'NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL' IS #1 IN 18-49 FOR THE WEEK OF SEPT. 11-17

'NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL' IS #1 IN 18-49 FOR THE WEEK OF SEPT. 11-17

BURBANK, Calif. � September 19, 2006 � Paced by "NBC Sunday Night Football," which was the #1 program of the week in adults 18-49 and other key measures, NBC averaged a 2.8 rating and 8 share in 18-49 and 7.9 million viewers overall for the week of September 11-17, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

The "NBC Sunday Night Football" telecast of the Dallas Cowboys versus the Washington Redskins ranked #1 (out of 110 programs) this week, sweeping the key adult demographic rankings of adults 18-49 (7.4/19), adults 25-54 (8.2/19) and adults 18-34 (6.5/19). In overall total viewers, "NBC Sunday Night Football" ranked #2 (18.4 million).

Primetime averages for the week of September 11-17 in adults 18-49 were CBS (3.1/9), ABC (3.0/9), NBC and Fox (2.8/8), Univision (1.5/4), WB (0.6/2), Telemundo (0.4/1) and UPN (0.3/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were ABC (9.4 million), CBS (9.2 million), NBC (7.9 million), Fox (7.2 million), Univision (3.5 million), WB (1.6 million), Telemundo (1.0 million) and UPN (0.9 million). Versus the same week last year, NBC is up 27 percent in 18-49 and 14 percent in total viewers.

NBC highlights for the week of September 11-17:

* This week's "NBC Sunday Night Football" was up 14 percent in adults 18-49, up 14 percent in total viewers and up 10 percent in households versus last year's comparable game on ABC's "Monday Night Football" on September 19, 2005. After three games, "NBC Sunday Night Football" is running 9 percent ahead of "MNF's" year-ago household average after three telecasts.

* NBC dominated Sunday night, winning in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. NBC's Sunday night was up 132 percent in adult 18-49 rating and 68 percent in overall total viewers versus the network's Sunday night average for the 2005-06 regular season.

* On Wednesday, a special two-hour "Dateline NBC" grew by 83 percent in 18-49 rating from its first half-hour to its last. In its final hour from 9-10 p.m. ET, "Dateline" was #1 in adults 18-49, total viewers and virtually all key measures, delivering NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the hour in nine weeks.

* On Thursday, an encore "My Name is Earl" scored the show's highest 18-49 rating since June 8. Also on Thursday, a rebroadcast of "The Office" posted that comedy's highest 18-49 rating since June 1, up 28 percent in 18-49 rating versus its August average for encore telecasts.

Excluding sports, final 18-49 averages for the 2005-06 broadcast year are Fox (a 3.5 rating), CBS (3.3), ABC (3.1), NBC (2.8), WB (1.1) and UPN (1.0).

Ratings reflect "live plus same day" data unless otherwise noted. Season-to-date figures are averages of live only results through December 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 September 11-17:

On Monday, September 11 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" averaged a 2.1 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49 and 6.6 million viewers overall. Following the President's address, "Dateline NBC" from 9:21-10 p.m. ET averaged a 1.6/4 in 18-49 and 5.0 million viewers overall. An encore "Medium" from 10-11 p.m. delivered a 1.6/4 in 18-49 and 4.8 million viewers overall. Note: President Bush's address from 9-9:20 p.m. ET was sustaining and does not figure in the nightly or weekly averages.

On Tuesday, September 12 at 10 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.0/8 in 18-49, 8.9 million viewers overall) built by 50 percent in 18-49 rating versus its lead-in � a 2.0/5 in 18-49 and 6.6 million viewers overall for an encore "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" from 9-10 p.m. "Criminal Intent" itself had built by 11 percent in 18-49 versus its lead-in, a 1.8/5 in 18-49 and 4.5 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. for "Fear Factor."

