'BIONIC WOMAN' AND 'LIFE' ARE POWERFUL WEDNESDAY WINNERS IN ADULTS 18-49

'BIONIC WOMAN' AND 'LIFE' ARE POWERFUL WEDNESDAY WINNERS IN ADULTS 18-49

'BIONIC WOMAN' IS THE #1 SHOW OF THE NIGHT IN 18-49 AND NBC'S TOP-RATED WEDNESDAY SERIES PREMIERE SINCE 'THE WEST WING' IN 1999

'LIFE' IS GOOD, WINNING ITS SLOT IN 18-49 WITH NBC'S HIGHEST RATING IN THE HOUR IN MORE THAN A YEAR

NBC IS UP 37 PERCENT IN 18-49 AND 49 PERCENT IN TOTAL VIEWERS VERSUS LAST SEASON'S PREMIERE WEDNESDAY, FOR ITS BEST DEBUT WEDNESDAY IN THREE YEARS

BURBANK, Calif. - September 27, 2007 - The series premieres of "Bionic Woman" and "Life" won their respective time periods in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, as the two debuting Universal Media Studios dramas propelled NBC to a 37 percent gain in the demo and 49 growth in total viewers versus the opening Wednesday night of last season, according to preliminary "fast affiliate-based" "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Last night at 9 p.m. ET, the debut of "Bionic Woman" (5.5 rating, 14 share in adults 18-49, 13.6 million viewers overall) was the #1 telecast of the night in adults 18-49, winning its highly competitive time period versus the series premiere of ABC's "Private Practice," the season premiere of CBS' "Criminal Minds" and week two of Fox's "Kitchen Nightmares." "Bionic Woman" also won its slot in adults 25-54 and all key adult male demos.

"Bionic Woman" is NBC's highest-rated program in this time period in nearly three years, excluding Olympics (since a special "Apprentice" on September 29, 2004). This marks NBC's highest-rated Wednesday new series premiere among adults 18-49 since "The West Wing" on September 22, 1999. It's also the top-rated new series premiere to date for the 2007-08 television season.

"Bionic Woman" built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 112 percent. The premiere telecast increased from half-hour to half-hour in both 18-49 and total viewers. Its 0.4 of a rating point increase in adults 18-49 (to a 5.7 from a 5.3) is the most growth of any program in the hour

At 10 p.m. ET, the series premiere of "Life" (4.1/11 in 18-49, 10.1 million viewers overall) won its highly competitive hour in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and all key male demos. "Life" scored NBC's highest rating in this time period since June 21, 2006 and improved on NBC's premiere-week 18-49 rating in this time period last season by 46 percent (4.1 vs. 2.8) and the network's year-ago overall viewer total by 34 percent (10.1 million vs. 7.6 million).

NBC kicked off the night at 8 p.m. ET with "Deal or No Deal" (2.6/8 in 18-49, 8.9 million viewers overall), which scored NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the hour in five months (since April 18). From its first half-hour to its second, "Deal" increased by 36 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 3.0/8 from a 2.2/7) and by 24 percent in overall viewership (to 9.8 million from 8.0 million).

In both 18-49 and total viewers, this marks NBC's top Wednesday night since December 13, 2006 and its best premiere Wednesday in three years. Pending updates, NBC is currently a tenth of a rating point behind ABC for the nightlong lead in adults 18-49. NBC ranked #1 for the night in all key adult male demographics.

Preliminary 18-49 averages for Wednesday night are: ABC, 4.2/11; NBC, 4.1/11; CBS, 3.3/9; Fox, 2.5/7; CW, 1.8/5. In overall total viewers, September 26 preliminary results are: ABC, 13.8 million; CBS, 11.0 million; NBC, 10.9 million; Fox, 6.1 million; CW, 3.7 million

In local-market late-night results last night, "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (4.2 rating, 11 share in metered-market households) defeated CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" (3.3/8), and ABC's "Nightline" (3.4/8) and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (1.6/5).

