'HEROES' IS THE #1 NEW SHOW OF THE WEEK AND SEASON IN ADULTS 18-49

'HEROES' IS THE #1 NEW SHOW OF THE WEEK AND SEASON IN ADULTS 18-49

NBC IS UP 15 PERCENT IN 18-49 THROUGH THE FIRST THREE WEEKS OF THE 2006-07 SEASON WHILE THE OTHER MAJOR NETWORKS ARE FLAT OR DOWN

'NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL,' 'ER' AND 'HEROES' GENERATE TOP-10 RATINGS

BURBANK, Calif. � October 10, 2006 � "Heroes" emerged as the #1 new series on television in adults 18-49 and other key adult demos, and, for the third consecutive week, NBC was the most-improved network in primetime versus the same week last year, averaging a 3.6 rating and 10 share in 18-49 and 9.9 million viewers overall for the week of October 2-8, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Versus the third week of last season, NBC this week was up 6 percent in adults 18-49 (3.6 vs. 3.4), up 2 percent in adults 25-54 (4.2 vs. 4.1) and up 3 percent in total viewers (9.9 million vs. 9.7 million). NBC was the only network to exhibit year-to-year growth this week in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54.

For the first three weeks of the 2006-07 television season, NBC is the only network showing year-to-year gains in adults 18-49, where the network is up 15 percent versus the same period last year (3.8 rating versus 3.3). In that same comparison, CBS is flat, ABC is down 2 percent and Fox is down 7 percent. Season-to-date in total viewers, three of the four major networks are up year-to-year, with NBC reporting the biggest increases. NBC is up versus the opening two weeks of the season last year by 10 percent (10.496 million vs. 9.553 million) while CBS is up 1 percent, ABC is up 3 percent and Fox is down 2 percent.

NBC's "Heroes" was the highest-rated freshman series on television this week in the key demographic of adults 18-49, with its second episode on Monday, Oct. 2 ranking #9 among all 91 programs last week in that key demo. "Heroes" was also the top-ranked new series in adults 18-34, in which it averaged a 5.2/14 and ranked #5 for the week, and in adults 25-54, in which it averaged a 6.1/13 and ranked # 13.

Overall, NBC had three of the top 10 programs of the week among adults 18-49, with "NBC Sunday Night Football" (#5), "ER (#6) and "Heroes (#9).

The race in the key demographic of adults 18-49 was again close this week, with only four-tenths of an 18-49 rating point separating ABC, CBS and NBC. Primetime averages for the week of October 2-8 in adults 18-49 were ABC (4.0/11), CBS (3.8/10), NBC (3.6/10), Fox (2.7/8), Univision (1.5/4), CW (1.5/4) and Telemundo (0.4/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (12.5 million), ABC (11.3 million), NBC (9.9 million), Fox (7.8 million), CW (3.5 million), Univision (3.4 million) and Telemundo (0.9 million).

NBC highlights for the week of October 2-8:

* On Monday, the second episode of "Heroes" finished a decisive #1 for its time period in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and numerous other key measures. "Heroes" was up 38 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's 2005-06 non-sports season average for the time period

* On Thursday, "ER" won its time period in adults18-49, adults 25-54, adults 18-34 and total viewers, versus rival dramas that benefited from sizable lead-in advantages. To win the hour in 18-49, "ER" built on NBC's rating from the previous hour by 91 percent, while CBS' "Shark" declined by 48 percent versus its "CSI" lead-in and ABC's "Six Degrees" declined by 62 percent versus its lead-in from "Grey's Anatomy."

* Also on Thursday, "My Name is Earl" hit its highest 18-49 rating and overall total viewership of the new season, up 21 percent in 18-49 and 22 percent in viewers versus the prior week. And "The Office" retained 100 percent of the "Earl" lead-in among adults 18-49. Both "Earl" and "The Office" won their highly competitive time periods among adults and men 18-34, versus the Major League Baseball playoffs, "Ugly Betty" and "Survivor."

