'AMERICA'S GOT TALENT' IS THE #1 SHOW OF THE WEEK IN 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS, LEADING NBC'S WEEK OF JULY 20-26

'TALENT' ON TUESDAY DELIVERS THE BIGGEST NON-SPORTS VIEWERSHIP FOR ANY TELECAST ON ANY NETWORK SINCE THE 'AMERICAN IDOL' FINALE IN MAY

THE TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY EDITIONS OF 'TALENT' ARE THE #1 AND #2 PROGRAMS OF THE WEEK IN TOTAL VIEWERS; TUESDAY'S 'TALENT' ENCORE IS #9

TUESDAY'S ENCORE OF 'LAW & ORDER: SVU' WINS ITS SLOT IN 18-49, TOTAL VIEWERS AND ALL KEY MEASURES, LOCKING UP ITS BIGGEST VIEWERSHIP FOR A REBROADCAST SINCE DECEMBER

ON SUNDAY, 'THE STORM, PART 1' TIES FOR #1 AMONG THE BROADCAST NETWORKS IN ADULTS 18-49 AND RANKS #1 OUTRIGHT IN THE TIME PERIOD AMONG ADULTS 25-54

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. � July 28, 2009 � Paced by "America's Got Talent," which was the #1 program of the week in adults 18-49 and total viewers with the biggest overall viewership for any non-sports telecast on any network since the May finale of "American Idol," NBC averaged a 1.3 rating, 4 share in 18-49 and 5.1 million viewers overall for the week of July 20-26, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

"America's Got Talent" once again demonstrated its broad appeal, with the Tuesday edition of "Talent" ranking #1 among all primetime programs this week in such diverse categories as adults 18-49, adults 25-54, total viewers, kids 2-11 and teens 12-17. In total viewers, the Tuesday edition of "Talent," with 13.7 million viewers, and the Wednesday edition of "Talent," with 11.3 million viewers, were the #1 and #2 programs of the week. An encore telecast of "America's Got Talent" on Tuesday attracted 8.3 million viewers to rank #9 among all primetime programs on the broadcast networks in overall viewership.

In primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, the Tuesday edition of "America's Got Talent" (with a 3.4 rating, 10 share) ranked #1 among all primetime programs. Other NBC programs in the top 15 this week among adults 18-49 were the Wednesday edition of "Talent" (#9), the Tuesday encore telecast of "Talent" (#12, tied) and a rebroadcast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (#14, tied).

Primetime averages for the week of July 20-26 in adults 18-49 were Fox (1.8/6), CBS (1.4/5), NBC and ABC (1.3/4), Univision (1.2/4), Telemundo (0.5/2) and CW (0.3/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (6.2 million), NBC (5.1 million), Fox (5.0 million), ABC (4.0 million), Univision (3.0 million), Telemundo (1.1 million) and CW (0.9 million).

Season to date, NBC is running within 0.8 of a rating point of first place in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, versus a deficit of 1.2 points at this time last season.

NBC highlights for the week of July 20-26:

* On Tuesday, "America's Got Talent" delivered the biggest overall viewership for any non-sports telecast on any network since the May 20 finale of "American Idol."

* "Talent" was the #1 show on television Tuesday night in adults 18-49 and total viewers, topping in both head-to-head competition and in full-duration averages Fox's premiere of "Hell's Kitchen," CBS's "Big Brother" and all other primetime broadcasts.

* Also on Tuesday, in the 8 p.m. hour, an encore telecast of "America's Got Talent" delivered NBC's biggest overall viewership in the slot since the May 12 finale of "The Biggest Loser," and posted week-to-week gains of 11 percent in both adults 18-49 and total viewers, despite new competition in the time period this week from the debut of Fox's "Hell's Kitchen."

* Additionally, NBC's Tuesday encore telecast of "Law & Order: SVU" won its hour in adults 18-49, total viewers and all other key ratings measures, while locking up its biggest overall audience for an encore telecast since December 30. In the hour, "SVU" more than doubled CBS's rival encore drama "Medium" in adults 18-49 and other key demos.

* On Wednesday, "America's Got Talent" was the #1 show on television that night in total viewers. "Talent" won its highly competitive Wednesday slot in adults 25-54 and total viewers, topping Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" and ABC's "Wipeout" in those measures.

* NBC ranked #1 in primetime Wednesday in total viewers for the third week in a row

* On Friday, "Chopping Block" served up the strongest 18-49 and total-viewer results of its five Friday telecasts to date.

* On Sunday, "The Storm, Part 1" tied for #1 among the broadcast networks in adults 18-49 and ranked #1 outright among adults and men 25-54. For its concluding hour, "The Storm" was #1 or tied for #1 among the broadcast networks in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and all key adult-male demographics.

* Also on Sunday, an encore telecast of "Dateline" reported NBC's highest non-sports 18-49 rating and total-viewer result in its time period since April 12.

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 July 20-26:

On Monday July 20 at 8 p.m. ET, "Great American Road Trip" averaged a 1.0 rating, 3 share in adults 18-49 and 3.5 million viewers overall. Week-to-week, "Road Trip" gained 11 percent in 18-49 rating (1.0 vs. 0.9) and 4 percent in total viewers (3.5 million vs. 3.3 million).

Monday at 9 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (1.0/3 in 18-49, 4.3 million viewers overall) increased from its first half-hour to its second by 22 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 1.1 from a 0.9) and by 20 percent in total viewers (to 4.7 million from 3.9 million). At 10 p.m., "The Wanted" averaged a 0.8/2 in 18-49 and 3.0 million viewers overall.

