THE VOTES ARE IN AND 'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE PRESIDENTIAL BASH 2008' IS THE #1 SHOW OF THE NIGHT IN ADULTS 18-49

THE VOTES ARE IN AND 'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE PRESIDENTIAL BASH 2008' IS THE #1 SHOW OF THE NIGHT IN ADULTS 18-49

'SNL' ELECTION SPECIAL IS NBC'S TOP-RATED ENTERTAINMENT SPECIAL IN BOTH 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS SINCE THE GOLDEN GLOBES IN JANUARY 2007

'SNL' DOMINATES THE TOUGH MONDAY COMPETITION, POSTING WINNING MARGINS OF 56 PERCENT IN ADULTS 18-49 AND 123 PERCENT IN ADULTS 18-34

NBC WINS MONDAY NIGHT IN ADULTS 18-49, ADULTS 18-34 AND ADULTS 25-54

BURBANK, Calif. � November 4, 2008 � The votes are in and NBC's "Saturday Night Live Presidential Bash 2008" has been elected the #1 show Monday night in adults 18-49, propelling NBC to a nightlong win in primetime's key demographic, according to "fast affiliate-based" "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Last night from 9-11 p.m. ET, "Saturday Night Live Presidential Bash 2008" (5.6 rating, 13 share in adults 18-49, 14.4 million viewers overall) became NBC's highest-rated entertainment special in both adults 18-49 and total viewers since the Golden Globes telecast on January 15, 2007 (excludes Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies). It also scored NBC's highest 18-49 and total-viewer results in the Monday 9-11 p.m. time period, excluding Olympics, since that same date.

"When we decided to give 'Saturday Night Live' an unprecedented platform on our schedule this fall, we knew Lorne Michaels and his incredible team would come through with the best political satire of the season," commented Ben Silverman, co-chairman of NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios. "But the ratings results for 'SNL's' regular telecasts, its special Thursday live episodes and last night's huge pre-election special have genuinely exceeded all our expectations."

NBC won Monday night in adults 18-49 with its highest non-Olympic Monday average, a 4.4/10, since September 24, 2007. In total viewers, it was NBC's top non-Olympic Monday since March 12, 2007. NBC also won Monday night in adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and other key demographic measures.

In head-to-head competition from 9-11 p.m., the "Saturday Night Live Presidential Bash 2008" won the time period in every key ratings category. The special generated margins of victory of 56 percent in adults 18-49 (5.6 vs. a 3.6 for CBS in second place), 23 percent in total viewers (14.4 million vs. 11.6 million for CBS) and 123 percent in adults 18-34 (4.9 vs. 2.2 for CBS).

Last night's "Saturday Night Live Presidential Bash 2008" will be rebroadcast this Saturday, Nov. 8, from 9-11 p.m. ET.

"Saturday Night Live" has scored big numbers this fall with an unprecedented early start to its season and three consecutive live primetime half-hours on Thursday nights in October, all designed to take advantage of this year's intense interest in the Presidential election. The regular Saturday late-night edition of SNL is up 67 percent (4.0 vs. 2.4, live plus same day) in 18-49 and 76 percent in total viewers (9.8 million vs. 5.6 million) with original telecasts versus originals at this point last season. The three Thursday live telecasts improved on NBC's averages in that 9:30 half-hour for the full 2007-08 season by 29 percent in 18-49 (4.4 vs. 3.4, live plus same day) and 26 percent in total viewers (9.5 million vs. 7.6 million ).

NBC's Monday night began at 8 p.m. ET, when "Deal or No Deal" (2.0/5 in 18-49, 7.1 million viewers overall) increased from its first half-hour to its second by 29 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.2/5 from a 1.7/4) and by 19 percent or 1.2 million persons in total viewers (to 7.7 million from 6.5 million).

Preliminary 18-49 averages for Monday night are: NBC, 4.4/10; CBS, 3.7/9; ABC, 3.1/7; Fox, 2.0/5; and CW, 1.6/4. In overall total viewers, November 3 preliminary results are: ABC, 12.7 million; NBC, 11.9 million; CBS, 11.0 million; Fox, 5.2 million; CW, 3.1 million.

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