* On Tuesday, both "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and "Special Victims Unit" hit season-ratings in 18-49. "SVU" dominated its time period by all key measures, with an 83 percent advantage over second place in 18-49, and "Criminal Intent" matched its highest 18-49 rating in 16 months, surging dramatically from third place in its first half-hour to #1 in its second half-hour.

* On Sunday, the "NBC Sunday Night Football" telecast of the Pittsburgh Steelers versus the San Diego Chargers was up 2 percent in adults 18-49 versus the comparable "Monday Night Football" game last year and NBC's overall Sunday primetime was up 74 percent in 18-49 versus the same Sunday night last season.

* On Wednesday, "The Biggest Loser" was up 20 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's performance in the time period on the same Wednesday last year.

Ratings reflect "live plus same day" data unless otherwise noted.

Additional NBC highlights for the week of October 2-8:

On Monday, Oct. 2 at 8 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (3.7 rating, 10 share in 18-49, 13.2 million viewers overall) finished within 0.1 of a rating point of #1 in the time period in adults 18-49 and won the hour in adults 25-54, total viewers and other key measures. "Deal" was up 23 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's results in this time period on the same night last year (3.7/10 vs. 3.0/8).

Monday at 9 p.m. ET, "Heroes" (5.5/13 in 18-49, 13.0 million viewers overall) was a decisive #1 in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and other key demographics. "Heroes" was up 38 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's 2005-06 season average in the time period, excluding sports (5.5 vs. 4.0). "Heroes" built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 49 percent in 18-49 rating (5.5 vs. 3.7).

Monday at 10 p.m. ET, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" (3.4/9 in 18-49, 8.9 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, total viewers and most other key measures.

On Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. ET, the debut of "Friday Night Lights" averaged a 2.7/8 in 18-49 and 7.2 million viewers overall. "Lights" ranked #1 among men 18-34.

On Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (4.2/11 in 18-49, 12.2 million viewers overall) was up 14 percent in 18-49 versus its current season average (4.2 vs. 3.7), matching its highest 18-49 rating in 16 months (since a special Wednesday season finale on May 25, 2005). "Criminal Intent" built dramatically from half-hour to half-hour, surging by 24 percent to a 4.7/12 from a 3.8/10 and jumping from third place in 18-49 from 8-8:30 p.m. to a decisive #1 from 9:30-10 p.m.

Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: SVU" (5.3/14 in adults 18-49, 14.3 million viewers overall) hit a season-high rating in 18-49, winning its time period by all key measures. In adults 18-49, "SVU" generated an 83 percent margin of victory over second-place (5.3 vs. 2.9 for ABC's "Boston Legal" and baseball on Fox). "SVU" beat the ABC-CBS drama competition combined among women 18-34, women 18-49 and adults 18-34.

On Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 9 p.m. ET, "The Biggest Loser" (3.0/7 in 18-49, 7.2 million viewers overall) was up 20 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's performance in this time period on the same Wednesday last year (3.0 vs. a 2.5). "The Biggest Loser" built by 88 percent in 18-49 rating and by 61 percent in total viewers versus its lead-in � a 1.6/5 in 18-49 and 4.4 million viewers overall for an encore telecast of Tuesday's "Friday Night Lights" debut.

And Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET, "Kidnapped" averaged a 1.9/5 in 18-49 and 5.1 million viewers overall.

On Thursday, Oct. 5 at 8 p.m. ET, "My Name is Earl" (4.1/12 in 18-49 and 9.9 million viewers overall) hit its highest 18-49 rating and overall viewership so far this season, up 21 percent in 18-49 and 22 percent in total viewers versus last week. "Earl" ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and #1 in adults and men 18-34 in its highly competitive time period.

Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET, "The Office" (4.1/11 in 18-49, 8.9 million viewers overall) retained 100 percent of its "Earl" lead-in among adults 18-49 and ranked #1 among adults and men 18-34. It's the third week in a row and third time ever that "The Office" has retained its full lead-in from an original "Earl." From 9-10:01 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" averaged a 3.2/8 in 18-49 and 10.0 million viewers overall.

