NBC PRIMETIME RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF SEPT. 21-27

'NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL' IS THE #1 PROGRAM OF THE WEEK IN ADULTS 18-49

NBC SPORTS' COLTS-CARDINALS TELECAST PROPELS THE NETWORK TO A SUNDAY PRIMETIME WIN IN 18-49, TOTAL VIEWERS AND OTHER KEY MEASURES

ON TUESDAY, 'THE BIGGEST LOSER' POSTS YEAR-OVER-YEAR GAINS IN 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS, DESPITE FIERCE PREMIERE-WEEK COMPETITION

ON WEDNESDAY, THE SERIES DEBUT OF 'MERCY' IS UP 44 PERCENT IN 18-49 VS. NBC'S 2008-09 REGULAR-SEASON AVERAGE IN THE SLOT, AND 'LAW & ORDER: SVU' IS UP 47 PERCENT

FRIDAY'S 'LAW & ORDER' SEASON DEBUT CAPTURES NBC'S BIGGEST OVERALL AUDIENCE IN THE SLOT SINCE JANUARY

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. � September 29, 2009 � Paced by "NBC Sunday Night Football," which was the #1 primetime telecast of the week in adults 18-49, NBC averaged a 2.7 rating, 8 share in 18-49 and 7.7 million viewers overall for the week of September 21-27, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

NBC Sports' "Sunday Night Football" telecast of the Indianapolis Colts versus the Arizona Cardinals topped the weekly primetime rankings in the key demographic of adults 18-49. "Sunday Night Football" also ranked #1 among all primetime programs in adults 25-54, men 18-49 and men 25-54. In total viewers, "SNF" ranked #4 among all telecasts this week.

Primetime averages for the week of September 21-27 in adults 18-49 were ABC (3.3/9), CBS (3.2/9), Fox (3.1/9), NBC (2.7/8) and CW (1.0/3). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (11.8 million), ABC (11.0 million), NBC (7.7 million), Fox (7.4 million) and CW (2.2 million).

NBC highlights for the week of September 21-27:

* NBC Sports' "Sunday Night Football" telecast of the Indianapolis Colts at the Arizona Cardinals propelled NBC to a convincing primetime win on Sunday night. NBC's margin of victory over the #2 network was 71 percent in adults 18-49 and 28 percent in total viewers.

* On Friday, the 20th season debut of "Law & Order" apprehended NBC's biggest overall audience in its time period since January 9.

* On Thursday, "The Office" ranked #1 in its highly competitive time period in men 18-34 and men 18-49 and #2 in adults 18-34, against such competition as the season premieres of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" and CBS's "CSI." Also on Thursday, "Community" ranked #1 in its slot among the major networks in men 18-34 and #2 in adults 18-34.

* On Wednesday, the series debut of "Mercy" delivered a 44 percent increase in adults 18-49 and a 46 percent gain in total viewers versus NBC's average for the time period during the regular 2008-09 season. "Mercy" ranked #2 among the major networks in the hour in adults 25-54 and total viewers.

* Also on Wednesday, the 11th season premiere of "Law & Order: SVU" locked up gains of 47 percent in adults 18-49 and 43 percent in total viewers versus NBC's average in the slot last year during the traditional September-May season.

* On Tuesday, "The Biggest Loser" gained 21 percent in 18-49 rating and 27 percent or more than 1.8 million persons in total viewers from its first half-hour to its fourth, despite time-period competition that included a two-hour edition of "Dancing With the Stars" on ABC, a two-hour "Hell's Kitchen" on Fox, and the season debut of "NCIS" followed by the series debut of "NCIS: Los Angeles" on CBS. Versus the same night last year, "Loser" was up 3 percent in both 18-49 and total viewers

* Also on Tuesday, "The Jay Leno Show" ranked #1 among the major networks in its time period in adults 18-34, topping the series premieres of CBS's "The Good Wife" and ABC's "The Forgotten" in that valuable demographic.

* On Monday, the fourth-season premiere of "Heroes" averaged a 2.8 rating in adults 18-49 in a highly competitive time period that included Fox's season premiere of "House," ABC's season debut of "Dancing With the Stars" and the season premiere of CBS's Monday comedy block. The 2.8 rating for "Heroes" compares to the 2.7 rating in 18-49 that NBC averaged in this slot last season.

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 September 21-27:

On Monday, September 21, from 8-10:01 p.m. ET, the fourth-season premiere of "Heroes" averaged a 2.8 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49 and 6.1 million viewers overall in a highly competitive time period that included Fox's two-hour season premiere of "House," ABC's two-hour season debut of "Dancing With the Stars" and the season premiere of CBS's two-hour Monday comedy block. The 2.8 rating for "Heroes" is comparable to the 2.7 rating in 18-49 that NBC averaged in this slot last season.

