NBC PRIMETIME RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF FEB. 20-26

BURBANK, Calif. -- February 28, 2006 -- NBC averaged a 5.7 rating, 14 share in adults 18-49 and 19.5 million viewers for the week of Feb. 20-26, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Primetime averages for the week of Feb. 20-26 in adults 18-49 were Fox (6.6/17), NBC (5.7/14), ABC (4.0/10), CBS (3.0/8), Univision (1.9/5), WB (1.2/3), UPN (1.0/2) and Telemundo (0.5/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were NBC (19.5 million), Fox (15.6 million), ABC (11.3 million), CBS (10.0 million), Univision (4.4 million), WB (2.8 million), UPN (2.6 million) and Telemundo (1.1 million).

NBC highlights for the week of Feb. 20-26:

* An estimated 184 million total viewers, two-thirds of all Americans, watched all or part of the Torino Winter Olympics on the networks of NBC Universal through Sunday, Feb. 26, 2 percent behind the 2002 Salt Lake City Games (187 million)

* This was NBC's highest-scoring week in total viewers since the week of Aug. 23-30, 2004 (the 2004 Athens Summer Games). This was NBC's top in-season week in total viewers since the week of Feb. 18-24, 2002 (the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games).

* NBC's Thursday, Feb. 23 coverage of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games averaged a 15.8/24 in households, an 8.1/20 in adults 18-49 and an average 25.7 million viewers for its full duration. It generated the highest Thursday primetime total viewership for any network this season and matched NBC's highest 18-49 average for any night of the week since Dec. 16, 2004.

* Despite fierce primetime competition, Thursday was the highest-rated and most-watched night of the 2006 Winter Olympics by all key measures. NBC was #1 in primetime Thursday night in total viewers, households and adults 18-49.

* On Monday, NBC's primetime Olympics coverage won every half-hour in primetime in households, total viewers and adults 18-49, delivering the network's top-rated Monday by all key measures since Aug. 23, 2004 (Athens Olympics).

* On Tuesday, NBC's primetime Olympics telecast scored the network's highest Tuesday average total viewership (24.6 million) since Aug. 24, 2004 (Athens Olympics), more than doubling NBC's Tuesday primetime season viewership average. An estimated 56 million viewers watched all or part of Tuesday's primetime Olympics telecast, 10 percent above the corresponding night of the 1998 Nagano Games (51 million).

* On Wednesday, NBC's primetime Olympics coverage was up 79 percent in total viewers and 62 percent in adult 18-49 rating versus the network's Wednesday pre-Olympic season averages.

* On Friday, NBC's primetime coverage of the Winter Olympics won the night by all key measures, with a 76 percent advantage over second place in total viewers and a 52 percent margin in adults 18-49. Friday's primetime Olympics coverage more than doubled NBC's pre-Olympics season average viewership for Friday night.

* On Saturday, NBC's primetime Olympics coverage dominated the night, more than doubling its nearest competitor in total viewers and prevailing in adults 18-49 by a 79 percent margin of victory.

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.

Non-sports averages for the 2005-06 television season among adults 18-49 are: CBS (a 3.8 rating), ABC (3.7), Fox (3.5), NBC (3.1), WB (1.4), UPN (1.2).

Additional NBC highlights for the week of Feb. 20-26:

On Monday, Feb. 20, NBC's primetime coverage of the 2006 Winter Games from 8-11 p.m., featuring Ice Dancing and Men's Skiing, averaged a 13.5 household rating and 21 household share, a 6.8/16 in adults 18-49 and 22.5 million average total viewers. This was NBC's highest-rated Monday night by all key measures since Aug. 23, 2004 (Athens Olympics).

NBC won Monday primetime by all key measures, leading every half-hour in households, total viewers and adults 18-49. In average total viewers, NBC (22.5 million) more than doubled the viewership of ABC (8.9 million) and CBS (10.9 million) and outdrew Fox (13.9 million) by 62 percent. NBC's Monday Olympics coverage more than doubled the network's season-to-date average for Monday night in total viewers (22.5 million vs. 10.7 million).

For its full duration from 8-11:39 p.m., NBC's Monday Olympics coverage averaged a 13.6/21 household rating/share, a 6.8/17 in adults 18-49 and 22.5 million average total viewers.