Thursday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "ER" (6.1/17 in 18-49, 14.7 million viewers overall) won the time period in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54, and total viewers versus rival dramas that benefited from sizable lead-in advantages. In 18-49, "ER" built on NBC's rating from the previous hour by 91 percent, while CBS' "Shark" declined by 48 percent versus its "CSI" lead-in (to a 3.8 from a 7.3) and ABC's "Six Degrees" declined by 62 percent versus its lead-in from "Grey's Anatomy" (to a 3.6 from a 9.4). In overall total viewers, "ER" grew by 46 percent versus its lead-in (or by more than 4.6 million viewers), while "Shark" declined by 36 percent (or more than 7.7 million viewers) and "Six Degrees" fell by 60 percent (or more than 13.6 million viewers) versus their respective lead-ins.

On Friday, Oct. 6 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (2.7/9 in 18-49, 10.7 million viewers overall) was up 69 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's performance in this slot on the same night last season (2.7/9 vs. 1.6/6). "Deal" was #2 in 18-49 and ranked #1 in total viewers.

Friday at 9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (2.8/9 in 18-49, 8.4 million viewers overall) improved on the network's performance in this hour on the same night last year by 22 percent in 18-49 (2.8/9 vs. 2.3/7). "Dateline" ranked #1 in 18-49 (tied with CBS' "Close to Home") and adults 18-34.

Friday at 10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order" (2.8/9 in 18-49, 9.6 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and #1 among adults, men and women 18-34.

On Saturday, Oct. 7 from 8-10 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" averaged a 1.8/6 in 18-49 and 6.7 million viewers overall. At 10 p.m. ET, an encore "Law & Order: SVU" averaged a 2.0/6 in 18-49 and 6.7 million viewers overall.

On Sunday, Oct. 8, the "NBC Sunday Night Football" telecast of the Pittsburgh Steelers versus the San Diego Chargers averaged a 6.4/16 in adults 18-49, 15.1 million viewers overall and a 9.6/16 household rating and share from 8:21-11:32 p.m. ET. Versus the comparable telecast of ABC's "Monday Night Football" last year on October 10 2005, "NBC Sunday Night Football" this week was up 2 percent in adults 18-49 (6.4 vs. 6.3). And versus the comparable Sunday night on NBC in 2005, this week's "NBC Sunday Night Football" game scored 27 percent higher in total viewers (15.1 million vs. 11.9 million), 25 percent higher in households (9.6 vs. 7.7) and 78 percent higher in adults 18-49 (6.4 vs. 3.6).

Through six games, "NBC Sunday Night Football" is averaging 18.0 million viewers, up 9 percent versus ABC's "MNF" average through six games in 2005. Every "NBC SNF" game has rated higher than the respective "MNF" game of one year ago in the key 18-49 demographic.

Also on Sunday, "Football Night in America 2" from 7:30-7:58 p.m. ET averaged a 1.5/4 in 18-49, 3.7 million viewers overall and a 2.6/5 in households. "Football Night in America 3" from 7:58-8:13 p.m. delivered a 3.4/10 in 18-49, 8.4 million viewers overall and a 5.4/9 in households. From 8:13-8:21 p.m., "NBC Sunday Night Football Pre Kickoff" averaged a 4.2/12 in 18-49, 10.4 million viewers overall and a 6.7/11 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 finished 0.1 of a ratings point out of first place in adults 18-49 on Sunday night. For the night, NBC averaged a 5.4/14 in 18-49, 12.9 million viewers overall and an 8.2/13 in households. Versus the same Sunday last season (October 9, 2005), NBC was up 74 percent in adults 18-49 (5.4 vs. 3.1), up 24 percent in total viewers (12.9 million vs. 10.4 million) and up 21 percent in households (8.2/13 vs. 6.8/11).