'MY NAME IS EARL' AND 'THE OFFICE' SCORE THEIR HIGHEST 18-49 RATINGS AND TOTAL VIEWERSHIP OF THE SEASON, WITH BOTH COMEDIES WINNING THEIR SLOTS IN ADULTS 18-49 AND OTHER KEY DEMOS

'LAW & ORDER: SVU' DOMINATES ITS TIME PERIOD, WINNING IN ADULTS 18-49, TOTAL VIEWERS AND ALL KEY MEASURES

NBC IS UP 16 PERCENT IN BOTH 18-49 AND 18-34 THROUGH THE FIRST 17 WEEKS OF THE 2006-07 SEASON, THE BIGGEST GAINS AMONG THE MAJOR NETWORKS

BURBANK, Calif. � January 17, 2007 � NBC averaged a 2.9 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49 and 8.4 million viewers overall for the week of January 8-14, according to "live plus same day" in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

For the first 17 weeks of the 2006-07 television season, NBC and Fox are the only networks showing year-to-year gains in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49. NBC is up 16 percent versus the same period last year (3.6 rating versus 3.1). In that same comparison, Fox is up 3 percent, ABC is down 10 percent, CBS is down 8 percent. Season-to-date in total viewers, only NBC and Fox are showing gains year-to-year. NBC is up 9 percent versus the opening 17 weeks of the last season (9.9 million vs. 9.1 million). Fox is up 7 percent by that measure, while CBS is down 6 percent and ABC is down 6 percent.

Additionally, NBC is the only network showing growth season-to-date among adults 18-34, up 16 percent versus the first 17 weeks of last season (2.9 vs. 2.5).

Primetime averages for the week of January 8-14 in adults 18-49 were Fox (5.8/15), CBS (3.9/10), ABC (3.1/8), NBC (2.9/7), Univision (1.6/4), CW (1.2/3) and Telemundo (0.4/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were Fox (15.3 million), CBS (12.8 million), ABC (8.7 million), NBC (8.4 million), Univision (3.9 million), CW (2.9 million) and Telemundo (0.8 million).

NBC highlights for the week of January 8-14:

* On Sunday, versus extraordinary competition, "Grease: You're the One That I Want" lifted NBC 75 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's performance in this slot on the same night last year, also against an NFL playoff game and the season debut of Fox's "24." In total viewers, "Grease" was up by 30 percent or 1.9 million viewers versus the year-ago result.

* On Thursday, "My Name is Earl" scored new season-high numbers, hitting its highest 18-49 rating since last April and its biggest overall viewership since last March. "Earl" ranked #1 in the time period adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and adults 25-54 versus competition that included an original "Ugly Betty" and the time-period debut of CBS' "Armed & Famous."

* Also on Thursday, "The Office" delivered its highest 18-49 rating and total viewership in more than a year and its second-highest results ever by both measures. "The Office" also set new series-high ratings in adults 18-34 and in key adult male demographics. "The Office" won its time period in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and all key adult male demos.

* Also on Thursday, "Scrubs," despite facing competition from an original "Grey's Anatomy," was up 8 percent in 18-49 and 7 percent in total viewers versus the prior week. "Scrubs" ranked #2 in the time slot in adults 18-49 and other key demos. And "ER" won its hour in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.

* On Tuesday, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" dominated its time period, winning in all key ratings categories including adults 18-49 and total viewers.

* Also on Tuesday, "Dateline" delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating and biggest overall viewership in that 8 p.m. hour since September 19.

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 8-14:

On Monday, Jan. 8, "Deal or No Deal" (3.9 rating, 10 share in 18-49, 14.1 million viewers overall) was the time period's #1 non-sports choice in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. "Deal" was up 44 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's performance in this hour on the same night last year. From 9-10 p.m. ET, an encore "Heroes" averaged a 2.0/5 in 18-49 and 5.7 million viewers overall. And from 10-11 p.m., a second encore "Heroes" delivered a 1.8/4 in 18-49 and 4.4 million viewers overall.

On Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 8 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (3.0/8 in adults 18-49, 9.5 million viewers overall) delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating and largest overall viewership in the time period since September 19. "Dateline" ranked #2 in the hour in adults 18-49 and total viewers. Tuesday at 9 p.m., "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (3.4/9 in 18-49, 11.8 million viewers overall) built on its 18-49 lead-in by 13 percent.

Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.0/13 in adults 18-49, 14.4 million viewers overall) dominated its time period, winning in all key ratings categories, including adults 18-49 and total viewers.

On Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 8 p.m. ET, "Friday Night Lights" (2.4/6 in 18-49, 6.4 million viewers overall) matched its highest 18-49 rating and delivered its largest overall viewership since a special Monday telecast on October 30 (live plus same day).

