NBC RATINGS RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL MAY 7-13

NBC RATINGS RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL MAY 7-13

BURBANK, Calif. � May 15, 2007 � NBC averaged a 2.3 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49 and 6.9 million viewers overall for the week of May 7-13, according to "live plus same day" in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Averages for the week of May 7-13 in adults 18-49 were Fox (3.9/12), ABC and CBS (3.2/10), NBC (2.3/7), Univision (1.7/5), CW (1.3/4) and Telemundo (0.4/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (11.3 million), Fox (10.3 million), ABC (9.6 million), NBC (6.9 million), Univision (3.7 million), CW (3.1 million) and Telemundo (1.0 million).

In regular program averages through 34 weeks of the 2006-07 season, NBC is running even with last year's average in adult 18-49 rating (3.2 vs. 3.2). NBC and Fox (which is also even with last season at a 4.2) are the only networks matching their year-ago regular program averages. By that measure, ABC is down 8 percent (from a 3.9 at this point last year to a 3.6 this year) and CBS is down 10 percent (from a 3.9 to a 3.5).

NBC highlights for the week of May 7-13

* On Monday, "Heroes" won its highly competitive hour in adults 18-49 and other key measures, opposite such tough original competition as Fox's "24," CBS' "Two and a Half Men" and "King of Queens" and ABC's "Dancing With Stars" and "The Bachelor."

* "Heroes" was the #8 ranked show of the week in adults 18-49 and the #5 show among adults 18-34. Among men 18-49, "Heroes" ranked #4 among all programs and it was the #2 scripted television series of the week in that demo, trailing only "House."

* "Heroes" is the #1 new series this season on any network in every key ratings category � adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, as well as in total viewers. In primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, "Heroes" is the #5 scripted series on television overall, behind only "Grey's Anatomy," "House," "Desperate Housewives" and "CSI."

* On Tuesday, "Law & Order: SVU" won its time period in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, adults 18-34, total viewers and numerous other key measures. Among adults 18-34, "SVU" beat the ABC-CBS competition combined, and in adults 18-49, "SVU" topped its nearest competitor by 52 percent.

* On Wednesday, "Medium" built on its lead-in by 80 percent in 18-49, to match its highest demo rating since March 7. In total viewers, "Medium" summoned its biggest audience since April 4.

* On Thursday, "The Office" was up 8 percent, "Scrubs" was up 12 percent and "ER" was up 23 percent in 18-49 versus the prior week. "ER" pulled to within 0.1 of an 18-49 rating point of the time period win, having built on its lead-in by 31 percent in the demo, while competing dramas on ABC and CBS declined significantly from their lead-ins.

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 May 7-13:

On Monday, May 7 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (3.1 rating, 9 share in adults 18-49, 10.4 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and total viewers. From its first half-hour to its second "Deal" grew by 25 percent in 18-49 (to a 3.5/10 from a 2.8/9) and by 21 percent in total viewers (to 11.4 million from 9.4 million).

Monday from 9-10:01 p.m. ET, "Heroes" (5.1/13 in 18-49, 11.1 million viewers overall) won its fiercely competitive hour in adults 18-49 and other key demographics versus such original competition as Fox's "24," CBS' "Two and a Half Men" and "King of Queens" and ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" and "The Bachelor."

"Heroes" was up 65 percent in 18-49 versus its lead-in from the previous hour and up 38 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's performance in this time period on the same night last year (5.1 vs. 3.7).

Monday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "The Real Wedding Crashers" (2.3/6 in adults 18-49, 4.7 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in all key adult male demographics.

On Tuesday, May 8 at 8 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" averaged a 1.4/4 in 18-49 and 5.0 million viewers overall. At 9 p.m., "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2.0/5 in 18-49, 6.9 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 43 percent in 18-49 and by 39 percent in total viewers.

Tuesday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.8/11 in 18-49, 10.9 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 90 percent in 18-49 and by 58 percent in total viewers (or more than 4.0 million viewers).

"Law & Order: SVU" won its time period in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, adults 18-34, total viewers and numerous other key measures. Among women 18-34, "SVU" beat the ABC-CBS competition combined. In adults 18-49, "SVU" topped its closest competitors by a 52 percent margin (a 3.8 for "SVU" vs. a 2.5 for ABC's "Boston Legal").

