'FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS' KICKS OFF ITS THIRD SEASON ON NBC WITH A THREE-MONTH TIME-PERIOD HIGH FOR THE NETWORK

UPDATE: 'FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS' KICKS OFF ITS THIRD SEASON ON NBC WITH A THREE-MONTH TIME-PERIOD HIGH FOR THE NETWORK

THE ACCLAIMED DRAMA RANKS #2 IN THE SLOT IN ADULTS 18-49

VERSUS NBC'S SEASON AVERAGE IN THE FRIDAY 9 P.M. HOUR, 'FNL' IS UP 33 PERCENT IN 18-49

'HOWIE DO IT' IMPROVES ON NBC'S SEASON AVERAGE IN THE TIME PERIOD PRIOR TO 'HOWIE' BY 64 PERCENT IN 18-49

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. � January 20, 2009 � Last Friday's third season debut of "Friday Night Lights" on NBC has scored the network's highest adult 18-49 rating in the Friday 9-10 p.m. ET slot in three months (since October 17) and second highest of the season, according to "live plus same day" in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research. In total viewers, it's NBC's biggest overall audience in the slot in four weeks and second biggest since October 24.

"Friday Night Lights" averaged a 1.6 rating, 5 share in adult 18-49 and 4.5 million viewers overall. The acclaimed drama finished #2 in the competitive time period in adults 18-49. Note that last season, "Friday Night Lights" "live plus same day" rating increased by an average of 19 percent in 18-49 when Nielsen issued "live plus seven day" results.

Versus NBC's 18-49 average in the time period so far during the 2008-09 television season, the January 16 "Friday Night Lights" is up 33 percent (with a 1.6 rating vs. a 1.2).

This season of "Friday Night Lights" has previously run on DirecTV as part of an innovative deal that helped keep the series in production through a third season.

From 8-8:29 p.m. ET Friday night, NBC's "Howie Do It" (1.7/6 in 18-49, 6.0 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in the time period in 18-49 and #1 among men 18-49. From 8:29-9 p.m., "Howie Do It" (1.9/6 in 18-49, 6.1 million viewers overall) also finished #2 in 18-49 and #1 in men 18-49. From its first telecast to its second, "Howie Do It" improved its 18-49 rating by 12 percent.

For the 8-9 p.m. hour, "Howie Do It" improved on NBC's season averages in the time period prior to "Howie's" debut by 64 percent in 18-49 rating (1.8 vs. 1.1) and 1.3 million persons or 28 percent in total viewers (6.0 million vs. 4.7 million).

At 10 p.m. ET Friday night, "Dateline NBC" delivered a 1.5/4 in 18-49 and 5.6 million viewers overall. Week to week, "Dateline" is up in 18-49 rating by 15 percent (to a 1.5/4 from a 1.3/4) and in total viewers by 13 percent (to 5.6 million from 4.9 million).

Updated 18-49 averages for Friday night are: CBS 2.4/7; ABC, 1.7/5; NBC, 1.6/5; Fox, 1.2/4; CW, 0.5/1. In overall total viewers, January 16 updated results are: CBS, 10.6 million; NBC, 5.4 million; Fox, 5.3 million; ABC, 5.1 million; CW, 1.1 million