NBC PRIMETIME RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF JAN. 12-18

ON TUESDAY, 'THE BIGGGEST LOSER' HANGS TOUGH AGAINST 'IDOL,' GAINING 10 PERCENT IN 18-49 AND 23 PERCENT IN TOTAL VIEWERS VERSUS THE SAME NIGHT LAST YEAR

ALSO ON TUESDAY, 'LAW & ORDER: SVU' WINS ITS HOUR IN ADULTS 18-49, 18-34, 25-54 AND OTHER KEY MEASURES

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

ALSO ON FRIDAY, 'HOWIE DO IT' INCREASES 64 PERCENT IN 18-49 VERSUS NBC'S SEASON AVERAGE FOR THE TIME PERIOD

ON THURSDAY, '30 ROCK' GAINS 33 PERCENT IN 18-49 VERSUS THE PRIOR WEEK, WHILE 'MY NAME IS EARL' AND 'THE OFFICE' WIN THEIR TOUGH SLOTS IN ADULTS 18-34

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. � January 21, 2009 � Paced by "The Office," "30 Rock," "The Biggest Loser" and "Law & Order: SVU," NBC averaged a 1.9 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49 and 6.2 million viewers overall for the week of January 12-18 according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Through the first 17 weeks of the 2008-09 season, NBC is now the "second youngest" of the major broadcast networks, with a median age of 47.0 years, only 1.6 years "older" than Fox (45.4 years). By comparison, ABC's median age is 49.6 and CBS's median age is 53.5. Season to date, NBC is running within 0.3 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 CBS (5.0/13), Fox (4.8/12), ABC (2.4/6), NBC (1.9/5), Univision (1.5/4), CW (0.8/2) and Telemundo (0.6/2). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (17.0 million), Fox (12.8 million), ABC (6.7 million), NBC (6.2 million), Univision (3.9 million), CW (1.9 million) and Telemundo (1.3 million).

NBC highlights for the week of January 12-18:

* On Tuesday, "The Biggest Loser" was up 10 percent in 18-49 and 23 percent in total viewers versus its performance on the same night last year opposite the two-hour season premiere of Fox's "American Idol." In this intensely competitive time period, "Biggest Loser" was the top-rated alternative to "Idol" in adults, men and women 18-34.

* Despite the "Idol" competition, "Biggest Loser" increased from its first half-hour to its fourth by 39 percent in 18-49 and by 27 percent or 2.1 million persons in total viewers.

* Also on Tuesday, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" won its time period in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and most other key demographics.

* On Thursday, "My Name is Earl" ranked #2 in its time period in adults 18-49 and #1 in adults 18-34, while "The Office" won its tough slot in adults and men 18-34 versus such first-run competition as CBS's "CSI" and ABC's "Grey's Anatomy."

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

* Also on Thursday, "30 Rock" gained 33 percent in 18-49 rating and 23 percent in total viewers versus last week's telecast, which followed an encore of "The Office."

* On Friday, NBC's third-season debut of "Friday Night Lights" hit a three-month high in adults 18-49 in the time period, up 33 percent versus NBC's season average in the slot. "Lights" ranked #2 in its hour in adults 18-49.

* Also on Friday, the new unscripted series "Howie Do It" posted a 64 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 12-18:

On Monday, Jan. 12 from 8-10 p.m. ET, "Superstars of Dance" averaged a 1.9 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49 and 7.2 million viewers overall on a night that included the return of original competition from the CBS lineup and the season debut of "24" on Fox. At 10 p.m. ET, "Momma's Boys" averaged a 1.7/5 in adults 18-49 and 4.6 million viewers overall.

On Tuesday, Jan. 13 from 8-10 p.m. ET, "The Biggest Loser 7" (3.3/8 in 18-49, 8.9 million viewers overall) was up 10 percent in 18-49 rating and 23 percent in total viewers versus its performance on the same night last year (a 3.0/7 in 18-49 and 7.2 million viewers overall on January 15, 2008), also opposite the two-hour season premiere of Fox's "American Idol." In this intensely competitive time period, "Biggest Loser" was the top-rated alternative to "Idol" in adults, men and women 18-34.

Despite the "Idol" competition, "Biggest Loser" increased from its first half-hour to its fourth by 39 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 3.9/9 from a 2.8/7) and by 27 percent or 2.1 million persons in total viewers (to 10.0 million from 7.9 million).

