NBC RATINGS RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF FEB. 26-MARCH 4

NBC RATINGS RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF FEB. 26-MARCH 4

THE #1 NEW SCRIPTED SERIES OF THE SEASON, 'HEROES,' IS THE #1 PROGRAM ON TELEVISION MONDAY IN 18-49

'DEAL OR NO DEAL,' 'LAW & ORDER: SVU' AND '1 VS 100' WIN THEIR SLOTS IN 18-49 AND OTHER KEY MEASURES

IN REGULAR-PROGRAM AVERAGES, NBC IS UP 6 PERCENT THIS SEASON VERSUS LAST, THE ONLY MAJOR NETWORK SHOWING GROWTH IN REGULAR-PROGRAM AVERAGES

BURBANK, Calif. � March 6, 2007 � NBC averaged a 2.8 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49 and 8.2 million viewers overall for the week of February 26-March 4, according to "live plus same day" in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

This week, "Heroes" was the top-ranked freshman scripted series in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, as well as in adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and total viewers. Among scripted series programs in this week's ranking, "Heroes" trailed only "Desperate Housewives" among adults 18-49. In adults 18-34, "Heroes was the #1 scripted series of the week, trailing only editions of "American Idol" and "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader" among all programs. Season-to-date, "Heroes" is the #1 new scripted series of the 2006-07 television season among adults 18-49, adults 25-54, adults 18-34 and total viewers.

Averages for the week of February 26-March 4 in adults 18-49 were Fox (6.2/16), CBS (3.3/9), ABC (3.0/8), NBC (2.8/7), Univision (1.6/4), CW (1.4/4) and Telemundo (0.4/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were Fox (15.3 million), CBS (11.8 million), NBC (8.2 million), ABC (8.1 million), Univision (3.8 million), CW (3.4 million) and Telemundo (0.8 million).

In regular program averages through the first 24 weeks of the 2006-07 season, NBC's primetime lineup is running within a 0.4 of a point of first place in adults 18-49, versus a deficit a year ago of 0.8. NBC is up 6 percent versus last year in regular-program adult 18-49 averages (3.5 vs. 3.3), the only network showing growth in regular program averages.

NBC highlights for the week of February 26-March 4:

* On Monday, "Heroes" hit its highest 18-49 rating since its mid-season return on January 22. "Heroes" was the highest-rated show on television Monday night in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49 and was up 63 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's non-sports average in this time period last season.

* Also on Monday, "Deal or No Deal" won its hour in adults 18-49, total viewers and all key measures, with a 23 percent margin over its nearest competitor in 18-49 and an advantage of more than 7.8 million total viewers.

* Additionally on Monday, the premiere of "The Black Donnellys" was up 14 percent in 18-49 and 20 percent in total viewers versus the prior four-week average for the time period, winning the hour among men 18-34.

* On Tuesday, "Law & Order: SVU" won its time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and all other key measures. In 18-49, "SVU" beat its nearest competitor by a 35 percent margin.

* On Thursday, rebroadcasts of both "My Name is Earl" and "The Office" matched their solid season-to-date averages for encores despite extraordinary competition from a Thursday edition of "American Idol." .

* Also on Thursday, freshman comedy "30 Rock" was up 13 percent in 18-49 and 25 percent in overall total viewers versus the prior Thursday, posting its best results by both measures in four weeks.

* On Friday, "1 vs 100" won its time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures, matching its highest 18-49 rating in four months.

* On Sunday, the debut of the new regular Sunday edition of "Deal or No Deal" in the 9 p.m. hour delivered NBC's largest non-sports viewership in the time period since the Emmy Awards last August and the highest 18-49 rating in the slot in four weeks. Also on Sunday, "The Apprentice" moved into its new 10 p.m. time period with its highest results since January 28.

Ratings reflect "live plus same day" data unless otherwise noted. Season-to-date figures are averages of "live plus seven day" data except for the two most recent weeks, which are "live plus same day."

Additional NBC highlights for the week of February 26-March 4:

On Monday, Feb. 26, at 8 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (4.9 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49, 17.3 million viewers overall) won the time period in 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. "Deal" posted a 23 percent margin of victory over its nearest competitor in 18-49 (4.9 vs. a 4.0 for Fox's "Prison Break"). In total viewers, "Deal" prevailed by more than 7.8 million viewers (17.3 million vs. 9.4 million for "Prison Break"). "Deal" was up by 32 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's non-sports average in this time period last season (4.9 vs. 3.7).

Monday from 9-10:03 p.m. ET, "Heroes" (6.5/15 in 18-49, 14.4 million viewers overall) was a decisive #1 in this tough time period in adults 18-49, with a 25 percent winning margin over CBS' comedies (6.5 vs. 5.1) and a 35 percent margin over Fox's "24" (6.5 vs. 4.8). Among adults 18-34, the "Heroes" margin over second-place "24" widens to 72 percent (6.7 for "Heroes" vs. a 3.9 for "24") and versus the CBS comedies it increases to 131 percent (6.7 vs. a 2.9 for CBS in the hour).

