NBC'S 'AMERICA'S GOT TALENT' IS THE #1 DEBUT OF THE SUMMER TO DATE

DESPITE EXTRAORDINARY COMPETITION FROM THE SIXTH AND DECIDING GAME OF THE NBA FINALS, 'TALENT' IS THE #1 SUMMER PREMIERE TO DATE IN TOTAL VIEWERS AND IS TIED FOR #1 IN 18-49

'AMERICA'S GOT TALENT' IS THE #2 PRIMETIME ENTERTAINMENT TELECAST OF THE SUMMER IN TOTAL VIEWERS, BEHIND ONLY THE MAY 22 SEASON FINALE OF 'GREY'S ANATOMY'

BURBANK, Calif. � June 18, 2008 � Last night's season premiere of "America's Got Talent" became the #1 series debut of the summer to date, despite extraordinary competition from the sixth and deciding game of the NBA Finals, according to "fast affiliate-based" "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research (pending updates).

Last night from 9-11 p.m. ET, the season premiere of "America's Got Talent" (3.6 rating, 10 share in adults 18-49, 12.8 million viewers overall) delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating for any primetime entertainment telecast on any night of the week since the May 15 season finale of "The Office" and the top total viewership for any NBC primetime entertainment telecast since the April 15 edition of "Law & Order: SVU."

In total viewers, "America's Got Talent" is the #1 premiere of the summer to date and the #2 primetime entertainment telecast of the summer to date on any network, behind only the May 22 season finale of "Grey's Anatomy" (live plus same day, excludes sports). In adults 18-49, "America's Got Talent" is also the #1 premiere of the summer to date, tied with the Wednesday, May 28 season premiere of Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance," pending updates.

Despite competition from the sixth and deciding game of the Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals, "America's Got Talent" earned NBC's highest 18-49 rating and total-viewer result in the Tuesday 9-11 p.m. time period since April 15 ("Biggest Loser" finale and "SVU") and improved by 20 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's average in this time period last summer. "America's Got Talent" grew from its first half-hour to its fourth by 29 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 4.0/11 from a 3.1/9) and by 18 percent or 2.1 million persons in total viewers (to 13.6 million from 11.5 million). In its second hour from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Talent" was the #1 non-sports program in all key ratings categories.

Despite the exceptional NBA competition, this was the third-strongest telecast ever for "America's Got Talent" in total viewers, behind only last year's finale and debut.

From 8-9 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (2.1/7 in 18-49, 8.7 million viewers overall) scored NBC's highest 18-49 and total-viewer result in this time period in nine weeks (since the April 15 "Biggest Loser" finale). "Deal" increased from its first to its fourth half-hour, by 28 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.3/7 from a 1.8/60) and by 18 percent, or 1.4 million persons in total viewers (to 9.4 million from 7.9 million).

Preliminary 18-49 averages for Tuesday night are: ABC, 4.5/13; NBC and Fox, 3.1/9; CBS, 1.3/4; CW, 0.5/1. In overall total viewers, June 17 preliminary results are: NBC, 11.4 million; ABC, 11.1 million; Fox, 7.0 million; CBS, 5.5 million; CW, 1.4 million.

Note that all national ratings are "live plus same day" unless otherwise indicated.