NBC PLACES FOUR SHOWS IN THE WEEK'S TOP 10 IN PRIMETIME'S KEY DEMO OF ADULTS 18-49, WITH 'HEROES,' 'LAW & ORDER: SVU,' 'THE OFFICE' AND 'NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL'

'HEROES' IS MONDAY NIGHT'S #1 SHOW IN ADULTS 18-49, RANKS #5 AMONG ALL PROGRAMS FOR THE WEEK

'THE OFFICE' IS THE #1 COMEDY OF THE WEEK AND THE SEASON TO DATE IN ADULTS 18-49

THROUGH THREE WEEKS, 'THE OFFICE' IMPROVES NBC'S THURSDAY 9 P.M. SLOT BY 52 PERCENT IN ADULTS 18-49

'LAW & ORDER: SVU' DOMINATES ITS TIME PERIOD IN ALL KEY RATINGS MEASURES AND IS THE #1 10 P.M. DRAMA OF THE WEEK AND THE SEASON TO DATE

NBC WEDNESDAY LINEUP OF 'DEAL OR NO DEAL,' 'BIONIC WOMAN' AND 'LIFE' POSTS 32 PERCENT GROWTH IN 18-49 AND 53 PERCENT GAIN IN TOTAL VIEWERS THIS SEASON VERSUS LAST

BURBANK, Calif. � October 16, 2007 � Paced by "Heroes," "SVU," "The Office" and "Sunday Night Football," NBC averaged a 3.0 rating, 8 share in 18-49 and 8.1 million viewers overall, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

NBC placed four programs in the week's top 10 in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, with "Heroes" (#5), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (#7 tied) and "The Office" and "NBC Sunday Night Football" (#9 tied). (Note: these weekly program rankings exclude the 5-minute CBS NFL post-game telecast on Sunday, Oct. 14, which, if included, would be the week's top-rated telecast in 18-49.)

Through the first three weeks of the 2007-08 season, "The Office" is the #1 comedy on television in adults 18-49 and ranks #9 among all programs season-to-date. "Law & Order: SVU" is television's top-rated 10 p.m. drama season-to-date, and ranks #10 among all programs.

Primetime averages for the week of October 8-14 in adults 18-49 were ABC and CBS (3.6/10), NBC (3.0/8), Fox (2.9/8), Univision (1.4/4), CW (1.2/3) and Telemundo (0.4/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (12.4 million), ABC (11.0 million), NBC (8.1 million), Fox (7.8 million), Univision (3.3 million), CW (3.0 million) and Telemundo (0.9 million).

Through the first three weeks of the 2007-08 season, NBC currently ranks #2 in adults 18-49. Primetime season-to-date averages in adults 18-49 are ABC (3.8/10), NBC (3.6/10), CBS (3.5/10), Fox (2.8/8), Univision (1.4/4), CW (1.2/3) and Telemundo (0.4/1).

NBC currently ranks #1 through the first three weeks of the season in adults 18-34 and in all key male demographics � men 18-34, men 18-49 and men 25-54 (tie).

NBC highlights for the week of October 8-14:

* On Monday, "Heroes" was the top-rated show of the night on any broadcast network in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49.

* On Tuesday, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" dominated its time period, sweeping the hour in every key ratings category. In adults 18-49, "SVU" topped ABC's "Boston Legal" by an 81 percent margin and more than doubled the rating of CBS' "Cane." Among adults, men and women 18-34 and women 18-49, "SVU" beat the ABC-CBS competition combined.

* On Wednesday, "Deal or No Deal" scored NBC's highest 18-49 rating in its time period in 10 months. "Deal" has grown each week in this slot since its September 19 season premiere and was up 11 percent in 18-49 and 13 percent in total viewers versus the prior week.

* Also on Wednesday, "Bionic Woman" was up 44 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's performance in this time period during the 2006-07 season, ranking #2 in adults 18-49 (tie) and #1 in all key adult male demos in this fiercely competitive time period.

* NBC's new Wednesday lineup of "Deal," "Bionic Woman" and "Life" are up 32 percent in adults 18-49 and 53 percent in total viewers so far this season versus NBC's Wednesday average at this comparable point last season. .

