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

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

'THE OFFICE' ON THURSDAY REOPENS TO ITS BEST NUMBERS SINCE ITS SEASON PREMIERE IN BOTH 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS

'MEDIUM' SUMMONS SEASON-HIGH NUMBERS ON MONDAY, ATTRACTING ITS BIGGEST OVERALL VIEWERSHIP IN NEARLY TWO YEARS

TUESDAY'S 'THE BIGGEST LOSER' HITS AN 11-WEEK HIGH IN BOTH 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS, AND GAINS A HEFTY 52 PERCENT IN 18-49 AND 38 PERCENT IN TOTAL VIEWERS OVER ITS TWO-HOUR TELECAST, AGAINST TOUGH COMPETITION FROM 'IDOL' AND 'DANCING WITH THE STARS'

ALSO ON TUESDAY, AN ENCORE 'LAW & ORDER: SVU' TOPS FIRST-RUN COMPETITION ON ABC AND CBS IN ADULTS 18-49 AND OTHER KEY DEMOS

BURBANK, Calif. � April 15, 2008 � NBC averaged a 2.1 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49 and 6.6 million viewers overall for the week of March 31-April 6, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Through 29 weeks of the 2007-08 season, Fox leads in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, with the race for #2 extremely tight. Season-to-date averages in adults 18-49 for the period September 24, 2007 through April 13, 2008 are Fox (4.3/11), ABC and CBS (3.0/8), NBC (2.9/8), Univision (1.5/4), CW (1.0/3) and Telemundo (0.4/1).

Through the first 29 weeks of the 2007-08 season, NBC is the only network to have grown younger in primetime, and NBC is now the "second-youngest" of the major broadcast networks. NBC's median age has moved to 48.0 years this season from 48.1 years at this point last season. In this same comparison, ABC's median age has increased by 2.1 years (to 49.0 from 46.9), CBS's median age has increased to 52.6 years old from 51.8 and Fox's median age has increased by 1.3 years to 43.9 from 42.6 years old at this point last season.

Primetime averages for the week of April 7-13 in adults 18-49 were Fox (3.8/11), CBS (3.0/8), ABC (2.4/7), NBC (2.1/6), Univision (1.5/4), CW (0.8/2) and Telemundo (0.5/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were Fox and CBS (10.3 million), ABC (8.1 million), NBC (6.6 million), Univision (3.6 million), CW (2.0 million) and Telemundo (1.2 million).

NBC highlights for the week of April 7-13:

* On Monday, "Medium," featuring Patricia Arquette's sister, Rosanna Arquette as a guest star, hit season high numbers in adults 18-49 and total viewers. In 18-49, it was the highest-rated "Medium" since January 2007 and in total viewers it was the "most-watched" episode of the series in nearly two years (since May 2006).

* On Tuesday, despite competition from "American Idol" and "Dancing With the Stars," "The Biggest Loser" delivered its highest 18-49 rating and biggest total viewership in 11 weeks, ranking #2 in adults 18-49 from 8-10 p.m. behind only Fox's "American Idol"-fueled lineup. "Loser" gained a hefty 52 percent in 18-49 rating and 38 percent in total viewers from its first to its final half-hour.

* Also on Tuesday, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: SVU" topped first-run competition from ABC's "Boston Legal" and CBS'S "Secret Talents of the Stars" in adults 18-49 and other key demographics.

* On Wednesday, "Deal or No Deal" was up 20 percent in 18-49 versus the prior week, delivering NBC's highest demo rating and biggest overall viewership in the time period in four weeks, versus competition from Fox's "Idol Gives Back" special. "Deal" ranked #2 in adults 18-49, behind only the "Idol" special.

* On Thursday, "The Office" returned with a first-run episode that scored that series' highest 18-49 rating and biggest total viewership since its season premiere last September. "The Office" was a strong #2 in adults 18-49 and ranked #1 among adults, men and women 18-34 and men 18-49 in its time period.

* "The Office" ranked #8 among all programs on television this week in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49.