It is worth noting that "Heroes" has been one of the most time-shifted programs on network television, last season adding an average of 24 percent to its "live plus same day" rating in adults 18-49 when "live plus seven day" results were calculated.

Monday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "The Jay Leno Show" averaged a 1.8/5 in adults 18-49, a 2.2/5 in adults 25-54 and 5.8 million viewers overall. Time-period competition included the season debuts of CBS's "CSI: Miami" and ABC's "Castle."

Versus Jay Leno's 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Monday's telecast was up in adults 18-49 (1.8 vs. 1.4), adults 25-54 (2.2 vs. 1.8) and total viewers (5.8 million vs. 5.1 million). Comparisons to NBC's Monday-through-Friday 10-11 p.m. ET non-sports average over the prior 52 weeks were: in adults 18-49 (1.8 vs. 2.2), adults 25-54 (2.2 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (5.8 million vs. 6.9 million).

On Tuesday, September 22 from 8-10:01 p.m. ET, "The Biggest Loser" averaged a 3.1/8 in adults 18-49 and 7.6 million viewers overall. Versus "The Biggest Loser's" results on the same night last year, last week's telecast was up 3 percent in both 18-49 (3.1 vs. 3.0) and total viewers (7.6 million vs. 7.4 million).

From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Loser" increased by 21 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 3.4/9 from a 2.8/8) and by 27 percent or more than 1.8 million persons in total viewers (to 8.5 million from 6.7 million), despite time-period competition that included a two-hour edition of "Dancing with the Stars" on ABC, a two-hour "Hell's Kitchen" on Fox and the season debut of "NCIS" followed by the series debut of "NCIS: Los Angeles" on CBS.

Tuesday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "The Jay Leno Show" averaged a 2.5/7 in adults 18-49, a 2.8/7 in adults 25-54 and 6.9 million viewers overall, versus time-period competition that included the series debuts "The Good Wife" on CBS and "The Forgotten" on ABC. "The Jay Leno Show" ranked #1 among the major networks in the hour in adults 18-34.

Versus Jay Leno's 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Tuesday's telecast was up in adults 18-49 (2.5 vs. 1.4), adults 25-54 (2.8 vs. 1.8) and total viewers (6.9 million vs. 5.1 million). Versus NBC's Monday-through-Friday 10-11 p.m. ET non-sports average over the prior 52 weeks, Tuesday's telecast was comparable in adults 18-49 (2.5 vs. 2.2), adults 25-54 (2.8 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (6.9 million vs. 6.9 million).

On Wednesday, September 23 from 8-9 p.m. ET, the series premiere of "Mercy" (2.3/7 in 18-49, 8.4 million viewers overall) ranked #2 among the major networks in adults 25-54 and total viewers. Versus NBC's average in this time period during the regular 2008-09 season, "Mercy" was up 44 percent in 18-49 rating (2.3 vs. 1.6) and 46 percent or more than 2.6 million persons in total viewers (8.4 million vs. 5.7 million). From half-hour to half-hour, "Mercy" increased in adults 18-49 (to a 2.4 from a 2.3), adults 25-54 (to 2.9 from 2.8) and adults 18-34 (to 1.7 from 1.5).

Wednesday from 9-10 p.m. ET, the 11th season premiere of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" averaged a 2.5/7 in adults 18-49 and 8.4 million viewers overall. This marks NBC's top 18-49 and total-viewer results in this time period during the traditional September-May season since October 29, 2008. Versus NBC's average in this time period during the regular 2008-09 season, "SVU" was up 47 percent in 18-49 rating (2.5 vs. 1.7) and 43 percent or 2.5 million persons in total viewers (8.4 million vs. 5.9 million). From its first half-hour to its second, "SVU" grew by 13 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 2.7/7 from a 2.4/6) and by 11 percent in total viewers (to 8.8 million from 8.0 million).

Wednesday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "The Jay Leno Show" averaged a 2.0/5 in adults 18-49, a 2.3/6 in adults 25-54 and 6.4 million viewers overall. Wednesday's time-period competition included the season premiere of CBS's "CSI: NY" and the series premiere of ABC's "Eastwick."

Versus Jay Leno's 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Wednesday's telecast was up in adults 18-49 (2.0 vs. 1.4), adults 25-54 (2.3 vs. 1.8) and total viewers (6.4 million vs. 5.1 million). Comparisons to NBC's Monday-through-Friday 10-11 p.m. ET non-sports average over the prior 52 weeks were: in adults 18-49 (2.0 vs. 2.2), adults 25-54 (2.3 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (6.4 million vs. 6.9 million).

On Thursday, September 24 from 8-8:30 p.m. ET, "Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday" averaged a 1.7/5 in adults 18-49 and 4.5 million viewers overall. At 8:30 p.m., "Parks and Recreation" (1.8/5 in 18-49, 4.1 million viewers overall) built on its 18-49 lead-in by 6 percent in adults 18-49 and by 33 percent in adults 18-34 (to a 2.0 from a 1.5).