On Wednesday, September 13 from 8-10 p.m. ET, a special two-hour "Dateline NBC" averaged a 3.3/9 in 18-49 and 9.0 million viewers overall. "Dateline" grew dramatically from its first half-hour to its last, increasing by 83 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 4.2/11 from a 2.3/7) and by nearly 4.5 million viewers overall (to 11.3 million from 6.8 million). In its final hour from 9-10 p.m. ET, "Dateline" ranked #1 in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, total viewers and virtually all key ratings measures. "Dateline" delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the Wednesday 9-10 p.m. time period in nine weeks (since July 12).

And Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET, an encore "Law & Order" (2.7/8 in 18-49, 8.9 million viewers overall) finished 0.1 of a rating point out of first place in adults 18-49 and ranked #1 in adults 18-34.

On Thursday, September 14 from 8:36-9:18 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of the season finale of "My Name is Earl" (2.4/7 in 18-49, 5.7 million viewers overall) posted that series' highest 18-49 rating since June 8. "My Name is Earl" built by 33 percent on its 18-49 lead-in � a 1.8/6 in 18-49 and 4.8 million viewers overall for an encore telecast of the first episode of "Earl" from 8-8:36 p.m.

On Thursday, from 9:18-9:59 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "The Office" (2.3/6 in 18-49, 4.9 million viewers overall) scored its highest 18-49 rating since June 1. "The Office" was up 28 percent in 18-49 versus its August average for encore telecasts (2.3 vs. 1.8). From 9:59-11 p.m., an encore "ER" averaged a 2.0/6 in 18-49 and 5.2 million viewers overall.

On Friday, September 15 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.5/6 in 18-49, 6.2 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in men 18-34, men 18-49 and men 25-54.

Friday at 10 p.m. ET, an encore "Law & Order" (1.7/5 in 18-49, 6.5 million viewers overall) built by 31 percent in 18-49 rating on its lead-in � a 1.3/4 in 18-49 and 4.5 million viewers overall for a rebroadcast of "Las Vegas" from 9-10 p.m.

On Saturday, September 16 from 8:30-11 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of the 1999 feature film "Runaway Bride," starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, averaged a 1.7/6 in 18-49 and 5.2 million viewers overall, giving NBC its highest 18-49 rating in the time period since May 13. From 8-8:30 p.m., an encore "Most Outrageous Moments" (1.4/5 in 18-49, 4.5 million viewers overall) also generated NBC's highest 18-49 results in the time slot since May 13.

On Sunday, September 17, the "NBC Sunday Night Football" telecast of the Dallas Cowboys versus the Washington Redskins averaged a 7.4/19 in adults 18-49, 18.4 million viewers overall and an 11.9/19 household rating and share from 8:21-11:17 p.m. ET.

Versus the comparable telecast of ABC's "Monday Night Football" last year on September 19, 2005, "NBC Sunday Night Football" this week was up 14 percent in adults 18-49 (7.4 vs. 6.5), 14 percent in total viewers (18.4 million vs. 16.1 million) and 10 percent in households (11.9 vs. 10.8).

After three games, "NBC Sunday Night Football" is averaging a 13.0 household rating, 9 percent higher than "MNF" after three games in 2005 (11.9, averages include Thursday night season openers).

Also on Sunday, "Football Night in America 2" from 7:30-7:56 p.m. ET averaged a 2.8/9 in 18-49, 6.9 million viewers overall and a 4.7 rating, 8 share in households. "Football Night in America 3" from 7:56-8:13 p.m. delivered a 3.9/12 in 18-49, 9.9 million viewers overall and a 6.5/11 in households. From 8:13-8:21 p.m., "NBC Sunday Night Football Pre Kickoff" averaged a 4.6/13 in 18-49, 11.9 million viewers overall and a 7.8/13 in households. Note: "Football Night in America" from 7-7:30 p.m. ET was sustaining programming and does not figure in the nightly or weekly primetime averages.

NBC won Sunday night in adults 18-49, total viewers and all other key measures. For the night, NBC averaged a 6.5 rating in 18-49, a 132 percent increase on the network's Sunday-night 18-49 average for the 2005-06 regular season (6.5 vs. 2.8). In total viewers, the increase is 68 percent (16.3 million versus 9.7 million for the 2005-06 season).