On Tuesday, Feb. 21, NBC's primetime coverage of the 2006 Winter Games, featuring Women's Skating (Short Program) and Men's Speed Skating from 8-11 p.m., averaged a 15.1/22 in households, a 7.2/17 in adults 18-49 and 24.6 million average total viewers. This more than doubled NBC's Tuesday primetime season average in total viewers (24.6 million vs. 10.7 million) and was up 67 percent in adults 18-49 versus the Tuesday pre-Olympics season average (7.2 vs. 4.3). These were the network's highest Tuesday primetime results in adults 18-49 and total viewers since Aug. 24, 2004 (Athens Olympics).

For its full duration from 8-11:30 p.m., NBC's Tuesday Olympics coverage averaged a 15.5/23 household rating/share, a 7.5/18 in adults 18-49 and 25.1 million average total viewers.

On Wednesday, Feb. 22, NBC's primetime coverage of the 2006 Winter Games, featuring Women's Skiing and Speed Skating from 8:30-11 p.m., averaged a 10.0/15 in households, a 4.7/11 in adults 18-49 and 16.1 million average total viewers. This was up 79 percent in total viewers (16.1 million vs. 9.0 million) and up 62 percent in adult 18-49 rating (4.7 vs. 2.9) versus NBC's Wednesday pre-Olympics season average.

For its full duration from 8:30-11:12 p.m., NBC's Wednesday Olympics coverage averaged a 10.0/15 household rating/share, a 4.8/12 in adults 18-49 and 16.0 million average total viewers.

On Thursday, Feb. 23, NBC's primetime coverage of the 2006 Winter Games, featuring Women's Figure Skating (Long Program), averaged a 15.0/22 in households, a 7.5/18 in adults 18-49 and 24.5 million total viewers on average from 8-11 p.m. This was the highest-rated Thursday night for any network this season in total viewers and households. It also matched NBC's highest 18-49 rating for any night of the week since Dec. 16, 2004.

NBC won the Thursday primetime competition in households, total viewers and adults 18-49.

For its full duration from 8-11:50 p.m., NBC's Thursday Olympics coverage averaged a 15.8/24 in households, an 8.1/20 in adults 18-49 and 25.7 million average total viewers. An estimated 58 million viewers watched all or part of the telecast, making this the highest-rated and most-watched single night of the 2006 Winter Olympics in 18-49, total viewers and households.

On Friday, Feb. 24, NBC's primetime coverage of the 2006 Winter Games, spotlighting Women's Skiing and Men's Speed Skating, from 8:30-11 p.m., averaged a 9.8/16 in households, a 4.4/13 in adults 18-49 and 16.1 million average total viewers. NBC won the night by all key measures, with a total viewer margin over second place of nearly 7 million viewers (16.1 million vs. ABC's 9.2 million) and a 52 percent margin in 18-49 (4.4 vs. ABC's second-place 2.9).

NBC's Friday Olympics coverage more than doubled the network's pre-Olympics average viewership for Friday night (16.1 million vs. 7.7 million) and was up 91 percent versus the season average in 18-49 (4.4 vs. 2.3).

For its full duration from 8:30-11:23 p.m., NBC's Friday Olympics coverage averaged a 9.7/17 in households, a 4.4/13 in adults 18-49 and 15.9 million average total viewers.

On Saturday, Feb. 25, NBC's primetime coverage of the 2006 Winter Games, featuring Men's Short-Track Speedskating, from 8:30-11 p.m., averaged a 9.6/17 in households, a 5.0/15 in adults 18-49 and 16.3 million total viewers. NBC dominated the night, more than doubling second-place CBS in total viewers (16.3 million vs. 6.9 million) and winning in 18-49 by a 79 percent margin (5.0 vs. 2.8 for second-place Fox). NBC topped its pre-Olympics Saturday season average by 178 percent in adults 18-49 (5.0 vs. 1.8).

For its full duration from 8:30-11:17 p.m., Saturday Olympics coverage averaged a 9.7/17 in households, 5.1/15 in 18-49 and 16.5 million total viewers.

On Sunday, Feb. 26, NBC's primetime coverage of the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony from 8-11 p.m. averaged an 8.9/13 in households, a 3.8/9 in adults 18-49 and an average 14.8 million total viewers. In adults 18-49, this topped NBC's pre-Olympics Sunday season average by 46 percent (3.8 vs. 2.6).