NBC PRIMETIME RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 6-12

BURBANK, Calif. -- March 14, 2006 -- NBC averaged a 2.8 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49 and 8.3 million viewers for the week of March 6-12, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Primetime averages for the week of March 6-12 in adults 18-49 were Fox (5.6/15), CBS (3.8/10), ABC (3.4/9), NBC (2.8/7), Univision (1.8/5), UPN (1.3/3), WB (1.0/3) and Telemundo (0.4/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were Fox (13.5 million), CBS (12.6 million), ABC (9.1 million), NBC (8.3 million), Univision (3.9 million), UPN (3.2 million), WB (2.4 million) and Telemundo (1.0 million). Note that such key NBC series as "Law & Order: SVU," "Will & Grace," "My Name is Earl," "The Office" and "ER" were in rebroadcast this week.

NBC highlights for the week of March 6-12:

* On Monday, "Deal or No Deal" matched its series high rating in adults 18-49 and set a new record in total viewers. It delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the time period with regular programming since November 2004 and the highest total viewership in the slot with regular programming in nearly two years. "Deal or No Deal" ranked #1 in adults 18-34, adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers.

* "Deal or No Deal" on Monday ranked #1 for its time period in adults 18-49, 18-34, 25-54, total viewers and other key measures against CBS' comedies, Fox's "24" and ABC's "Wife Swap."

* NBC won its fifth Friday in a row (including one tie) in adults 18-49 and its eighth Friday of the season, paced by "Deal or No Deal" and "Las Vegas," which won their respective slots in adults 18-49 and other key measures.

* On Thursday, encore telecasts of "My Name is Earl" and "The Office" ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and other key measures versus first-run competition on Fox and ABC.

* On Sunday, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" matched its highest 18-49 rating in four months and doubling its 18-49 lead-in despite intense competition that included an original "Desperate Housewives" on ABC and the season premiere of "The Sopranos" on HBO. In very heavy traffic, "Criminal Intent" delivered a 3.6 in adults 18-49 and 12.3 million total viewers.

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: ABC (a 3.8 rating), CBS (3.8), Fox (3.7), NBC (3.1), WB (1.4), and UPN (1.2).

Additional NBC highlights for the week of March 6-12:

On Monday, March 6 at 8 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (4.9 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49, 14.7 million viewers overall) matched its highest 18-49 rating to-date and set a new series record in total viewers. This was NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the hour with regular programming since Nov. 8, 2004 and the highest total viewership in the slot with regular programming since March 22, 2004. Versus the prior week's Monday debut, "Deal or No Deal" was up 9 percent in both adults 18-49 rating (to a 4.9 from a 4.5) and total viewers (to 14.7 million from 13.4 million)

"Deal" won the competitive hour in adults 18-49, 18-34, 25-54, total viewers and other key measures against CBS' comedies, Fox's "24" and ABC's "Wife Swap." "Deal" grew half-hour to half-hour by 18 percent in 18-49 (to a 5.3/13 from a 4.5/12).

At 9 p.m. ET, "The Apprentice 5" (4.0/9 in 18-49, 9.8 million viewers overall) was up 3 percent in 18-49 versus the previous week and up 5 percent versus NBC's pre-"Apprentice" non-sports average for the time period this season. From its first half-hour to its second, "Apprentice" built by 13 percent in 18-49 (to a 4.3/10 from a 3.8/9). At 10 p.m. ET, "Medium" (4.1/11 in 18-49, 10.7 million viewers overall) was up 5 percent versus the prior week and ranked #2 in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.

On Tuesday, March 7 at 9 p.m. ET, "Scrubs" (2.8/7 in 18-49, 5.7 million viewers overall) finished #2 in this highly competitive time period among adults 18-34. At 9:30 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Scrubs (2.8/7 in 18-49, 5.7 million viewers overall) retained 100 percent of its lead-in. At 10 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "Law & Order: SVU" (3.4/9 in 18-49, 10.3 million viewers overall) was #1 in adults 18-34, women 18-34 and women 18-49 versus first-run competition from CBS' "Amazing Race" and ABC's "Boston Legal." The "SVU" encore tied the first-run "Boston Legal" in adults 18-49, finishing within one share of first place.

On Wednesday, March 8 at 10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order" (3.7/10 in 18-49, 11.8 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in its time period in most key measures, including adults 18-49 and total viewers. "Law & Order" built on its lead-in from the previous hour's encore telecast by 61 percent in 18-49. The "Law & Order" rebroadcast at 9 p.m. averaged a 2.3/6 in 18-49 and 7.1 million viewers overall, having built on its lead-in by 53 percent in 18-49. From 8-9 p.m. "The Biggest Loser: Special Edition" averaged a 1.5/4 in 18-49 and 4.6 million viewers overall.

On Thursday, March 9 at 9 p.m. ET, an encore "My Name is Earl" (4.0/10 in 18-49, 8.6 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers. "Earl" in rebroadcast prevailed over an original episode of "The O.C." on Fox (which averaged a 3.9 in 18-49 and 8.5 million viewers in that half-hour) despite a staggering lead-in advantage for the Fox drama in 18-49 (an 11.7 for Fox vs. a 2.2 for NBC from 8:30-9 p.m.) and in total viewers (28.7 million vs. 5.4 million). "Earl" built on its lead-in by 82 percent in 18-49 and by 60 percent in total viewers. "My Name is Earl" is the season's #1 half-hour comedy and #1 new series in 18-49.

At 9:30 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "The Office" (3.5/9 in 18-49, 6.8 million viewers overall) was #2 in adults 18-49, beating first-run competition from Fox's "The O.C." and ABC's movie "Bringing the House Down." At 10 p.m. ET, an encore "ER" averaged a 3.0/8 in 18-49 and 7.4 million viewers overall.

On Friday, March 10 at 8 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (3.4/11 in 18-49, 10.3 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and other key measures. "Deal" was up 55 percent versus NBC's pre-"Deal" season average for the hour (3.4 vs. 2.2). From half-hour to half-hour, "Deal" increased by 27 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 3.8/12 from a 3.0/10).

At 9 p.m. ET, "Las Vegas" (3.0/9 in 18-49, 9.2 million viewers overall) won the hour in 18-49 and other key demographics. "Las Vegas" was up 15 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's pre-"Vegas" non-sports season average for the hour (3.0 vs. 2.6). At 10 p.m. ET, "Conviction" averaged a 2.5/7 in 18-49 and 7.7 million viewers overall. "Conviction" ranked #1 in adults 18-34 (tied) and won the hour outright among men 18-34.

On Saturday, March 11 at 8 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.8/6 in 18-49, 7.0 million viewers overall) reported the network's highest non-Olympic 18-49 rating in the time period since Oct. 15. "Dateline" was #2 for the time period in 18-49 and #1 in total viewers. At 9 p.m. ET, an encore "Law & Order: SVU" averaged a 1.7/5 in 18-49 and 6.1 million viewers overall, ranking #2 (tied) in adults 18-49 and #1 in women 25-54. At 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Conviction" delivered a 1.8/6 in 18-49 and 5.6 million viewers overall, finishing within 1 share of the time period lead in 18-49 and other key demographics.

On Sunday, March 12 at 9 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (3.6/8 in 18-49, 12.3 million viewers overall) doubled its 18-49 lead-in to vault into second place among the broadcast networks for the hour. "Criminal Intent" matched its highest 18-49 rating since Nov. 6. At 10 p.m. ET, "Crossing Jordan" (3.2/7 in 18-49, 10.5 million viewers overall) ranked #2 among broadcast networks in 18-49 and virtually all key demographics.