On Tuesday, July 21 from 8-9 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "America's Got Talent" (2.1/7 in 18-49, 8.3 million viewers overall) delivered NBC's biggest overall viewership in this time period since the May 12 finale of "The Biggest Loser: Couples." Week-to-week, the 8 p.m. "Talent" rebroadcast was up 11 percent in adults 18-49 (2.1 vs. 1.9) and 11 percent in total viewers (8.3 million vs. 7.5 million), despite competition in the time period this week from the premiere of Fox's "Hell's Kitchen." The "Talent" encore ranked #2 in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.

Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET, "America's Got Talent" (3.4/10 in adults 18-49, 13.7 million viewers overall) delivered the biggest overall audience for any non-sports telecast on any network since the "American Idol" finale on May 20.

"America's Got Talent" was the #1 show on television Tuesday night in adults 18-49 and total viewers, prevailing head-to-head and in full-duration averages versus Fox's premiere of "Hell's Kitchen," CBS's "Big Brother" and all other primetime broadcasts. From its first half-hour to its second, "Talent" grew by 9 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 3.6/9 from a 3.3/8) and by 10 percent or more than 1.3 million persons in total viewers (to 14.4 million from 13.1 million).

Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.0/6 in 18-49, 7.5 million viewers overall) won the hour in adults 18-49, total viewers and all other key ratings categories. "SVU" apprehended its biggest overall audience for an encore telecast since December 30. In the time period, "SVU" more than doubled CBS's rival encore drama "Medium" in adults 18-49 (2.0 vs. 0.9) and other key demos.

On Wednesday July 22 from 8-9 p.m. ET, NBC carried the Presidential News Conference, which was sustaining and is not included in the nightly or weekly averages.

Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET, "America's Got Talent" (2.5/7 in 18-49, 11.3 million viewers overall) generated the #1 results of the night in total viewers. In its highly competitive time period, "Talent" ranked #1 in adults 25-54 and total viewers, topping both Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" and ABC's "Wipeout" in those measures. In adults 18-49, "Talent" ranked #2.

"America's Got Talent" posted dramatic growth in the Wednesday 9 p.m. ET time period versus NBC's pre-"Talent" summer average in the slot, including gains of 47 percent in adults 18-49 (2.5 vs. 1.7) and 57 percent in adults 25-54 (3.3 vs. 2.1).

Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET, "The Philanthropist" (1.1/3 in 18-49, 4.6 million viewers overall) maintained its 18-49 rating of the prior week, while growing 8 percent in total viewers.

NBC ranked #1 Wednesday night in total viewers for the third consecutive week.

On Thursday, July 23 from 8-8:30 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "30 Rock" (1.2/4 in 18-49, 3.2 million viewers overall) ranked #2 among the broadcast networks in adults 18-34 and all key adult-male demographics � men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54. At 8:30 p.m., a rebroadcast of "The Office" (1.1/4 in 18-49, 2.7 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in the time period in adults and men 18-34.

Thursday from 9-9:31 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "The Office" (1.3/4in 18-49, 3.0 million viewers overall) ranked #2 among the broadcast networks in the time slot among adults, men and women 18-34 and men 18-49.

Thursday from 9:31-10:01 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "30 Rock" (1.2/4 in 18-49, 2.8 million viewers overall) matched the show's highest 18-49 rating of the summer to date and ranked #2 or tied for #2 among the broadcast networks in adults, men and women 18-34 and men 18-49.

Thursday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "The Listener" (0.9/3 in 18-49, 3.4 million viewers overall) ranked #2 among the broadcast networks in the time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and most other key measures.

On Friday, July 24 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Chopping Block" (0.7/3 in 18-49, 2.4 million viewers overall) served up its highest 18-49 and total-viewer results among its five Friday telecasts to date.

From 9-11 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.0/4 in 18-49, 4.8 million viewers overall) ranked #1 among the broadcast networks in adults and women 25-54.

On Saturday, July 25 at 8 p.m. ET, "Kings" averaged a 0.4/2 in 18-49 and 1.8 million viewers overall. At 9 p.m., an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (0.7/3 in 18-49, 3.1 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 75 percent in 18-49 rating and 73 percent in total viewers.

Saturday from 10-11 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.1/4 in 18-49, 4.5 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in the time period among the broadcast networks in adults 18-49 and total viewers and tied for #1 in adults 18-34. "SVU" built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 57 percent in adults 18-49 and 44 percent in total viewers.

On Sunday, July 26 from 7-8 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Dateline NBC" (1.2/4 in 18-49, 5.4 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in the time period in adults 18-49 and total viewers and #1 in adults and women 25-54 and women 18-49. "Dateline" reported NBC's highest non-sports 18-49 rating and total-viewer result in the time period since April 12.

Sunday from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Merlin" (1.1/4 in 18-49, 4.3 million viewers overall) matched its highest 18-49 rating since June 21.

Sunday from 9-11 p.m. ET, "The Storm, Part 1" (1.1/3 in 18-49, 4.9 million viewers overall) tied for #1 among the broadcast networks in adults 18-49 and ranked #1 outright among adults 25-54 and men 25-54. For its concluding hour from 10-11 p.m. ET, "The Storm" tied for #1 among the broadcast networks in adults 18-49 and adults 18-34 and was #1 outright in adults 25-54 and all key adult-male demographics � men 18-34, men 18-49 and men 25-54.