At 12:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (1.9/7) beat CBS' "Late Late Show" (1.6/6) and 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: 'BIONIC WOMAN' AND 'LIFE' ARE POWERFUL WEDNESDAY WINNERS IN ADULTS 18-49

'BIONIC WOMAN' IS THE #1 SHOW OF THE NIGHT IN 18-49 AND NBC'S TOP-RATED WEDNESDAY SERIES PREMIERE SINCE 'THE WEST WING' IN 1999

'LIFE' IS GOOD, WINNING ITS SLOT IN 18-49 WITH NBC'S HIGHEST RATING IN THE HOUR IN MORE THAN A YEAR

NBC IS UP 37 PERCENT IN 18-49 AND 50 PERCENT IN TOTAL VIEWERS VERSUS LAST SEASON'S PREMIERE WEDNESDAY, FOR ITS BEST DEBUT WEDNESDAY IN THREE YEARS

BURBANK, Calif. - September 27, 2007 - The series premieres of "Bionic Woman" and "Life" won their respective time periods in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, as the two debuting Universal Media Studios dramas propelled NBC to a 37 percent gain in the demo and 50 growth in total viewers versus the opening Wednesday night of last season, according to updated "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Last night at 9 p.m. ET, the debut of "Bionic Woman" (5.7 rating, 14 share in adults 18-49, 13.9 million viewers overall) was the #1 telecast of the night in adults 18-49, winning its highly competitive time period versus the series premiere of ABC's "Private Practice," the season premiere of CBS' "Criminal Minds" and week two of Fox's "Kitchen Nightmares." "Bionic Woman" also won its slot in adults 25-54 and all key adult male demos.

"Bionic Woman" is NBC's highest-rated program in this time period in nearly three years, excluding Olympics (since a special "Apprentice" on September 29, 2004). This marks NBC's highest-rated Wednesday new series premiere among adults 18-49 since "The West Wing" on September 22, 1999. It's also the top-rated new series premiere to date for the 2007-08 television season.

"Bionic Woman" built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 111 percent. The premiere telecast increased from half-hour to half-hour in both 18-49 and total viewers. Its 0.4 of a rating point increase in adults 18-49 (to a 5.9 from a 5.5) is the most growth of any program in the hour

At 10 p.m. ET, the series premiere of "Life" (4.0/11 in 18-49, 9.9 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in its highly competitive hour in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 adults 18-34 (tie) and in all key male demos. "Life" scored NBC's highest rating in this time period since June 21, 2006 and improved on NBC's premiere-week 18-49 rating in this time period last season by 43 percent (4.0 vs. 2.8) and the network's year-ago overall viewer total by 30 percent (9.9 million vs. 7.6 million).

NBC kicked off the night at 8 p.m. ET with "Deal or No Deal" (2.7/8 in 18-49, 9.0 million viewers overall), which scored NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the hour in five months (since April 18). From its first half-hour to its second, "Deal" increased by 41 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 3.1/9 from a 2.2/7) and by 24 percent in overall viewership (to 10.0 million from 8.1 million).

In both 18-49 and total viewers, this marks NBC's top Wednesday night since December 13, 2006 and its best premiere Wednesday in three years.

NBC ranked #1 for the night in all key adult male demographics (men 18-34, men 18-49 and men 25-54).

Updated adult 18-49 averages for Wednesday night are: ABC, 4.3/11; NBC, 4.1/11; CBS, 3.3/9; Fox, 2.5/7; CW, 1.8/5. In overall total viewers, September 26 updated results are: ABC, 13.9 million; CBS and NBC, 11.0 million; Fox, 6.1 million; CW, 3.7 million

In local-market late-night results last night, "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (4.2 rating, 11 share in metered-market households) defeated CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" (3.3/8), and ABC's "Nightline" (3.4/8) and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (1.6/5).

At 12:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (1.9/7) beat CBS' "Late Late Show" (1.6/6) and Kimmel.

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