead in adults 18-49 versus programming that included the series premieres of Fox's "Back to You" and CBS' "Kid Nation."

Wednesday from 9-11 p.m. ET, the two-hour finale of "Last Comic Standing" (2.9/8 in 18-49, 7.1 million viewers overall) scored its highest results in five weeks in both 18-49 and total viewers, in competition with the series premieres of Fox's "Kitchen Nightmares" and CW's "Gossip Girl" and ABC's "Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice" retrospective. "Last Comic Standing" ranked #1 in adults 18-49 in its second hour, having built by 19 percent from its first to its final half-hour (to a 3.2 from 10-11 p.m. from a 2.7).

Versus its year-ago finale, "Last Comic Standing" was up 3 percent in adults 18-49 (2.9/8 vs. a 2.8/9 on Wednesday, August 9 from 8-9:30 p.m.)

On Thursday, Sept. 20 from 8-8:51 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "My Name is Earl" (2.2/7 in 18-49, 5.4 million viewers overall) scored the show's highest 18-49 rating in 12 weeks (since June 28) and its highest overall viewership of the summer (since May 10).

On Thursday from 8:51-10 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "The Office" (2.4/6 in 18-49, 4.9 million viewers overall) generated the show's highest 18-49 and total viewer results of the summer. "The Office" ranked #1 in the 9-10 p.m. hour among men 18-34 and #2 among men 18-49. From 10-11 p.m., an encore "ER" averaged a 1.6/5 in 18-49 and 4.0 million viewers overall, up 23 percent in 18-49 rating and 22 percent in total viewers versus the prior week's rebroadcast. .

On Friday, Sept. 21 at 8 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "1 vs 100" averaged a 1.0/4 in 18-49 and 3.6 million viewers overall. At 9 p.m., an encore of "Las Vegas" averaged a 1.1/4 in 18-49 and 4.2 million viewers overall. At 10 p.m., a rebroadcast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.4/5 in 18-49, 5.1 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 27 percent in 18-49 rating.

On Saturday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Most Outrageous Moments" averaged a 0.9/3 in 18-49 and 3.4 million viewers overall. At 9 p.m., a "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" rebroadcast delivered a 0.9/3 in 18-49 and 3.9 million viewers overall. At 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Medium" averaged a 0.9/3 in 18-49 and 3.5 million viewers overall.

On Sunday, Sept. 23, "NBC Sunday Night Football", featuring the Dallas Cowboys versus the Chicago Bears, averaged a 7.8/20 in adults 18-49, 19.0 million viewers overall and an 11.8/19 household rating and share from 8:25-11: 16 p.m. ET. The game ranked #1 for the time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. It was NBC's strongest telecast in adults 18-49 since the Saturday, Jan. 6 Dallas-Seattle NFL playoff game, and in total viewers since "The Golden Globe Awards" on January 15.

Also on Sunday, "Football Night in America 2" from 7:30-7:59 p.m. ET averaged a 2.1/7 18-49, 4.9 million viewers overall and a 3.4 rating, 6 share in households. "Football Night in America 3" from 7:59-8:16 p.m. delivered a 4.1/12 in 18-49, 10.3 million viewers overall and a 6.7/12 in households. From 8:15-8:25 p.m., "NBC Sunday Night Football Pre Kickoff" averaged a 5.5/16 in 18-49, 13.9 million viewers overall and an 8.7/15 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.

For the night (from 7:30-11 p.m.), NBC averaged a 6.7/18 in adults 18-49 and 16.3 million viewers overall to win Sunday in adults 18-49, total viewers and all other key measures. NBC's margins of victory were 26 percent in 18-49 (6.7 vs. 5.3 for second-place Fox) and 41 percent in total viewers (16.3 million vs. 11.5 million for Fox). NBC's nightlong averages are the highest Sunday 7:30-11 p.m. results in 18-49 and total viewers for any network since the February 25 "Academy Awards" on ABC. These were NBC's strongest Sunday 7:30-11 p.m. averages since December 10, 2006 (New Orleans-Dallas "NBC Sunday Night Football").