NBC PRIMETIME RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF JAN. 19-25

ON TUESDAY, 'THE BIGGGEST LOSER' GAINS 21 PERCENT IN 18-49 VERSUS THE PRIOR WEEK

DESPITE TOUGH COMPETITION, 'LOSER' ADDS 61 PERCENT IN 18-49 AND 53 PERCENT IN TOTAL VIEWERS FROM ITS FIRST HALF-HOUR TO ITS FOURTH, TO RANK #1 IN ITS FINAL HALF-HOUR IN 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS

ON THURSDAY, 'MY NAME IS EARL' HITS A TWO-MONTH HIGH IN TOTAL VIEWERS AND RANKS #1 IN THE SLOT IN ALL KEY MALE DEMOS AND #2 IN ADULTS 18-49

THURSDAY'S 'THE OFFICE' TIES FOR #9 FOR THE WEEK IN ADULTS 18-49 AND IS #4 IN ADULTS 18-34

ON FRIDAY, 'HOWIE DO IT' INCREASES 45 PERCENT IN 18-49 VERSUS NBC'S SEASON AVERAGE FOR THE TIME PERIOD

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. � January 27, 2009 � Led this week by "The Office" and "The Biggest Loser," NBC averaged a 2.1 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49 and 6.5 million viewers overall for the week of January 19-25 according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Through the first 18 weeks of the 2008-09 season, NBC is now the "second youngest" of the major broadcast networks, with a median age of 47.2 years, 1.9 years "older" than Fox (45.3 years). By comparison, ABC's median age is 49.4 and CBS's median age is 53.6. Season to date, NBC is running within 0.4 of a rating point of first place in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49.

Primetime averages for the week of January 12-18 in adults 18-49 were Fox (3.8/10), ABC (2.9/8), CBS (2.7/7), NBC (2.1/5), Univision (1.6/4), CW (0.8/2) and Telemundo (0.5/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (10.8 million), Fox (10.5 million), ABC (8.3 million), NBC (6.5 million), Univision (4.2 million), CW (1.7 million) and Telemundo (1.2 million).

NBC highlights for the week of January 19-25:

* On Tuesday, "The Biggest Loser" gained 21 percent in 18-49 and 16 percent in total viewers versus the prior week, when it faced the two-hour "American Idol" season premiere. Versus the same night last year, "Loser" was up 8 percent in 18-49 and 14 percent in total viewers.

* "The Biggest Loser" surged from its first half-hour to its fourth, gaining 61 percent in 18-49 and 53 percent or more than 4.4 million persons in total viewers. By its final half-hour, "Loser" ranked #1 in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.

* On Wednesday, "Law & Order" increased 9 percent in 18-49 rating versus the prior week, despite increased competition in its hour from the two-hour season premiere of ABC's "Lost."

* On Thursday, "My Name is Earl" matched its highest 18-49 rating and attracted its biggest overall viewership in more than two months. "Earl" ranked #2 in its time period in adults 18-49 and #1 in all key adult-male demos.

* Thursday's telecast of "The Office" ranked #9 (tied) for the week in adults 18-49 among all primetime programs. In adults 18-34, "The Office" was the #4 primetime telecast of the week, trailing only the two editions of "American Idol" and "Grey's Anatomy."

* Also on Thursday, "ER" sewed up a 15 percent increase in 18-49 rating and a 10 percent gain in total viewers versus the prior week's telecast.

* On Friday, "Howie Do It" posted a 45 percent improvement in adults 18-49 versus NBC's pre-"Howie" average in the slot. "Howie Do It" ranked #2 in the time period in adults 18-49 and #1 in men 18-49.

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 19-25:

On Monday, Jan. 19 from 8-10 p.m. ET, "Superstars of Dance" (1.7 rating, 4 share in adults 18-49, 6.5 million viewers overall) increased from its first half-hour to its fourth by 33 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.0 from a 1.5) and by 22 percent in total viewers (to 7.2 million from 5.9 million). At 10 p.m. ET, "Momma's Boys" (1.7/5 in adults 18-49, 4.9 million viewers overall) grew from its first half-hour to its second by 12 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.9/5 from a 1.7/4) and by 6 percent in total viewers (to 5.0 million from 4.7 million).

