'AMERICAN GLADIATORS,' 'BIGGEST LOSER' AND 'LAW & ORDER: SVU' PACE NBC'S WEEK OF JAN. 7-13

'AMERICAN GLADIATORS,' 'BIGGEST LOSER' AND 'LAW & ORDER: SVU' PACE NBC'S WEEK OF JAN. 7-13

'AMERICAN GLADIATORS' FLEXES ITS RATINGS MUSCLE IN ITS REGULAR MONDAY DEBUT AS THE #1 NON-SPORTS TELECAST OF THE NIGHT IN ADULTS 18-49, SCORING NBC'S TOP DEMO RATING IN THE TIME PERIOD IN 10 MONTHS

'THE BIGGEST LOSER' AND 'LAW & ORDER: SVU' POWER NBC TO ITS TOP-RATED NON-OLYMPICS TUESDAY IN MORE THAN TWO YEARS

'THE BIGGEST LOSER' WINS ITS TWO-HOUR SLOT IN EVERY KEY RATINGS MEASURE � ADULTS, MEN AND WOMEN 18-34, 18-49, 25-54 AND TOTAL VIEWERS

'LAW & ORDER: SVU' LOCKS UP ITS BEST 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWER RESULTS IN MORE THAN A YEAR, BEATING OR DOUBLING THE COMPETITION COMBINED IN ALL KEY MEASURES

NBC WINS WEDNESDAY NIGHT IN ADULTS 18-49, ADULTS 25-54 AND TOTAL VIEWERS WITH 'DEAL OR NO DEAL,' 'LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT' AND 'LAW & ORDER'

WEDNESDAY'S 'DEAL OR NO DEAL' WINS ITS SLOT WITH NBC'S HIGHEST 18-49 RATING IN THE HOUR IN MORE THAN A YEAR

'MY NAME IS EARL' AND 'ER' WIN THEIR THURSDAY TIME PERIODS IN 18-49 AND OTHER MEASURES

BURBANK, Calif. � January 15, 2008 � Paced by the strong ratings from "American Gladiators," "The Biggest Loser" and "Law & Order: SVU," NBC averaged a 2.7 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49 and 8.0 million viewers overall for the week of January 7-13, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

In a week in which the top tier of the program rankings were dominated by primetime NFL and college football telecasts, NBC placed three entertainment programs in the week's top 10 in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" ranked #5 among non-sports programs and #7 among all programs. Monday's "American Gladiators" ranked #7 among entertainment programs and #9 among all programs and "The Biggest Loser" ranked #8 among non-sports programs and #10 overall (note: all rankings exclude Fox's six-minute Sunday NFL post-game telecast)

Through the first 16 weeks of the 2007-08 season, the primetime ratings race in adults 18-49 remains extraordinarily close, with only one-tenth of a rating point separating the top four broadcast networks, and with ABC, CBS and NBC tied in first place. Season-to-date averages in adults 18-49 for the period September 24, 2007 through January 13, 2008 are ABC, CBS and NBC (3.3/9), Fox (3.2/9), Univision (1.5/4), CW (1.1/3) and Telemundo (0.4/1).

Through the first 16 weeks of the 2007-08 season, NBC is the only network to have grown younger in primetime. NBC's median age is now one full year younger than it was last season, moving to 46.3 years this season from 47.3 years at this point last season. In this same comparison, ABC's median age has increased by 2.1 years (to 49.0 from 46.9) and CBS's median age has increased to 52.5 years from 52.1 at this point last season. Fox's median age this season-to-date remains 44.8 years, unchanged from this point last season.

Primetime averages for the week of January 7-13 in adults 18-49 were Fox (4.7/12), CBS (3.9/10), NBC (2.7/7), ABC (2.6/7), Univision (1.4/4), CW (0.9/2) and Telemundo (0.5/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (13.3 million), Fox (12.9 million), NBC (8.0 million), ABC (7.6 million), Univision (3.3 million), CW (2.4 million) and Telemundo (1.2 million).

NBC highlights for the week of January 7-13:

* On Monday, "American Gladiators" continued to flex its ratings muscle in its regular time period debut, scoring NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the slot in 10 months and emerging as the #1 non-sports telecast of the night on any network in 18-49.

* Also on Monday, the fourth-season debut of "Medium" conjured up NBC's highest 18-49 rating in its slot in three months and its biggest total viewership in the time period in six months.

* "The Biggest Loser" and "Law & Order: SVU" propelled NBC to its highest-rated non-Olympic Tuesday night in more than two years. NBC won all six half-hours of primetime Tuesday in adults 18-49 and also won the night in total viewers.

