NBC PRIMETIME RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF SEPT. 19-25

NBC PRIMETIME RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF SEPT. 19-25

BURBANK, Calif. � September 27, 2005 � NBC averaged a 3.4 rating, 9 share in adults 18-49 and 9.9 million viewers for the week of Sept. 19-25, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Primetime averages for the week of Sept. 19-25 in adults 18-49 were ABC (4.7/12), CBS (4.1/11), NBC (3.4/9), Fox (2.8/7), UPN (1.8/5) and WB (1.4/4). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (12.9 million), ABC (12.3 million), NBC (9.9 million), Fox (6.5 million), UPN (4.2 million) and WB (3.3 million).

NBC highlights for the week of Sept. 19-25:

* Tuesday's premiere of "My Name is Earl" was NBC's top-rated show of the week in 18-49 and the top-rated comedy of the week on any network in 18-49 and total viewers. "Earl" delivered NBC's highest rating in the time period since November 2002 (excluding Olympics).

* Also on Tuesday, the seventh-season debut of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" scored its highest season-premiere ratings ever.

* On Monday, the premiere of "Surface" was the #1 non-sports choice in the hour among 18-49 viewers, trailing only "Monday Night Football."

* On Friday, the premiere of "Three Wishes" tied for #1 in its hour in adults 18-49, increasing in 18-49 rating from its first to its second half-hour to rank #1 outright from 9:30-10 p.m. ET.

Additional NBC highlights for the week of Sept. 19-25:

On Monday, Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. ET, the premiere of "Surface" (3.8 rating, 10 share in adults 18-49, 11.2 million viewers overall) was the hour's #1 non-sports choice in adult 18-49 viewers and other key measures. From its first to its second half-hour, "Surface" grew by 17 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 4.1 rating from a 3.5) and its total audience increased by 1.2 million viewers (to 11.8 million from 10.6 million).

Also on Monday, at 9 p.m. ET, the third-season premiere of "Las Vegas" (4.6/11 in 18-49, 12.5 million viewers overall), built on its lead-in by 21 percent to deliver the show's highest 18-49 rating since Feb. 21. "Las Vegas" grew by 14 percent in 18-49 from its first half-hour to its second, to outperform the premiere of CBS' "Out of Practice" and Fox's "Prison Break" from 9:30-10 p.m. ET. At 10 p.m. ET, the second-season premiere of "Medium" delivered a 4.5/11 in 18-49 and 12.7 million viewers overall.

On Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 9 p.m. ET, the premiere of "My Name is Earl" (6.6/16 in 18-49, 15.2 million viewers overall) was the night's #1 telecast in adults 18-49, delivering NBC's highest rating in the time period since an episode of "Frasier" on Nov. 19, 2002 (excluding Olympics). Versus NBC's average for the time period last season, "Earl" was up 83 percent in adults 18-49 (6.6 vs. 3.6). It was the highest 18-49 rating for a Tuesday premiere on any network since November 2002. "Earl" was the #8-ranked program of the week (18-49).

Also on Tuesday, at 10 p.m. ET, the seventh-season premiere of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.5/14 in 18-49, 16.8 million viewers overall) was that series' highest-rated season debut ever in adults 18-49 and total viewers. "SVU" won the hour in 18-49 and all other key categories. Its margin of victory in 18-49 was 45 percent (5.5 vs. 3.5 for CBS' "Rock Star"). From 8-9 p.m. that night, "The Biggest Loser" (3.4/10 in 18-49, 7.9 million viewers overall) was up 13 percent in 18-49 versus its prior-week season premiere, scoring NBC's highest rating in the hour since Jan. 11, 2005 ("Biggest Loser 1" finale). "Loser" was #2 for its time period in 18-49 and #1 in adults 18-34. At 9:30 p.m., the second-season debut of "The Office" (4.3/10 in 18-49, 9.0 million viewers overall) delivered its highest regular-slot results ever.

On Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 8 p.m. ET, the premiere of "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart" delivered a 2.3/7 in 18-49 and 7.1 million viewers, increasing in 18-49 rating by 19 percent from its first half-hour to its second (to a 2.5 from a 2.1) and ranking #2 for the time period in total viewers. At 9 p.m. ET, the premiere of "E-Ring" (2.5/6 in 18-49, 7.2 million viewers overall) built by 8 percent from half-hour to half-hour. At 10 p.m. ET, the 16th-season premiere of "Law & Order" (4.0/10 in 18-49, 13.0 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 60 percent in adult 18-49 rating.

On Thursday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. ET, the one-hour second-season premiere of "Joey" (3.3/9 in 18-49, 7.8 million viewers overall) ranked #2 for the hour in adults 18-49, building by 17 percent from its first half-hour to its second (to a 3.5 from a 3.0). At 9 p.m. ET, the premiere of the fourth cycle of "The Apprentice" (4.6/11 in 18-49, 9.9 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in 18-49 and all other key ratings categories, outscoring the slot's #3 program by a 92 percent margin in 18-49. At 10 p.m. ET, the 12th-season premiere of "ER" averaged a 6.4/16 in 18-49 and 14.4 million viewers overall.

On Friday, Sept. 23 at 9 p.m. ET, the premiere of "Three Wishes" (2.5/8 in 18-49, 8.4 million viewers overall) tied for #1 for the hour in 18-49. "Three Wishes" increased in 18-49 rating by 8 percent from its first half-hour to its second, to rank #1 from 9:30-10 p.m. At 8 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (2.1/7 in 18-49, 8.5 million viewers overall) was #2 in 18-49, 25-54 and total viewers. At 10 p.m. ET, the premiere of "Inconceivable" averaged a 2.1/7 in 18-49 and 6.3 million viewers overall.

On Saturday, Sept. 24 from 10-11 p.m. ET, an encore "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.6/8 in 18-49, 7.4 million viewers overall) was the top-rated telecast of the night on any network in adults 18-49. "SVU" won the slot in all key ratings categories, posting NBC's highest non-sports 18-49 rating in this hour since April 30. From 8-10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of the movie "Shrek" (2.1/7 in 18-49, 5.9 million viewers overall) delivered NBC's highest non-sports 18-49 rating in the slot since Feb. 12. "Shrek" was #2 for the time period in adults 18-49, one-tenth of a point out of first place, and #1 in adults 18-34.

On Sunday, Sept. 25 at 10 p.m. ET, the fifth-season premiere of "Crossing Jordan" (3.7/9 in 18-49, 13.3 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 19 percent in 18-49 and ranked #2 in all key ratings categories. At 9 p.m. ET, the fifth-season premiere of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" delivered a 3.1/7 in 18-49 and 10.7 million viewers overall. At 8 p.m. ET, the seventh-season premiere of "The West Wing" (2.4/6 in 18-49, 8.9 million viewers overall) built on its 18-49 lead-in from the previous hour by 60 percent.