On Tuesday, Jan. 20 from 8-10 p.m. ET, "The Biggest Loser 7" (4.0/9 in 18-49, 10.3 million viewers overall) gained 21 percent in 18-49 rating and 16 percent in total viewers versus the prior week (a 3.3/8, 8.9 million viewers), when it faced the two-hour "American Idol" season premiere. Versus its performance on the same night last year, "Loser" was up 8 percent in 18-49 rating (4.0 vs. 3.7) and 14 percent in total viewers (10.3 million vs. 9.0 million).

From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Biggest Loser" increased by 61 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 5.0/12 from a 3.1/8) and by 53 percent or more than 4.4 million persons in total viewers (to 12.8 million from 8.4 million). In its final hour from 9-10 p.m., "Loser" ranked #1 in all key adult-female demos and #1 in adults 18-49, tied with Fox's "Fringe," despite the latter program's huge lead-in advantage from "Idol." In its final half-hour from 9:30-10 p.m., "Biggest Loser" ascended to #1 in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.

Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET, the "NBC News Special: The Inauguration of Barack Obama" averaged a 2.2/6 in 18-49 and 6.2 million viewers overall) and ranked #2 among the broadcast networks in the time period in adults, men and women 18-34.

On Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 8 p.m. ET, "Knight Rider" (1.5/4 in 18-49, 4.9 million viewers overall) increased 23 percent in 18-49 rating from its first half-hour to its second (to a 1.6 from a 1.3). At 9 p.m., an encore telecast of "Law & Order: SVU"(1.6/4 in 18-49, 5.2 million viewers overall) increased versus the prior week's rebroadcast in this time period by 33 percent in 18-49 rating (1.6/4 vs. 1.2/3) and by 17 percent in total viewers (5.2 million vs. 4.5 million).

Wednesday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Law & Order" (2.4/6 in 18-49, 8.3 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 50 percent in 18-49 rating and by 59 percent or 3.0 million persons in total viewers. Versus the prior week, "Law & Order" was up 9 percent in 18-49 (2.4 vs. 2.2), despite increased competition this week from the season premiere of ABC's "Lost" in the hour. From its first half-hour to its second, "Law & Order" increased by 18 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.6/10 from a 2.2/8) and by 10 percent in total viewers (to 8.7 million from 7.9 million).

On Thursday, Jan. 22 from 8:30-9 p.m. ET, "My Name is Earl" (2.7/8 in adults 18-49, 6.6 million viewers overall) posted its second consecutive week of growth in both 18-49 and total viewers, matching its best 18-49 rating since November 13 and attracting its biggest total viewership since November 20. "Earl" ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and #1 in all key adult-male demos. From 8:30-9 p.m., "Kath & Kim" (2.2/6 in 18-49, 4.9 million viewers overall) retained 81 percent of its 18-49 lead-in and 95 percent of its lead-in among adults 18-34.

Thursday from 9-9:31 p.m. ET, "The Office" (4.6/11 in 18-49, 8.8 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in its tough time period among men 18-49 and men 18-34, and finished within a tenth of a rating point of first place in adults 18-34 (with a 5.4 in that demo vs. a 5.5 for "Grey's Anatomy" in the half-hour). In adults 18-49, "The Office" finished within 0.7 of a rating point of #1 versus tough competition that included first-run episodes of CBS's "CSI" and ABC's "Grey's Anatomy." Versus the prior week, "The Office" gained 5 percent in 18-49 rating (4.6/11 vs. 4.4/10).

Season-to-date, "The Office" is the #9-ranked primetime program (tied) in adults 18-49, despite airing in head-to-head competition with the #1 show on the CBS schedule ("CSI") and one of the two top shows on the ABC schedule ("Grey's Anatomy"). Among adults 18-34, "The Office" is primetime television's #4 show, behind only "Grey's Anatomy" and the Tuesday and Wednesday editions of "American Idol."