This was the highest-rated "Heroes" in adults 18-49 since January 22. "Heroes" was the #1 telecast on Monday night in 18-49 on an evening that included original telecasts of "24," "CSI" Miami," "Prison Break," "24," "Two and a Half Men," and "Rules of Engagement." "Heroes" was up 63 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's non-sports average in this time period last season (6.5 vs. 4.0).

Monday from 10:03-11 p.m. ET, the premiere of "The Black Donnellys" averaged a 3.2/6 in 18-49 and 7.9 million viewers overall. This was up 14 percent in adults 18-49 and up 20 percent in total viewers versus NBC's prior four-week average for the Monday 10-11 p.m. time period. "Donnellys" ranked #1 in the hour among men 18-34 (3.4/10).

On Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (2.2/6 in 18-49 and 6.1 million viewers overall) was up 10 percent in 18-49 versus last week's performance, also head-to-head against "American Idol." At 9 p.m., "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2.8/7 in 18-49, 9.3 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 27 percent in 18-49 and by 52 percent in total viewers despite competition from an extra half-hour of "Idol." "Criminal Intent" ranked #2 to "Idol" in the hour in the key adult female demographics of women 18-34 and women 18-49 and in adults 18-34 (tied).

Tuesday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.2/11 in 18-49, 11.7 million viewers overall) won the hour in adults 18-49 and all key demographic measures as well as in total viewers. In 18-49, "SVU" generated a 35 percent winning margin over its nearest competitor (4.2 vs. a 3.1 for CBS' "Criminal Minds" special encore).

On Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. ET, "Friday Night Lights" averaged a 1.8/5 in 18-49 and 5.1 million viewers overall versus "American Idol." At 9 p.m., "Deal or No Deal" (2.5/6 in 18-49 and 9.2 million viewers overall) was up 19 percent in 18-49 and 16 percent in overall viewers compared to the prior Wednesday. At 10 p.m., "Medium" delivered a 2.5/6 in 18-49 and 7.6 million viewers overall.

On Thursday, March 1 at 8 p.m. ET, an encore "My Name is Earl" (3.0/8 in 18-49, 7.3 million viewers overall) matched its season average for rebroadcasts in this time period despite extraordinary competition from a Thursday edition of "American Idol."

Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "The Office" (3.0/8 in 18-49, 6.5 million viewers overall) matched its season average for encore telecasts in this time period despite "Idol" competition. "The Office" retained 100 percent of its 18-49 lead-in from "Earl."

Thursday from 9-9:32 p.m. ET, "Scrubs" (3.3/8 in 18-49, 6.8 million viewers overall) sewed up its highest 18-49 rating and overall viewership since February 1. "Scrubs" built on its 18-49 lead-in by 10 percent.

From 9:32-10:03 p.m., "30 Rock" (2.7/7 in 18-49, 5.7 million viewers overall) was up 13 percent in 18-49 and 25 percent in overall viewers versus the prior Thursday, posting its highest results in both measures in four weeks.

Thursday from 10:03-11 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of Monday's premiere episode of "The Black Donnellys" delivered a 2.3/6 in 18-49 and 5.2 million viewers overall.

On Friday, March 2 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "1 vs 100" (2.8/9 in 18-49, 9.7 million viewers overall) was #1 in adults 18-49 and total viewers. "1 vs 100" was up 17 percent in 18-49 and 8 percent in overall viewers versus the prior Friday, matching its highest 18-49 rating in four months (since November 3). At 9 p.m. ET, "Las Vegas" (2.5/8 in 18-49, 8.0 million viewers overall) ranked #1 (tied) in adults 18-49. At 10 p.m., an encore "Law & Order" averaged a 1.9/6 in 18-49 and 7.1 million viewers overall.

On Saturday, March 3 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" averaged a 1.3/4 in 18-49 and 5.1 million viewers overall. At 9 p.m., an encore telecast of "Law & Order: SVU" delivered a 1.4/4 in 18-49 and 5.6 million viewers overall. At 10 p.m., an encore "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2.0/6 in 18-49, 7.3 million viewers overall) won the time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. "Criminal Intent" matched NBC's highest non-sports 18-49 rating in this time period since November 25.

On Sunday, March 4 from 7-8 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.9/6 in 18-49, 6.1 million viewers overall) was up 58 percent in 18-49 and 22 percent in total viewers versus the prior Sunday. At 8 p.m., "Grease: You're the One That I Want" (1.9/5 in 18-49, 6.2 million viewers overall) was up 36 percent in the demo and 37 percent in overall viewers versus the prior week.

At 9 p.m., the debut of the new Sunday edition of "Deal or No Deal" (3.3/7 in 18-49, 11.0 million viewers overall) built on its 18-49 lead-in by 83 percent to deliver NBC's highest demo rating in the time period in four weeks. In total viewers, this was NBC's best non-sports performance in the hour since the Emmy Awards telecast on August 27, 2006. At 10 p.m., "The Apprentice" (2.7/7 in 18-49, 6.5 million viewers overall) moved into its new time period with that series' strongest results since January 28. "The Apprentice" was up 50 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's performance in this time period on the same night last year (2.7/7 vs. 1.8/4).