NBC PRIMETIME RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF JAN. 9-15

NBC PRIMETIME RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF JAN. 9-15

BURBANK, Calif. - Jan. 18, 2006 - NBC averaged a 3.2 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49 and 9.2 million viewers for the week of Jan. 9-15, 2006, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Primetime averages for the week of Jan. 9-15 in adults 18-49 were CBS (4.6/12), Fox (4.2/11), ABC (4.1/10), NBC (3.2/8), Univision (1.8/5), WB (1.5/4) and UPN (1.1/3). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (14.9 million), ABC (11.7 million), Fox (10.3 million), NBC (9.2 million), Univision (4.3 million), WB (3.5 million) and UPN (2.9 million).

NBC highlights for the week of Jan. 9-15:

* On Thursday "My Name is Earl" delivered its highest rating since Oct. 4, up 13 percent in 18-49 versus the prior week's Thursday premiere and up 40 percent versus NBC's pre-"Earl" average for the time period. "Earl" won its time slot last week in adults 18-49, delivering NBC's highest demo rating in the half-hour since "The Apprentice 3" finale on May 19, 2005. "Earl" ranked #10 (tied) out of a total 113 network programs this week in the key demographic of adults 18-49.

* "The Office" on Thursday hit a new series high rating in adults 18-49 and a regular slot high in total viewers. "The Office" was up 13 percent versus the prior week and 11 percent versus NBC's pre-"Office" average for the time period (18-49). "The Office" was the #3-ranked half-hour comedy on television this week and ranked #15 overall out of a total 113 network programs in adults 18-49.

* Also on Thursday, a live telecast of "Will & Grace" delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the time period in 11 months, ranking #1 in that key demo, while "Four Kings" exhibited growth versus its prior week performance and versus its "Will & Grace" lead-in. Additionally, "Four Kings" posted a 29 percent gain in 18-49 versus NBC's pre-"Kings" average for the time period.

* On Tuesday, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" dominated its time period, winning by a 70 percent margin in adults 18-49 and beating the competition combined in adults 18-34.

* On Friday, "Dateline NBC" ranked #1 in adults 18-49, delivering NBC's highest rating in the hour in more than four months.

* On Sunday, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" locked up its highest 18-49 rating in more than two months, despite head-to-head competition from the special two-hour premiere of "24" on Fox and an original "Desperate Housewives" on ABC.

Ratings reflect "live plus same day" data unless otherwise noted. Season-to-date figures are averages of live-only results through Dec. 25 and "live plus seven day" data since then, except for the two most recent weeks, which are live plus same day.

Additional NBC highlights for the week of Jan. 9-15:

On Monday, Jan. 9 at 9 p.m. ET, "Las Vegas" (4.1 rating, 10 share in adults 18-49, 12.3 million viewers overall) built on its 18-49 lead-in by 64 percent to rank #2 in adults 18-34 and #1 among men 18-34. At 10 p.m. ET, "Medium" (4.2/10 in 18-49, 11.4 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in the hour among adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.

On Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 8 p.m. ET, "Fear Factor" (2.9/8 in 18-49, 7.2 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in 18-49 and other key measures. At 9 p.m. ET, "Scrubs" delivered a 3.3/8 in 18-49 and 6.9 million viewers overall and at 9:30 p.m. ET, a second "Scrubs" built by 6 percent in 18-49, delivering a 3.5/8 in 18-49 and 6.9 million viewers. Both "Scrubs" ranked #2 in this competitive hour among adults 18-34.

Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.6/14 in 18-49, 14.7 million viewers) dominated the time period in all key ratings categories. In adults 18-49, "SVU" topped its nearest competition by a 70 percent margin (5.6 vs. a 3.3 for ABC's "Boston Legal" in second-place). Among adults 18-34, "SVU" beat the ABC-CBS competition combined.

On Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order" (4.0/10 in 18-49, 12.8 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in adults 18-49, 25-54 and total viewers and #1 in adults 18-34. "Law & Order" built on its lead-in by 48 percent in 18-49. At 9 p.m. ET, "Biggest Loser: Special Edition" averaged a 2.7/6 in 18-49 and 6.4 million viewers overall and at 8 p.m. ET, "E-Ring" delivered a 2.3/6 in 18-49 and 8.4 million viewers overall.