* Also on Thursday, "My Name is Earl" delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating in its time period in 13 weeks, despite competition from a special Thursday edition of "American Idol."

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 April 7-13:

On Monday, April 7, from 9-10 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (2.9 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49, 10.2 million viewers overall) built by 123 percent in 18-49 rating and by 134 percent in total viewers versus its lead-in from the previous hour, a 1.3/4 in 18-49 and 4.4 million viewers overall for "My Dad is Better Than Your Dad" from 8-9 p.m.

"Deal" grew from its first to its second half-hour by 32 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 3.3/8 from a 2.5/6) and 38 percent or more than 3.2 million persons in total viewers (to 11.9 million from 8.6 million).

Monday at 10 p.m. ET, "Medium" (3.5/9 in 18-49, 10.9 million viewers overall) scored its highest 18-49 rating since January 31, 2007 and its biggest overall audience in nearly two years (since May 8, 2006). "Medium" was NBC's "most-watched" program of the week in total viewers.

"Medium," which this week featured Patricia Arquette's sister, Rosanna Arquette as a guest star, was the #1 non-sports telecast in the hour in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures and won the hour outright among women 18-49 and 25-54, topping CBS'S telecast of the NCAA basketball championship game in those key demos.

Despite first-run competition in the hour from CBS's NCAA basketball championship game and ABC's "The Bachelor," "Medium" was up 13 percent in 18-49 rating and 11 percent in total viewers versus the prior week. "Medium" was up 13 percent in 18-49 versus its own season-to-date average (3.5 vs. 3.1) and up 52 percent versus NBC's season average in the time period prior to "Medium's" January 7 debut (3.5 vs. 2.3, "live plus same day").

On Tuesday, April 8, the penultimate episode of "The Biggest Loser 5" (3.7/9 share in adults 18-49, 9.0 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in adults 18-49 from 8-10 p.m. ET, behind only Fox's "American Idol"-led lineup for the two-hour time period and ahead of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars"-led lineup. In the 9-10 p.m. hour, "Biggest Loser" topped the "Dancing With the Stars" results show head-to-head in adults, men and women 18-49 and 18-34.

"The Biggest Loser" delivered its highest 18-49 rating and biggest total viewership in 11 weeks (since January 22). Versus the prior week, it increased by 12 percent in 18-49 rating and 10 percent in total viewers.

"Biggest Loser" gained 52 percent in 18-49 rating from its first half-hour to its fourth (to a 4.4/11 from a 2.9/8) and 38 percent or 2.9 million persons in total viewers (to 10.4 million from 7.5 million).

To date, "The Biggest Loser 5" is running 6 percent ahead of "Biggest Loser 4" in 18-49 rating (3.4 vs. 3.2, "live plus same day" averages through each cycle's penultimate episode). In total viewers, "Biggest Loser 5" is running 11 percent ahead of "Biggest Loser 4" (8.3 million vs. 7.5 million), even though "Biggest Loser 5" is facing competition from "American Idol" that "Biggest Loser 4" did not face.

Tuesday at 10 p.m., ET an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.9/8 in 18-49, 8.7 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and other key demographics versus first-run competition from ABC's "Boston Legal" and CBS'S "Secret Talents of the Stars."

NBC ranked #2 Tuesday in adults 18-49, marking the 11th time in 13 Tuesdays that NBC has finished #2 behind only "American Idol"-boosted Fox.

On Wednesday, April 9 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (2.4/7 in 18-49, 9.8 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in adults 18-49, behind only Fox's "Idol Gives Back" special. "Deal," which was up 20 percent in 18-49 rating versus the prior Wednesday's telecast, posted NBC's top 18-49 rating and total-viewer result in this time period in four weeks.

Despite special "Idol" competition this week, "Deal" surged from its first to its second half-hour by 33 percent in 18-49 (to a 2.8/7 from a 2.1/6) and by 30 percent, or more than 2.5 million persons, in total viewers (to 11.0 million from 8.5 million).

Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" averaged a 1.4/3 in 18-49 and 4.9 million viewers overall. At 10 p.m., an encore telecast of "Law & Order" (1.8/5 in 18-49, 6.1 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 29 percent in 18-49 rating and 24 percent in total viewers.

On Thursday, April 10, at 8 p.m. ET, "My Name is Earl" (3.1/9 in 18-49, 7.1 million viewers overall) delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this slot in 13 weeks (since January 10), despite special competition from "American Idol." "Earl" ranked #2 in this fiercely competitive time period in adults, men and women 18-34.

Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET, "30 Rock" (2.7/7 in 18-49, 5.8 million viewers overall) retained 87 percent of its 18-49 lead-in from "Earl" despite facing competition from the second half of the "Idol" results show and the second half of "Survivor." Even with this competition, "30 Rock" improved its 18-49 rating versus the same night last year by a tenth of a rating point (2.7 vs. 2.6). In total viewers, the year-to-year improvement for "30 Rock" was 14 percent (5.8 million vs. 5.1 million on April 12, 2007 at 9 p.m.). "30 Rock" ranked #2 in adults, men and women 18-34, behind only "American Idol" in those key demos.

Thursday at 9 p.m. ET, "The Office" (4.9/12 in 18-49, 9.3 million viewers overall) delivered its highest 18-49 rating and biggest total viewership since its season premiere on September 27, 2007. "The Office" ranked a strong #2 in the time period in adults 18-49 and #1 in adults, men and women 18-34 and men 18-49. Among men 18-34, "The Office" towered over the competition, more than doubling its closest competitor in the time period (6.1/17 vs. a 3.0/8 for "CSI" in second place). In adults 18-49, "The Office" was up 48 percent versus NBC's average in this time period last season (4.9 vs. 3.3).

From 9:31-10:01 p.m. ET, "Scrubs" (3.4/8 in 18-49, 6.6 million viewers overall) sewed up its best numbers in both 18-49 and total viewers since November 1, winning its slot in adults, men and women 18-34. From 10:01-11 p.m., "ER" (3.1/8 in 18-49, 7.5 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in the time period among men 18-34.

On Friday, April 11 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Amne$ia" averaged a 1.0/3 in 18-49 and 3.9 million viewers overall.

Friday from 9-11 p.m. ET, "Miss USA 2008" delivered a 1.7/5 in adults 18-49 and 5.7 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Miss USA" increased by 43 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.0/6 from a 1.4/4) and by 39 percent or more than 1.8 million persons in total viewers (to 6.5 million from 4.7 million). "Miss USA" ranked #1 in the time period among women 18-34.

On Saturday, April 12, at 8 p.m. ET, an encore "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (1.1/4 in 18-49, 4.4 million viewers overall) was the #1 non-sports choice in the hour in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures, posting NBC's top 18-49 rating in the slot in eight weeks (since February 16). At 9 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: SVU" (1.3/4 in 18-49, 4.8 million viewers overall) was the #1 non-sports choice in the hour in adults 18-49, total viewers and other measures. At 10 p.m., an encore telecast of "Law & Order" (1.5/4 in 18-49, 5.9 million viewers overall) tied as the #1 non-sports choice in the hour in adults 18-49 and was the #1 non-sports telecast in the slot outright in total viewers.

NBC's primetime performance increased steadily half-hour to half-hour on Saturday, building by 50 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.5/5 from a 1.0/3) and by 48 percent in total viewers (to 6.1 million from 4.1 million) from the first to the final half-hour of primetime.

On Sunday, April 13 from 7-8 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" delivered a 1.3/4 in 18-49 and 5.9 million viewers overall. At 8 p.m., "Monk" averaged a 1.1/3 in 18-49 and 5.3 million viewers overall. At 9 p.m., "Psych" delivered a 1.2/3 in 18-49 and 4.2 million viewers overall.

At 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: SVU" delivered a 1.5/4 in 18-49 and 5.5 million viewers overall. From half-hour to half-hour, "SVU" increased by 31 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.7/5 from a 1.3/3) and by 22 percent or 1.1 million persons in total viewers (to 6.1 million from 5.0 million).