NBC PRIMETIME RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF NOV. 21-27

BURBANK, Calif. -- November 29, 2005 -- NBC averaged a 3.1 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49 and 9.2 million viewers for the week of Nov. 21-27, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Primetime averages for the week of Nov. 21-27 in adults 18-49 were ABC (4.3/12), CBS (4.1/11), Fox (3.6/10), NBC (3.1/8), WB (1.3/3) and UPN (1.3/4). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (14.3 million), ABC (11.4 million), NBC (9.2 million), Fox (9.0 million), WB (3.3 million) and UPN (3.3 million).

Through Sunday Nov. 27, with 25 nights of the 28-night sweep period measured, November 2005 sweep averages in adults 18-49 are: CBS (4.4/12), ABC (4.3/11), Fox and NBC (3.2/8), UPN and WB (1.5/4). In total viewers, the 25-night November sweep averages are CBS (14.6 million), ABC (11.4 million), NBC (9.2 million), Fox (7.6 million), UPN (3.7 million) and WB (3.5 million).

NBC highlights for the week of Nov. 21-27:

* On Tuesday, "The Biggest Loser" won its competitive hour in adults 18-49 for the first time this season, scoring NBC's highest 18-49 rating and total viewership in the time period since the "Biggest Loser 1" finale last January.

* Also on Tuesday, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" was the top-rated show on television Tuesday night in adults 18-49 and total viewers, delivering its highest total viewership in more than a year-and-a-half (since May 2004); "My Name is Earl" was #1 in its slot in 18-49, beating all series competition and tying ABC's "American Music Awards"; and "The Office" posted its best retention rate so far of its "Earl" lead-in. "Earl" was the top-ranked first-year series of the week and of the season-to-date (18-49).

* On Monday, the special 3-D episode of "Medium" hit a season high in total viewers, and all three NBC Monday dramas, "Medium," "Las Vegas" and "Surface," delivered their highest 18-49 ratings in five weeks.

* On Friday, NBC's telecast of the motion picture "The Family Man," starring Nicolas Cage, delivered the network's highest Friday numbers of the season in adults 18-49 and total viewers.

NBC November 2005 Sweep Highlights:

* "My Name is Earl" is television's #1 first-year series for the November sweep to date in adults 18-49.

* "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" is the top-rated Tuesday series during the November sweep (18-49). "SVU" has finished #1 in its time period in 18-49 and most key measures during the November sweep, surging on Nov. 22 to its highest total viewership (17.1 million) since May 18, 2004.

* "ER" was #1 in its Thursday time period during the sweep in adults 18-49 and numerous other key demographics. During November, "ER" scored its highest 18-49 rating (a 6.9 on Nov. 17) and its largest total viewership (15.4 million on Nov. 10) of the current season.

* "Medium" has generated across-the-board growth for NBC in the Monday 10 p.m. ET hour versus November 2004, including a 43 percent increase in adults 18-49 through three weeks.

* Freshman drama "E-Ring" delivered its highest 18-49 rating (a 2.9/8 on Nov. 16) and its largest total viewership (9.9 million on Nov. 9) to-date during the November 2005 sweep.

* In the vital 10:30-11 p.m. time period leading into local news, NBC ranked #2 in the key demographics of adults 18-49 and 25-54 during the November sweep. In Monday-through-Friday adult 25-54 averages through three weeks of the sweep, NBC has reduced CBS' lead from 15 percent one year ago (a 6.9 rating vs. a 6.0) to 12 percent this year (6.4 vs. 5.7).

Additional NBC highlights for the week of Nov. 21-27:

On Monday, Nov. 21, at 8 p.m. ET, "Surface" (3.0 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49, 9.4 million viewers overall) delivered its highest 18-49 rating and total viewership since Oct. 17. At 9 p.m. ET, "Las Vegas" (4.3/10 in 18-49, 12.4 million viewers overall) also hit its highest 18-49 and total viewer results since Oct. 17, increasing by 17 percent versus its 18-49 rating of the previous week and 27 percent versus the week before that. And at 10 p.m. ET, the special 3-D episode of "Medium" (4.7/12 in 18-49, 13.4 million viewers overall) hit a season high in total viewers and delivered its highest 18-49 rating in five weeks (since Oct. 17).

On Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. ET, "The Biggest Loser" (4.2/11 in adults 18-49, 10.4 million viewers overall) scored its highest 18-49 rating and total viewership since Jan. 11, the night of "The Biggest Loser" finale. "Biggest Loser" won the hour in 18-49, topping CBS' "NCIS" (4.1/11), ABC's "American Music Awards (4.1/11 in that hour) and Fox's "Bones" (2.8/7). This marks the first time this season that "Biggest Loser" has won its time period in 18-49. "Loser" was also #1 in adults 18-34 (tied) and in women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54.

At 9 p.m. ET, "My Name is Earl" (5.0/12 in 18-49, 12.2 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in adults 18-49, tied with ABC's "American Music Awards" (5.0/12 in that half-hour) and beating all series competition, including Fox's "House" (4.7/11 in that half-hour) and CBS' "Amazing Race" (3.7/9 in that half-hour). "Earl" is the season's #1 comedy, #1 Tuesday series and #1 new series in adults 18-49.

Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. ET, "The Office" (3.8/9 in 18-49, 8.1 million viewers overall) exhibited its best retention so far of its "Earl" lead-in (76 percent). Over the past five weeks "The Office" has generated its five best retention rates of the season. The Nov. 22 "Office" was #1 in the time period among men 18-34 (tied with "House").

That same night at 10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.7/15 in 18-49, 17.1 million viewers overall) was the top-rated show of the night on any network in adults 18-49 and total viewers, matching its highest 18-49 rating since Oct. 4 and delivering its largest total viewership in more than a year-and-a-half (since May 18, 2004). "SVU" dominated the hour, winning in every key ratings category and matching the ABC-CBS competition combined in adults 18-34.

NBC won Tuesday night in 18-49 for the eighth time in 10 weeks so far this season.

On Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 8 p.m. ET, "E-Ring" (2.4/7 in 18-49, 9.0 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in its hour in total viewers. At 10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order" (3.3/9 in 18-49, 11.9 million viewers overall) built on its 18-49 lead-in by 74 percent.

On Friday, Nov. 25 from 8-11 p.m. ET, NBC's telecast of the 2000 feature film "The Family Man" (2.6/8 in 18-49, 8.5 million viewers overall) delivered NBC's highest Friday primetime averages of the season in adults 18-49 and total viewers, up 24 percent in 18-49 versus the network's season-to-date average for the night. "The Family Man" ranked #2 in 18-49, 25-54 and total viewers.

On Thanksgiving Night, Thursday, Nov. 26 at 10 p.m. ET, a special telecast of "The Apprentice" averaged a 3.7/11 in 18-49 and 8.7 million viewers overall. The 10 p.m. edition built by 37 percent on the previous hour's retrospective episode of "The Apprentice" (2.7/8 in 18-49, 6.8 million viewers overall).

On Sunday, Nov. 27 from 7-9 p.m. ET, the feature film "Shrek" (2.5/6 in 18-49, 7.6 million viewers overall) posted a 24 percent improvement in 18-49 versus NBC's non-sports season average for the time period. At 9 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" averaged a 3.2/7 in 18-49 and 10.9 million viewers overall. At 10 p.m. ET, "Crossing Jordan" averaged a 3.5/8 in 18-49 and 11.1 million viewers overall.