* On Thursday, "The Office" continues to deliver robust ratings in its new 9 p.m. time period. Through the first three weeks of the season, "The Office" is up 52 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's performance in this slot through this point last season.

* Also on Thursday, "30 Rock," retained 97 percent of its adult 18-49 lead-in from "My Name is Earl," with both comedies winning their highly competitive time periods among men 18-34.

* The Friday edition of "Deal or No Deal" dealt NBC's its highest 18-49 rating in the time period since March 16 and its biggest overall viewership since February 2. Week-to-week, the Friday "Deal" was up 14 percent in 18-49 and 21 percent in total viewers.

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 October 8-14:

On Monday, Oct. 8 at 8 p.m. ET, "Chuck" averaged a 2.7 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49 and 7.2 million viewers overall. As it had with every previous telecast, "Chuck" grew from half-hour to half-hour, gaining 21 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.9 from a 2.4) and 12 percent in total viewers.

At 9 p.m. ET, "Heroes" (5.1/12 in 18-49, 10.9 million viewers overall) was the top-rated broadcast program in adults 18-49, ranking #1 in its hour among the broadcast networks in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, all key adult male demos and among women 18-34.

Monday at 10 p.m. ET, "Journeyman" averaged a 2.9/7 in 18-49 and 6.9 million viewers overall, up 7 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's May 2007 sweep average in this time period (2.9 vs. 2.7).

On Tuesday, Oct. 9 from 8-8:30 p.m. ET, "The Singing Bee" averaged a 2.3/6 in 18-49 and 6.6 million viewers overall.

Tuesday from 8:30-10 p.m. ET, "The Biggest Loser" (2.7/7 in 18-49, 6.5 million viewers overall) gained 35 percent in 18-49 rating and 21 percent in total viewers from its first to its third half hour (to a 3.1/8 in 18-49 and 7.3 million viewers from a 2.3/7 in 18-49 and 6.0 million viewers), despite potent competition that included ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" and Fox's "House."

Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.9/14 in 18-49, 12.3 million viewers overall) locked up its highest 18-49 rating since February 13, and its biggest overall audience since May 15. "SVU" was up 9 percent in 18-49 and 6 percent in total viewers versus the prior week.

"SVU" truly dominated the time period in all key ratings categories, sweeping the hour in adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, as well as total viewers. In adults 18-49, "SVU" topped ABC's "Boston Legal" by an 81 percent margin (4.9 vs. 2.7) and more than doubled the demo delivery of CBS' "Cane" (4.9 vs. 2.3). "SVU" beat the ABC-CBS competition combined in adults, men and women 18-34 and women 18-49.

"Law & Order: SVU" delivered the #1 rating of the week for a 10 p.m. drama in adults 18-49, topping such shows as "CSI: Miami," "Brothers & Sisters," "Without a Trace," "Big Shots," "CSI: NY," "Dirty Sexy Money" and "Cane." Season to date, "Law & Order: SVU" is television's #1 10 p.m. drama in 18-49 with an average 4.9 rating.

On Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (3.1/9 in 18-49, 12.6 million viewers overall) scored NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the hour in 10 months (since December 11, 2006) to rank #2 in the time period in adults 18-49 and #1 in total viewers and men 18-34. "Deal" has grown each week in this time period since its season premiere on September 19. Versus the prior week, Wednesday's "Deal" was up 11 percent in 18-49 and 13 percent in total viewers.

From its first half-hour to its second, "Deal" increased by 38 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 3.6 from a 2.6) and by 26 percent in overall viewership (to 14.0 million from 11.1 million).

Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET, "Bionic Woman" (3.9/10 share in 18-49, 10.3 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in the time period in adults 18-49 (tied) and #1 in all key adult male demographics (men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54). "Bionic Woman" was up 44 percent in adults 18-49 versus NBC's average in this time period last season (3.9 vs. 2.7). "Bionic" built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 26 percent in 18-49 rating.

Wednesday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Life" (2.7/8 in 18-49, 8.1 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in all key adult male demos � men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54.