Thursday from 9-9:31 p.m. ET, "The Office" (3.9/10 in 18-49, 7.5 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in its highly competitive time period in men 18-34 and men 18-49 and #2 in adults 18-34, against competition that included the season premieres of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" and CBS's "CSI."

Thursday from 9:31-10:01 p.m., "Community" (2.7/7 in 18-49, 5.4 million viewers overall) ranked #1 among the major networks in the half-hour in men 18-34 and #2 in adults 18-34.

Thursday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "The Jay Leno Show" averaged a 1.7/5 in adults 18-49, a 2.1/5 in adults 25-54 and 5.1 million viewers overall. Thursday's time-period competition included the season premiere of CBS's "The Mentalist" and the concluding hour of the season premiere of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy."

Versus Jay Leno's 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Thursday's telecast was up in adults 18-49 (1.7 vs. 1.4) and adults 25-54 (2.1 vs. 1.8) and comparable in total viewers (5.1 million vs. 5.1 million). Comparisons to NBC's Monday-through-Friday 10-11 p.m. ET non-sports average over the prior 52 weeks were: in adults 18-49 (1.7 vs. 2.2), adults 25-54 (2.1 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (5.1 million vs. 6.9 million).

On Friday, September 25 from 8-9 p.m. ET, the 20th season premiere of "Law & Order" averaged a 1.2/4 in 18-49 and 6.2 million viewers overall. "Law & Order" apprehended NBC's biggest overall audience in the time period since January 9, ranking #2 in the slot among the major networks in total viewers. From its first half-hour to its second, "Law & Order" increased by 18 percent in adult 18-49 rating (to a 1.3 from a 1.1) and 13 percent in 25-54 rating (1.7 vs. 1.5).

Friday from 9-10:01 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.5/5 in 18-49, 6.0 million viewers overall) tied for #2 among the major networks in adults 18-49 and ranked #2 outright in total viewers, adults, men and women 25-54 and women 18-49.

Friday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "The Jay Leno Show" averaged a 1.6/5 in adults 18-49, a 2.0/6 in adults 25-54 and 5.8 million viewers overall. Friday's time-period competition included the season premiere of CBS's "Numb3rs" and ABC's "20/20." In the time slot, "The Jay Leno Show" ranked #2 among the major networks in adults 18-34 and tied for #1 in men 18-34.

Versus Jay Leno's 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Friday's telecast was up in adults 18-49 (1.6 vs. 1.4), in adults 25-54 (2.0 vs. 1.8) and in total viewers (5.8 million vs. 5.1 million). Comparisons to NBC's Monday-through-Friday 10-11 p.m. ET non-sports average over the prior 52 weeks were: in adults 18-49 (1.6 vs. 2.2), adults 25-54 (2.0 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (5.8 million vs. 6.9 million).

On Saturday, September 26 from 8-8:30 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order" averaged a 0.6/2 in 18-49 and 3.3 million viewers overall. At 9 p.m., a rebroadcast of "Mercy" (0.9/3 in 18-49, 3.9 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 50 percent in adults 18-49.

Saturday at 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.3/4 in 18-49, 5.1 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 44 percent in 18-49 rating. "SVU" was the #1 non-sports choice in the hour among the major networks in adults, men and women 18-34.

On Sunday, Sept. 27, the "NBC Sunday Night Football" telecast of the Indianapolis Colts at the Arizona Cardinals propelled NBC to a convincing Sunday win in total viewers, adults 18-34, adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and all key adult-male demos. For its full duration, the Colts-Cardinals game averaged a 6.8/17 in adults 18-49, 17.5 million viewers overall and a 10.7/17 household rating/share from 8:31-11:13 p.m. ET.

For the night (from 7:30-11 p.m. ET), NBC averaged a 5.8/16 in adults 18-49 and 15.2 million viewers overall. NBC's margin of victory over the #2 network in adults 18-49 was 71 percent (5.8 vs. a 3.4 for Fox) and in total viewers it was 28 percent, or 3.3 million persons in total viewers (15.2 million vs. 11.9 million for CBS).

Also on Sunday, "Football Night in America 2" from 7:30-7:56 p.m. ET averaged a 2.7/9 in 18-49, 6.8 million viewers overall and a 4.3/8 household rating/share. "Football Night in America 3" from 7:56-8:22 p.m. delivered a 3.7/11 in 18-49, 9.6 million viewers overall and a 6.0/10 in households. From 8:22-8:31 p.m., "NBC Sunday Night Football Pre Kickoff" averaged a 4.9/14 in 18-49, 13.3 million viewers overall and an 8.2/14 in households. Note: "Football Night in America" from 7-7:30 p.m. ET was sustaining programming and does not figure in the nightly or weekly primetime averages.