* On Tuesday, "The Biggest Loser" won its two-hour slot in every key ratings measure � adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49, 25-54 and total viewers.

* Also on Tuesday, "Law & Order: SVU" apprehended its highest 18-49 and total viewer results in more than a year, beating or doubling the competition combined in all key measures in the 10 p.m. hour.

* On Wednesday, "Deal or No Deal," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and "Law & Order" combined to propel NBC to a nightly win in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers.

* Wednesday's "Deal or No Deal" won its hour with NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the time period in more than a year.

* On Thursday, "My Name is Earl" won its time period in adults 18-49 and other key measures with its top results since November 15, and "ER" won its hour in 18-49 and other key measures, growing from half-hour to half-hour while competing dramas on ABC and CBS declined.

* Also on Thursday, the second episode of "The Celebrity Apprentice" was up 25 percent in 18-49 rating versus the second episode of the last "Apprentice" cycle, despite formidable time period competition from first-run episodes of "Grey's Anatomy" and "CSI."

* On Friday, "Friday Night Lights" scored its highest 18-49 rating and overall viewership since November 16 and "Las Vegas" rolled its top 18-49 numbers since October 26.

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 January 7-13:

On Monday, Jan. 7, from 8-9 p.m. ET, the regular time period debut of "American Gladiators" (4.8 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49, 10.9 million viewers overall) scored NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this time period in 10 months (since March 5, 2007). In total viewers, "Gladiators" attracted NBC's biggest audience in the slot with regularly scheduled programming since June 18, 2007.

"American Gladiators" was the dominant non-sports program in the hour in adults 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 and all key adult-male demos, topping all competition in these key demos with the exception of Fox's strong Bowl Championship Series final game. "American Gladiators" also topped the debut of ABC's "Dance Wars" in nearly all key demographics, including women 18-34 and women 18-49, in the hour.

Despite extraordinary competition, especially for young male viewers from Fox's BCS football, "American Gladiators" surged by a full rating point, or 23 percent, in adults 18-49 from half-hour to half-hour (to a 5.3/12 from a 4.3/11) and increased its total viewership by 1.8 million persons or 18 percent (to 11.8 million from 10.0 million). In its final half-hour from 8:30-9 p.m., "American Gladiators" topped the debut of "Dance Wars" in total viewers, adults, men and women 18-34, adults, men and women 18-49 and adults and men 25-54.

At 9 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (3.6/8 in 18-49, 10.7 million viewers overall) was the #1 non-sports program in the hour in adults 18-49 and other key demographics.

At 10 p.m. ET, the fourth-season premiere of "Medium" (3.3/8 in 18-49, 9.6 million viewers overall) was the time period's #1 non-sports program in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures, topping CBS's "CSI: Miami" encore and ABC's first-run "October Road."

"Medium" summoned NBC's best 18-49 rating in this time period in three months (since October 1, 2007) and highest total viewership for regular programming in the slot in more than six months (since June 18, 2007). By both measures, this marks the best performance for "Medium" since Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2007.

"Medium" posted a 43 percent increase in adults 18-49 versus NBC's season-to-date average for this time period (3.3 vs. 2.3, "live plus same day" season average all programs).

Tuesday, Jan. 8 from 8-10 p.m. ET, "The Biggest Loser 5" (4.3/11 share in adults 18-49, 10.1 million viewers overall) won its time period in every key ratings category � adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49, 25-54 and total viewers. Excluding premieres and finales, this was the top-scoring "Loser" in adults 18-49 since the penultimate episode of the series' first cycle on January 4, 2005 and among total viewers since the second-to-last episode of the second cycle on November 22, 2005.

From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Biggest Loser" increased by 53 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 5.2/13 from a 3.4/9) and its overall viewership increased by more than 3.6 million persons, or 43 percent (to 12.1 million from 8.4 million). Versus NBC's average in the 8-10 p.m. Tuesday time period, last night's "Loser" was up 72 percent in 18-49 rating (4.3 vs. 2.5).

At 10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.1/14 in 18-49, 15.2 million viewers overall) locked up its best results in both 18-49 and total viewers in more than a year (since January 2, 2007). Excluding special crossover episodes, this is the top 18-49 rating for any 10 p.m. drama on any network this season (trailing only the "CSI" crossover episode of CBS's "Without a Trace" on November 8, 2007).

"SVU" dominated its time period, beating the ABC-CBS competition combined in all key ratings categories and doubling ABC and CBS combined in most key demographics, including adults 18-49. In addition to delivering Tuesday night's #1 rating in adults 18-49, "SVU' was also the top show of the night on any network in total viewers.