On Wednesday from 9:24-10 p.m. ET, an abbreviated edition of "Deal or No Deal" (3.5/9 in 18-49, 10.4 million viewers overall) won the time period in all key ratings categories, including adults 18-49 and total viewers. At 10 p.m., an encore "Medium" (2.6/7 in 18-49, 7.6 million viewers overall) summoned up that series' highest 18-49 rating for a rebroadcast since Monday, March 2, 2006 and its biggest overall viewership for an encore episode since Monday, Dec. 26, 2005. "Medium" ranked #2 in the time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.

(Note: Coverage of President Bush's address to the nation Wednesday from 9-9:24 p.m. ET was sustaining and is not included in the nightly or weekly averages.)

On Thursday, Jan. 11 at 8 p.m. ET, "My Name is Earl" (4.6/13 in 18-49, 10.9 million viewers overall) delivered its highest 18-49 rating since April 6, 2006 and its biggest overall viewership since March 23, 2006. "Earl" ranked #1 in the time period in adults 18-49, 18-34 and 25-54 versus all-first-run competition, including "Ugly Betty" on ABC, the time period debut of "Armed & Dangerous" on CBS and original episodes of the CW's "Smallville" and the Fox comedies "Til Death" and "The War at Home."

Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET, "The Office" (5.0/13 in 18-49, 10.1 million viewers overall) delivered its highest 18-49 rating and overall viewership since January 12, 2006 and its second highest numbers ever by both measures (live plus same day). "The Office" was up 22 percent in adults 18-49 versus its current season-to-date average for original episodes. It built by 8 percent in 18-49 on its "Earl" lead-in to win its time period in primetime's key demographic against all-original competition on the other broadcast networks.

"The Office" set new series ratings records in adults 18-34 (5.3/15), men 18-34 (5.7/18) and men 18-49 (5.1/14) and also won its time period in these demos

Thursday at 9 p.m. ET, "Scrubs" (3.9/9 in 18-49, 7.8 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in the time period adults 18-49 and adults 18-34. Despite competition from an original "Grey's Anatomy" on ABC this week, "Scrubs" was up 8 percent in 18-49 and 7 percent in total viewers versus the prior week, when "Grey's" was in rebroadcast. "Scrubs" was up 15 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's average in this time period this season prior to "Scrubs." At 9:31 p.m., "30 Rock" (2.9/7 in 18-49, 6.1 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in the time slot in adults 18-34.

Thursday from 10:01-11 p.m., "ER" (5.1/14 in 18-49, 12.2 million viewers overall) was #1 in the time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key ratings measures.

On Friday, Jan. 12 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "1 vs 100" (2.8/9 in 18-49, 9.3 million viewers overall) matched its highest Friday 18-49 rating since November 3 and delivered its highest Friday viewership since November 10 (live plus same day). "1 vs 100" ranked #2 in the time period in adults 18-49 and total viewers. At 9 p.m., "Las Vegas" (2.7/8 in 18-49, 8.6 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in the time slot in adults 18-49. At 10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order" (2.7/8 in 18-49, 9.0 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in the time period in adults 18-49 and #1 among adults 18-34 (tie). Versus the same night last year, "Law & Order" improved the time period by 23 percent in 18-49 (2.7 vs. 2.3).

On Saturday, Jan. 13, at 8 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.7/5 in 18-49, 5.6 million viewers overall) reported NBC's highest non-sports 18-49 and total viewers results in this time period since December 2. At 9 p.m., a special broadcast of the USA Network series "Psych" averaged a 1.1/3 in 18-49 and 3.4 million viewers overall. At 10 p.m., an encore "Law & Order: SVU" delivered a 1.4/4 in 18-49 and 5.2 million viewers overall.

On Sunday, Jan. 14, from 7-8 p.m. ET, a Sunday edition of "Deal or No Deal" (2.4/6 in 18-49, 9.2 million viewers overall) was the #1 non-sports choice in the hour in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. "Deal" was up 85 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's results in this time period on the same night last year (which also faced competition from a highly rated NFL playoff game).

Sunday from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Grease: You're the One That I Want" (2.8/6 in 18-49, 8.2 million viewers overall) lifted NBC 75 percent in 18-49 versus the network's performance in this slot on the same night last year (2.8 vs. 1.6), also against an NFL playoff game and the season debut of Fox's "24." In total viewers, "Grease" was up by 30 percent or 1.9 million viewers versus the year-ago results (8.3 million vs. 6.4 million).

Sunday from 9-10 p.m. ET, "The Apprentice 6" (2.8/6 in 18-49, 7.3 million viewers overall) built in both 18-49 rating and overall viewership from its first half-hour to its second, despite extraordinary competition from ABC's "Desperate Housewives," the second hour of Fox's season debut of "24" and original programming on CBS boosted by a huge primetime NFL playoff overrun. "Apprentice" retained 100 percent of its 18-49 lead-in from "Grease: You're the One That I Want."

At 10 p.m. ET, the season debut of "Crossing Jordan" averaged a 2.2/5 in 18-49 and 6.7 million viewers overall.