On Thursday, Jan. 12, from 8-8:30 p.m. ET, a live telecast of "Will & Grace" (4.4/12 in 18-49, 9.7 million viewers overall) hit NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this time period in 11 months (since Feb. 10, 2005). "Will & Grace" ranked #1 in adults 18-49 and other key measures and posted a 52 percent improvement versus NBC's pre-"Will & Grace" season average for the time period. "Will & Grace" matched the 18-49 rating of its last live telecast, the Sept. 29 season premiere, which aired in an 8:29-9 p.m. time period.

Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET, "Four Kings" (4.5/12 in 18-49, 9.1 million viewers overall) was up 7 percent in 18-49 versus its premiere of the previous week (and up 2 percent versus its lead-in). "Four Kings" was also up 29 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's average for the time period prior to "Four Kings." The new comedy ranked #1 among adults, men and women 18-34 and finished 0.3 of a rating point out of first place in 18-49.

At 9 p.m. ET, "My Name is Earl" (5.9/14 in 18-49, 12.5 million viewers overall) produced NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this time period since the finale of "The Apprentice 3" on May 19, 2005, ranking #1 in adults 18-49 and other key measures. Versus the prior week's Thursday premiere, "Earl" was up 13 percent in 18-49 rating and 1.3 million viewers overall. "My Name is Earl" was up 40 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's pre-"Earl" average for the time period (5.9 vs. 4.2).

At 9:30 p.m. ET, "The Office" (5.1/12 in 18-49, 10.3 million viewers overall) hit a series high in adults 18-49 and a regular time period high in total viewers. Versus the prior week's Thursday debut,"The Office" was up 13 percent in 18-49 and 1.6 million viewers overall, and versus NBC's season average for the slot prior to "The Office," the Jan. 12 telecast was up 11 percent in 18-49 (5.1 vs. 4.6). "The Office" won its time period in adults 18-34 and ranked #2 in 18-49. It outperformed the premiere of ABC's comedy "Crumbs" in head-to-head competition by a 42 percent margin in 18-49 (5.1 vs. 3.6). For the week, "The Office" was the #3-ranked half-hour comedy (trailing only "My Name is Earl" and "Two and a Half Men"). It ranked #15 out of a total 113 network programs this week in adults 18-49. Among adults 18-34, it was the #10 show of the week.

At 10 p.m. ET, "ER" (6.7/17 in 18-49, 15.4 million viewers overall) was #1 for its time period in adults 18-49 and all key demographics. "ER" built on its lead-in from "The Office" by 31 percent in 18-49. "ER" ranked #6 out of 113 network programs this week in adults 18-49.

On Friday, Jan. 13 at 9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC (3.0/9 in 18-49, 9.9 million viewers overall) was #1 for its time period in adults 18-49, delivering NBC's highest rating in the hour in four months (since Sept. 2). "Dateline" was up 30 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's season average for the time period.

Also on Friday, from 8-8:30 p.m. ET, "Most Outrageous Moments" (2.3/7 in 18-49, 6.9 million viewers overall) was up 21 percent in adults 18-49 versus NBC's season average for the time period prior to the series' debut (2.3 vs. 1.9). At 8:30 p.m. ET, an encore "Most Outrageous Moments" (2.6/8 in 18-49, 7.6 million viewers overall) posted a 24 percent improvement in 18-49 versus NBC's season average for the slot prior to "Moments" (2.6 vs. 2.1). And, at 10 p.m. ET, "The Book of Daniel" averaged a 2.2/6 in 18-49 and 6.9 million viewers overall

On Sunday, Jan. 14 from 9-10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (3.6/8 in 18-49, 10.8 million viewers overall) tracked down its highest 18-49 rating in more than two months (since Nov. 6) despite head-to-head competition from the special two-hour premiere of "24" on Fox and an original "Desperate Housewives" on ABC. At 10 p.m. ET, "Crossing Jordan" (3.6/8 in 18-49, 10.8 million viewers overall) matched its highest 18-49 rating since Oct. 30, ranking #2 in 18-49 and most key demos.