On Wednesday, Jan. 9 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (3.6/10 in 18-49, 13.5 million viewers overall) won the time period with NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the hour in more than a year (since December 13, 2006). "Deal" also won the hour in most other key ratings measures, including total viewers. Versus NBC's average in this slot last season, "Deal" was up by 56 percent in 18-49 rating (3.6 vs. 2.3).

From its first to its second half-hour, "Deal" increased by 40 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 4.2/11 from a 3.0/9) and by 31 percent, or more than 3.6 million persons, in total viewers (to 15.3 million from 11.6 million).

At 9 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2.5/6 in 18-49, 9.6 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in the hour in total viewers. This was the first NBC telecast of an episode of "Criminal Intent" that originally ran on USA Network.

At 10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order" (3.1/9 in 18-49, 11.0 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in the time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and most key measures.

NBC ranked #1 on Wednesday in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers.

On Thursday, Jan. 10 at 8 p.m. ET, "My Name is Earl" (3.4/9 in 18-49, 7.7 million viewers overall) won its time period in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and all key adult-male demos � men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54. These were the highest results for "Earl" in 18-49 and total viewers since November 15. At 8:30 p.m., "30 Rock" (2.8/7 in 18-49, 6.0 million viewers overall) matched its highest 18-49 rating since November 15.

Thursday from 9-10:01 p.m. ET, "The Celebrity Apprentice" (3.5/8 in adults 18-49, 8.2 million viewers overall) continued to track solidly ahead of the previous program in the "Apprentice" franchise, despite head-to-head competition this week from first-run episodes of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" and CBS's "CSI." This telecast, the second episode of "Celebrity Apprentice," was up 25 percent in 18-49 rating versus the second episode of "The Apprentice 6" (3.5 vs. a 2.8 for "Apprentice 6" on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2007 from 9-10 p.m.).

From half-hour to half-hour, "The Celebrity Apprentice" grew by 9 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 3.6/9 from a 3.3/8) and by 8 percent in total viewers (to 8.5 million from 7.8 million), despite the formidable competition in the hour.

Thursday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "ER" (3.5/9 in 18-49, 9.1 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in the hour in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and all key adults-female demographics � women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54. "ER" increased from half-hour to half-hour in both adults 18-49 and total viewers, while the competing dramas "Without a Trace" on CBS and "Big Shots" on ABC both declined.

On Friday, Jan. 11 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "1 vs 100" (1.9/6 in adults 18-49, 7.6 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in the time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. From its first half-hour to its second, "1 vs 100" increased its 18-49 rating by 24 percent (to a 2.1/6 from a 1.7/5).

At 9 p.m. ET, "Friday Night Lights" (1.9/6 in 18-49, 5.8 million viewers overall) scored its best 18-49 rating since November 16. "Lights" finished within 1 share of the time-period lead in 18-49 and tied for #1 in adults 18-34.

At 10 p.m. ET, "Las Vegas" (2.1/6 in 18-49, 7.1 million viewers) rolled its highest 18-49 rating since October 26. "Las Vegas" ranked #2 in the time slot in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.

On Saturday, Jan. 12, at 8 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "The Celebrity Apprentice" averaged a 1.0/3 in 18-49 and 2.9 million viewers overall. At 9 p.m., a second "Celebrity Apprentice" rebroadcast delivered a 1.3/3 in 18-49 and 3.4 million viewers overall. The two-hour block of "Celebrity Apprentice" encores built steadily, increasing by 56 percent in 18-49 rating from the first to the fourth half-hour (to a 1.4/4 from a 0.9/3).

At 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: SVU" averaged a 1.5/4 in 18-49 and 4.8 million viewers overall.

On Sunday, Jan. 13 from 7-9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" averaged a 1.1/3 in 18-49 and 4.4 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Dateline" increased by 63 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.3/3 from a 0.8/2) and by 43 percent, or more than 1.5 million persons, in total viewers (to 5.3 million from 3.7 million).

Sunday from 9-10 p.m. ET, the "65th Annual Golden Globe Awards Announcement," hosted by Billy Bush and Nancy O'Dell, delivered a 1.7/4 in 18-49 and 6.0 million viewers overall.

Sunday from 10-11 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of the prior Monday's "American Gladiators" averaged a 2.0/5 in 18-49 and 4.3 million viewers overall. "Gladiators" grew by 0.2 of a rating point, or 11 percent, in adults 18-49 from its first to its second half-hour (to a 2.1/5 from a 1.9/4).