Through the first three weeks of the season, NBC's new Wednesday lineup is up 32 percent in adults 18-49 rating (a 3.7 for the period September 25-October 14, 2007 vs. a 2.8 for the period September 18-October 15, 2006) and 53 percent in total viewers (10.8 million vs. 7.0 million).

On Thursday, Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. ET, "My Name is Earl" (3.1/9 in 18-49, 7.8 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in its highly competitive slot among men 18-34.

Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET, "30 Rock" (3.0/8 in 18-49, 6.6 million viewers overall) retained 97 percent of its "Earl" lead-in among adults 18-49. "30 Rock" was up 20 percent in 18-49 versus its average for original episodes in the second quarter 2007 (3.0 vs. 2.5). "30 Rock" ranked #1 in the time slot in men 18-34.

Thursday from 9-10 p.m. ET, "The Office" (4.7/11 in 18-49, 8.9 million viewers overall) soared 47 percent above NBC's 18-49 average in this highly competitive time period last season (4.7 vs. 3.2). Season to date, "The Office" has lifted NBC by 52 percent in 18-49 rating in this time period versus the network's average at this point last season (5.0 vs. 3.3) "The Office" built on its lead-in by 57 percent in 18-49 and won the hour among men 18-34.

Thursday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "ER" (3.5/10 in 18-49, 8.5 million viewers overall) finished within 0.1 of a rating point of the time period win in adults 18-49 for the hour despite significant lead-in advantages for the CBS and ABC drama competition.

From half-hour to half-hour, "ER" held its 18-49 rating, while both the ABC and CBS dramas declined, allowing "ER" to move from third place in the 10-10:30 p.m. half-hour to first place from 10:30-11 p.m. While "ER" held steady at a 3.5 in adults 18-49 from half-hour to half-hour, 13 percent of the "Without a Trace" 18-49 rating disappeared (3.8 to a 3.3) and "Big Shots" shed 22 percent of its demo rating (dropping from a 4.1 to a 3.2).

On Friday, Oct. 12 at 8 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (2.4/8 in 18-49, 10.2 million viewers overall) dealt NBC its highest 18-49 rating in this time period since March 16 and highest overall viewership in the slot since February 2. "Deal" ranked #2 in 18-49 and #1 in total viewers. Week to week, "Deal" was up 14 percent in 18-49 and 21 percent in total viewers. At 9 p.m. ET, "Friday Night Lights" averaged a 1.7/5 in 18-49 and 5.5 million viewers overall, versus competition that included Fox's Major League Baseball telecast and the series premiere of ABC's "Women's Murder Club." At 10 p.m., "Las Vegas" (2.0/6 in 18-49, 7.2 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 18 percent in 18-49 rating and 31 percent in total viewers.

On Saturday, Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Life" averaged a 0.7/2 in 18-49 and 2.8 million viewers overall. At 9 p.m., a rebroadcast of "Chuck" (0.9/3 in 18-49, 3.2 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 29 percent in 18-49 rating. At 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: SVU" (1.3/4 in 18-49, 4.6 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 44 percent in 18-49 rating and by 42 percent in total viewers.

On Sunday, Oct. 14, "NBC Sunday Night Football," featuring the New Orleans Saints versus the Seattle Seahawks, averaged a 4.7/12 in adults 18-49, 11.2 million viewers overall and a 7.1/11 household rating and share from 8:23-11:03 p.m. ET. Excluding CBS's five-minute NFL post-game coverage, "NBC Sunday Night Football" was the highest-rated telecast of the week in men 18-49 (6.6 rating), men 18-34 (6.1), and men 25-54 (7.1).

Also on Sunday, "Football Night in America 2" from 7:30-7:59 p.m. ET averaged a 1.1/3 18-49, 2.8 million viewers overall and a 1.9 rating, 3 share in households. "Football Night in America 3" from 7:59-8:15 p.m. delivered a 2.7/8 in 18-49, 6.8 million viewers overall and a 4.5/8 in households. From 8:15-8:23 p.m., "NBC Sunday Night Football Pre Kickoff" averaged a 3.1/9 in 18-49, 7.4 million viewers overall and a 4.7/8 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.