At 10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.6/9 in 18-49, 9.8 million viewers overall) won its time period in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and most other key demographics. In adults 18-49, "SVU" topped its closest competitor by 24 percent (3.6 vs. a 2.9 for CBS's "Without a Trace").

On Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 8 p.m. ET, "Knight Rider" (1.6/4 in 18-49, 5.4 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in men 18-49, men 18-34 and men 25-54 and tied for #2 in adults 18-34 opposite "American Idol." Despite the increased competition from "Idol" in the hour, "Knight Rider" finished within one tenth of an 18-49 rating point of its result of one week earlier. At 9 p.m., an encore telecast of "Law & Order: SVU" averaged a 1.2/3 in 18-49 and 4.5 million viewers overall.

Wednesday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Law & Order" (2.3/6 in 18-49, 8.3 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 92 percent in 18-49 rating and by 85 percent or 3.8 million persons in total viewers. "Law & Order" ranked #2 in the hour in adults 18-49, total viewers and virtually all other key measures.

On Thursday, Jan. 15 from 8:30-9 p.m. ET, "My Name is Earl" (2.5/6 in adults 18-49, 6.0 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in the time period in adults 18-49 and #1 in adults 18-34.

(Note: NBC News' coverage of President Bush's address from 8-8:18 p.m. ET was sustaining programming and was not counted in the nightly or weekly averages. From 8:18-8:30 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "My Name is Earl," joined in progress in some time zones, averaged a 2.2/6 in 18-49 and 6.1 million viewers overall.)

Thursday from 9-9:31 p.m. ET, "The Office" (4.4/10 in 18-49, 8.5 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in adults and men 18-34 versus tough competition that included first-run episodes of CBS's "CSI" and ABC's "Grey's Anatomy." Season-to-date, "The Office" is the #9-ranked primetime program 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, 6.6 million viewers overall) gained 33 percent in 18-49 rating and 23 percent or 1.3 million persons in total viewers versus the prior week's first-run telecast (a 2.4/5 in 18-49 and 5.4 million viewers overall on January 8), which followed an encore of "The Office." At 10 p.m., "ER" (2.7/7 in 18-49, 7.0 million viewers overall) was up 4 percent in 18-49 rating versus the prior week (2.7 vs. 2.6), despite facing 15 minutes of head-to-head competition this week from a special episode of "CSI."

On Friday, Jan. 16 from 8-8:29 p.m. ET, a new episode of "Howie Do It" (1.7/6 in 18-49, 6.0 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in the time period in adults 18-49 and #1 in men 18-49. From 8:29-9 p.m., a second episode of "Howie Do It" (1.9/6 in 18-49, 6.1 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in from the previous half-hour by 12 percent in 18-49 rating to rank #2 in adults 18-49 and #1 in men 18-49.

"Howie Do It, " with a 1.8 average in adults 18-49 for the full 8-9 p.m. hour, 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).

Friday from 9-10 p.m. ET, NBC's third-season debut of "Friday Night Lights" (1.6/5 in 18-49, 4.5 million viewers overall) scored the network's highest adult 18-49 rating in the slot in three months (since October 17) and second highest of the season. In total viewers, it was NBC's biggest overall audience in the slot in four weeks and second biggest since October 24. "Friday Night Lights" ranked #2 in the 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 telecast of "Friday Night Lights" is up 33 percent (with a 1.6 rating vs. a 1.2).

Friday at 10 p.m. ET, "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).

On Saturday, Jan. 17 at 8 p.m. ET, "Crusoe" averaged a 0.6/2 in 18-49 and 2.7 million viewers overall. At 9 p.m., an encore telecast of "Law & Order" delivered a 0.8/2 in 18-49 and 3.8 million viewers overall, capturing NBC's biggest overall audience in the slot, excluding sports, since December 13.

Saturday at 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: SVU" (1.6/5 in 18-49, 6.1 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in the time period in adults 18-49 and most key demographics. "SVU" built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 100 percent in 18-49 rating and 58 percent in total viewers.

On Sunday, Jan. 18 from 7-9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.1/3 in 18-49, 5.8 million viewers overall) increased from its first half-hour to its fourth by 44 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.3/3 from a 0.9/2).

Sunday from 9-11p.m. ET, the special "Saturday Night Live Short Films" (1.5/4 in adults 18-49, 4.9 million viewers overall) increased by 29 percent in 18-49 rating from its first half-hour to its fourth (to a 1.8/5 from a 1.4/3).