"The Office" has been adding an average 20 percent to its 18-49 rating when going from "live plus same day" to "live plus seven day" results. In total viewers, "The Office" has been adding an average 1.5 million viewers to its previously reported "live plus same day" numbers when "live plus seven day" viewing is counted. Counting all time shifting, "The Office" is the most time-shifted program on the major networks, gaining 52 percent in 18-49 when going from "live only" to "live plus seven."

Thursday from 9:31-10:01 p.m. ET, "30 Rock" (3.2/8 in 18-49, 6.4 million viewers overall) ranked #1 among men 18-34 and #2 in adults 18-34 and men 18-49.

Thursday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "ER" (3.1/8 in 18-49, 7.7 million viewers overall) sewed up week-to-week gains of 15 percent in 18-49 rating (3.1/8 vs. 2.7/7) and 10 percent in total viewers (7.7 million vs. 7.0 million). "ER" ranked #2 in the time slot among the broadcast networks in adults 18-49 and #1 in men 18-34.

On Friday, Jan. 16 from 8-8:29 p.m. ET, a new episode of "Howie Do It" (1.5/5 in 18-49, 5.5 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in the time period in adults 18-49 and adults 18-34. From 8:29-9 p.m., a second episode of "Howie Do It" (1.8/6 in 18-49, 5.7 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in from the previous half-hour by 13 percent in 18-49 rating to rank #2 in adults 18-49 and #1 in men 18-49.

For the full 8-9 p.m. hour, "Howie Do It " improved on NBC's season averages in the time period prior to "Howie's" debut by 45 percent in 18-49 rating (1.6 vs. 1.1) and by 19 percent in total viewers (5.6 million vs. 4.7 million).

Friday from 9-10 p.m. ET, "Friday Night Lights" averaged a 1.4/4 in 18-49 and 3.9 million viewers overall. Versus NBC's average in this time period prior to the return of "Lights," this week's telecast was up 17 percent in 18-49 rating (1.4 vs. 1.2). 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. The current third season of "Friday Night Lights" has previously run on DirecTV.

Friday at 10 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.6/5 in 18-49, 5.1 million viewers overall) reported NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the time period in four weeks (since December 26). "Dateline" generated a week-to-week gain in the time period in adults 18-49 for the third consecutive week.

On Saturday, Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. ET, "Crusoe" averaged a 0.6/2 in 18-49 and 2.9 million viewers overall. From 9-11 p.m., the "U.S. Figure Skating Championships" averaged a 0.8/2 in 18-49 and 4.1 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its fourth, the skating telecast built by 67 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.0/3 from a 0.6/2) and by 32 percent in total viewers (to 4.8 million from 3.6 million). For its second hour from 10-11 p.m., the skating coverage ranked #2 among the broadcast networks in adults 18-49, total viewers and all key adult-female demographics.

On Sunday, Jan. 25 from 7-9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.9/5 in 18-49, 7.1 million viewers overall) increased from its first half-hour to its fourth by 79 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.5/6 from a 1.4/4) and by 51 percent or more than 2.9 million persons in total viewers (to 8.8 million from 5.9 million). "Dateline" improved on NBC's non-sports average for this time period last season by 27 percent in 18-49 (1.9 vs. 1.5) and 29 percent in total viewers (7.1 million vs. 5.5 million).

Sunday from 9-11p.m. ET, "The Last Templar, Part 1" (2.3/6 in adults 18-49, 9.9 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in the time period in total viewers, adults 25-54 and other measures. Versus NBC's non-sports average in this time period last season, "The Last Templar" increased 10 percent in adults 18-49 (2.3 vs. 2.1) and 56 percent in total viewers (9.9 million vs. 6.3 million). For its second hour from 10-11 p.m., "The Last Templar" ranked #1 among the broadcast networks in adults 25-54 (tied) and in all key adult-male demographics.