'NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL' WEEK 3 UP 15% FROM 2005

Easy Win for Broncos Draws 15.6 Million Viewers, Earns 10.0 Rating

NEW YORK � Sept. 25, 2006 � NBC's "Sunday Night Football" Broncos-Patriots matchup averaged 15.6 million viewers, up 15 percent from last year's third "Monday Night Football" game (13.6 million, Kansas City-Denver on 9/26/05), according to fast national data from Nielsen Media Research. The game scored a 10.0 household rating/16 share, up 14 percent from, and more than a rating point above, the third "MNF" game last season (8.8/14), despite stiff competition from the other networks including the season premieres of "Desperate Housewives" and "Without a Trace." Every "NBC Sunday Night Football" game has outrated the respective ABC "MNF" games from 2005 by at least eight percent.

Last night's game drew 39 million total, unduplicated viewers, 15 percent better than the Week Three game on ABC "MNF" last year (34 million).

After four games, "NBC Sunday Night Football" is averaging a 12.2/20, 10 percent higher than ABC "MNF" after four games in 2005 (11.1/19, averages include Thursday night season openers).

"NBC Sunday Night Football" (8:15-11:11 p.m. ET) rated 35 percent higher than NBC's 8:30-11 p.m. household rating for the same night last year, featuring the season premieres of "The West Wing," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and "Crossing Jordan" (7.4), 90 percent higher in Adults 18-49 (6.1 vs. 3.2) and 38 percent higher in viewers (11.3 million).

"NBC Sunday Night Football" Week Two Top Ten Metered Markets
1. Denver: 39/55
2. Boston: 24.2/36
3. Raleigh-Durham: 22.4/ 34
4. San Francisco: 15.0/25
5. Las Vegas: 14.9/23
6. Norfolk: 14.7/21
t7. Oklahoma City: 12.8/17
t7. Orlando: 12.8/17
9. Pittsburgh: 12.6/19
10. Tulsa: 12.4/18