NBC steadily built audience throughout Tuesday night, more than tripling its adult 18-49 rating and growing by 137 percent in overall total viewers from the first to the final half-hour of primetime (to a 3.9/11 in 18-49 and 11.1 million viewers overall for the 10:30-11 p.m. half-hour from a 1.2/4 in 18-49 and 4.7 million viewers from 8-8:30 p.m.).

On Wednesday, May 9 at 8 p.m. ET, "Thank God You're Here" averaged a 2.1/7 in 18-49 and 5.3 million viewers overall, ranking #2 among men 18-34 and men 18-49 (tie). At 9 p.m., "Crossing Jordan" averaged a 1.5/4 in 18-49 and 5.3 million viewers overall.

Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET, "Medium" (2.7/7 in 18-49, 7.9 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 80 percent in 18-49 and by 48 percent in total viewers. "Medium" matched its highest 18-49 rating since March 7 and conjured up its highest total viewership since April 4.

On Thursday, May 10 from 8-8:42 p.m. ET, "My Name is Earl" (3.0/10 in 18-49, 6.9 million viewers overall) ranked #1 among men 18-34 versus such competition as ABC's "Ugly Betty," CBS' "Survivor" and Fox's "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader." From 8:42-9:23 p.m., "The Office" (3.9/11 in 18-49, 7.2 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 30 percent in adults 18-49 and was up 8 percent in 18-49 versus the prior week. From 9:23-10:01 p.m., "Scrubs" (2.9/7 in 18-49, 5.3 million viewers overall) was up 12 percent in adults 18-49 versus the prior week's telecast.

Thursday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "ER" (3.8/11 in 18-49, 9.4 million viewers overall) pulled to within 0.1 of an 18-49 rating point of the time period win, having built substantially on its lead-in while competing dramas on ABC and CBS declined significantly versus their respective lead-ins. "ER" built by 31 percent in 18-49 rating and by 77 percent in total viewers, while the competing drama "Traveler" on ABC declined by 55 percent in 18-49 and 56 percent in total viewers and "Without a Trace" on CBS declined by 41 percent in 18-49 and 24 percent in total viewers versus its lead-in from the previous hour.

"ER" was up by 23 percent in 18-49 rating and by 21 percent in total viewers versus the prior week's telecast.

On Friday, May 11 from 8-10 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.6/6 in 18-49, 6.8 million viewers overall) was tied for #2 in adults 18-49 and ranked #2 outright among adults 25-54 and total viewers. At 10 p.m., "Law & Order" (2.3/8 in 18-49, 8.3 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in 18-49 and #1 among women 18-34. "Law & Order" built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 35 percent in 18-49 (2.3 vs. 1.7).

On Saturday, May 12 at 8 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.1/4 in 18-49, 4.8 million viewers overall) reported NBC's best 18-49 rating and largest overall viewership in the time period in five weeks (since April 7). At 9 p.m., an encore telecast of "Law & Order: SVU" (1.4/5 in 18-49, 6.0 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 27 percent in 18-49 rating to lock up NBC's highest 18-49 rating and total viewership in the hour in seven weeks (since March 24). At 10 p.m., a rebroadcast of "Law & Order" (1.7/6 in 18-49, 7.4 million viewers overall) increased by 21 percent in 18-49 rating versus its lead-in from the previous hour. "Law & Order" delivered NBC's highest viewership in this hour in six weeks (since March 31).

On Sunday, May 13 from 7-7:20 p.m. ET, NBC Sports' golf coverage of The Players delivered a 1.6/7 in 18-49 and 6.3 million viewers overall. From 7:20-8 p.m., "Dateline NBC" averaged a 1.1/4 in adults 18-49 and 3.7 million viewers overall

Sunday from 8-10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of the 2001 feature film "Shrek" averaged a 2.1/6 in 18-49 and 6.4 million viewers overall. From its first hour to its second, "Shrek" grew by 33 percent in 18-49 (to a 2.4 from a 1.8) and by 29 percent in overall viewership. At 10 p.m., an encore telecast of "Thank God You're Here" averaged a 1.5/4 in 18-49 and 3.7 million viewers overall.