'THE CELEBRITY APPRENTICE' FINALE IS THURSDAY'S #1 SHOW IN 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS, CURRENTLY PACING NBC TO A THURSDAY WIN IN BOTH CATEGORIES

'THE CELEBRITY APPRENTICE' FINALE IS THURSDAY'S #1 SHOW IN 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS, CURRENTLY PACING NBC TO A THURSDAY WIN IN BOTH CATEGORIES

LAST NIGHT'S 'CELEBRITY APPRENTICE' IS THE TOP-SCORING FINALE IN THE 'APPRENTICE' FRANCHISE SINCE THE FINAL EPISODE OF 'APPRENTICE 4' IN DECEMBER 2005

'CELEBRITY APPRENTICE' SURGES 41 PERCENT IN ADULTS 18-49 AND 51 PERCENT IN TOTAL VIEWERS VERSUS THE MOST RECENT 'APPRENTICE' FINALE IN APRIL 2007

BURBANK, Calif. March 28, 2008 Paced by the finale of "The Celebrity Apprentice," which was the #1 telecast of the night in adults 18-49 and total viewers, NBC is currently #1 for Thursday night in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures, according to "fast affiliate-based" "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research (pending updates).

Last night from 9-11 p.m. ET, the live finale of "The Celebrity Apprentice" (4.5 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49, 12.1 million viewers overall) scored NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this slot in six months (since September 27, 2007, during premiere week) and delivered NBC's biggest overall viewership in the time period for a non-sports telecast in 16 months (since November 23, 2006).

This was the top-scoring finale in "The Apprentice" franchise in both adults 18-49 and total viewers since the conclusion of "The Apprentice 4" on December 15, 2005. Last night's "Celebrity Apprentice" finale was up 41 percent in 18-49 rating and 51 percent in total viewers versus the most recent finale in "The Apprentice" franchise (a 3.2/8 in 18-49 and 8.0 million viewers overall for the finale of "The Apprentice 6" on Sunday, April 22, 2007).

Throughout its current run "The Celebrity Apprentice" has consistently outpaced the prior cycle in "The Apprentice" franchise and it has concluded its run with overall gains of 24 percent in 18-49 rating (3.6 vs. 2.9) and 27 percent in total viewers (9.1 million vs. 7.2 million) versus the prior cycle (based on "live plus same day" averages).

"The Celebrity Apprentice" built steadily from half-hour to half-hour, increasing by 28 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 5.0/14 from a 3.9/10) and by 20 percent, or 2.2 million persons in total viewers (to 13.2 million from 11.0 million) from its first to its final half-hour.

From 8-9 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (3.0/9 in 18-49, 11.2 million viewers overall) was the hour's #1 non-sports choice in adults 18-49 and the #1 program in the hour outright in total viewers. From its first half-hour to its second, "Deal" increased by 36 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 3.4/9 from a 2.5/6) and by 27 percent of 2.6 million persons in total viewers (to 12.5 million from 9.9 million). "Deal" delivered NBC's highest 18-49 and total viewer results in this time period in six weeks (since February 14).

Pending updates, NBC ranked #1 on Thursday night in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. Preliminary 18-49 averages for Thursday night are: NBC, 4.0/11; CBS, 3.8/10; Fox, 2.8/8; ABC, 1.9/5; CW, 1.4/4. In overall total viewers, March 27 preliminary results are: NBC, 11.8 million; CBS, 9.7 million; Fox, 8.7 million; ABC, 6.0 million; CW, 3.3 million. Fast affiliate-based results are subject to revision, especially in the case of live events, such as CBS's coverage of the NCAA Basketball Tournament.

Note that all national ratings are "live plus same day" unless otherwise indicated.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: What follows is the afternoon update with the final national Nielsen ratings.]

UPDATE: 'THE CELEBRITY APPRENTICE' FINALE IS THURSDAY'S #1 SHOW IN 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS, PACING NBC TO A THURSDAY WIN IN BOTH CATEGORIES

LAST NIGHT'S 'CELEBRITY APPRENTICE' IS THE TOP-SCORING FINALE IN THE 'APPRENTICE' FRANCHISE SINCE THE FINAL EPISODE OF 'APPRENTICE 4' IN DECEMBER 2005

'CELEBRITY APPRENTICE' SURGES 41 PERCENT IN ADULTS 18-49 AND 51 PERCENT IN TOTAL VIEWERS VERSUS THE MOST RECENT 'APPRENTICE' FINALE IN APRIL 2007

BURBANK, Calif. March 28, 2008 Paced by the finale of "The Celebrity Apprentice," which was the #1 telecast of the night in adults 18-49 and total viewers, NBC won Thursday night in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures, according to updated "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Last night from 9-11 p.m. ET, the live finale of "The Celebrity Apprentice" (4.5 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49, 12.1 million viewers overall) scored NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this slot in six months (since September 27, 2007, during premiere week) and delivered NBC's biggest overall viewership in the time period for a non-sports telecast in 16 months (since November 23, 2006).

This was the top-scoring finale in "The Apprentice" franchise in both adults 18-49 and total viewers since the conclusion of "The Apprentice 4" on December 15, 2005. Last night's "Celebrity Apprentice" finale was up 41 percent in 18-49 rating and 51 percent in total viewers versus the most recent finale in "The Apprentice" franchise (a 3.2/8 in 18-49 and 8.0 million viewers overall for the finale of "The Apprentice 6" on Sunday, April 22, 2007).

Throughout its current run "The Celebrity Apprentice" has consistently outpaced the prior cycle in "The Apprentice" franchise and it has concluded its run with overall gains of 24 percent in 18-49 rating (3.6 vs. 2.9) and 27 percent in total viewers (9.1 million vs. 7.2 million) versus the prior cycle (based on "live plus same day" averages).

"The Celebrity Apprentice" built steadily from half-hour to half-hour, increasing by 31 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 5.1/14 from a 3.9/10) and by 20 percent, or nearly 2.2 million persons in total viewers (to 13.2 million from 11.0 million) from its first to its final half-hour.

From 8-9 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (3.0/9 in 18-49, 11.4 million viewers overall) was the hour's #1 non-sports choice in adults 18-49, and the #1 program in the hour outright in adults 25-54 and total viewers. From its first half-hour to its second, "Deal" increased by 35 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 3.5/10 from a 2.6/8) and by 28 percent or 2.8 million persons in total viewers (to 12.8 million from 10.0 million). "Deal" delivered NBC's highest 18-49 and total viewer results in this time period in six weeks (since February 14).

NBC ranked #1 on Thursday night in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. Updated 18-49 averages for Thursday night are: NBC, 4.0/11; CBS, 3.9/11; Fox, 2.8/8; ABC, 1.9/5; CW, 1.4/4. In overall total viewers, March 27 updated results are: NBC, 11.9 million; CBS, 10.0 million; Fox, 8.7 million; ABC, 5.9 million; CW, 3.3 million.

Note that all national ratings are "live plus same day" unless otherwise indicated.