'HEROES,' THE #1 NEW SHOW OF THE WEEK AND THE SEASON, SOARS TO NEW RATINGS HIGHS

'HEROES' IS THE #1 SHOW ON TELEVISION FOR THE WEEK IN ADULTS 18-34 AND #3 ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM IN ADULTS 18-49

NBC IS UP 12 PERCENT IN 18-49 THROUGH THE FIRST SIX WEEKS OF THE 2006-07 SEASON, THE ONLY NETWORK SHOWING GROWTH IN THE KEY DEMO

BURBANK, Calif. � October 31, 2006 � "Heroes" has solidified its status as the #1 new series of the season, hitting new series high ratings, as NBC averaged a 3.5 rating and 10 share in 18-49 and 9.7 million viewers overall for the week of October 23-29, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

In the key demographic of adults 18-49, 'Heroes" ranked #5 among 105 primetime programs last week. Among all entertainment programs, only "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost" posted a higher 18-49 rating. "Heroes" also outperformed every primetime World Series telecast last week among adults 18-49

Among adults 18-34, "Heroes" achieved a new milestone, finishing the week as the #1 show on television in that demographic, with a 6.6 rating, 17 share. "Heroes" was also the top-ranked new series this week among adults 25-54 (7.0/15) and total viewers (14.4 million).

The "NBC Sunday Night Football" telecast of the Dallas Cowboys versus the Carolina Panthers was a top performer in the weekly rankings by all key measures, finishing #3 for the week in 18-49 (tie), #4 in adults 18-34 and 25-54 and #7 in overall total viewers. "NBC Sunday Night Football" outperformed every World Series game telecast this week in each of these demographic measures as well as in overall total viewers.

For the first six 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 12 percent versus the same period last year (3.7 rating versus 3.3). In that same comparison, ABC is flat, CBS is down 3 percent and Fox is down 9 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 9 percent versus the opening six weeks of the last season (10.180 million vs. 9.380 million) while CBS is up 1 percent, ABC is up 8 percent and Fox is down 3 percent.

The race in the key demographic of adults 18-49 was once again tight this week, with only four-tenths of an 18-49 rating point separating ABC, CBS and NBC. Fox, with three primetime World Series telecasts, ranked #4 for the week in this key demographic. Primetime averages for the week of October 23-29 in adults 18-49 were ABC (3.9/11), CBS (3.6/10), NBC (3.5/10), Fox (3.2/9), CW (1.5/4), Univision (1.3/4) and Telemundo (0.3/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (12.3 million), ABC (11.4 million), Fox (10.0 million), NBC (9.7 million), CW (3.6 million), Univision (3.2 million) and Telemundo (0.8 million).

NBC highlights for the week of October 23-29:

* NBC won Sunday night in adults 18-49 and total viewers, paced by the "NBC Sunday Night Football" telecast of the Dallas Cowboys vs. the Carolina Panthers.

* On Monday, "Heroes" hit a new series high in 18-49 and scored the highest 18-49 rating for any first-year series on any network so far this season. "Heroes," which was the #1 network television show Monday in 18-49, dominated its time period in key demographics, winning the hour in 18-49 by two full ratings points over second place. "Heroes" was up 58 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's 2005-06 non-sports season average for the time period

* Also on Monday, "Deal or No Deal" dominated its time period in 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. NBC won Monday night in adults 18-49, marking the network's fifth Monday win in the demo in six weeks so far this season.

* On Wednesday, "The Biggest Loser" hit new season highs in both 18-49 and total viewers. "Biggest Loser" has increased in 18-49 rating for two weeks in a row and has increased in total viewership for the last four weeks in a row.

* Also on Wednesday, "Dateline NBC" reported NBC's highest 18-49 rating and total viewership in the time period this season. In 18-49, "Dateline" was up 32 percent versus NBC's prior season average in the slot.

* On Thursday, "Deal or No Deal" generated its highest Thursday total viewership of the season and its highest Thursday 18-49 rating in five weeks.

* On Friday, the fourth-season premiere of "Las Vegas" was the #1 non-sports choice in the hour in adults 18-49, trailing only Game Five of the World Series. "Las Vegas" won the hour outright among women 18-34.

* Also on Friday, "1 vs 100" made its time period debut in the 8 p.m. ET hour and more than doubled NBC's 18-49 rating in the time slot versus the same night last year. '1 vs 100" was #2 in 18-49 and won the hour in 18-34.

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

Additional NBC highlights for the week of October 23-29:

On Monday, Oct. 23 at 8 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (4.5 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49, 15.8 million viewers overall) dominated its time period in 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. In 18-49, "Deal" prevailed with a 36 percent advantage over second place (4.5 vs. a 3.3 for Fox's "Prison Break"). From its first half-hour to its second, "Deal" grew by 41 percent in 18-49 (to a 5.2/13 from a 3.7/10).

Monday at 9 p.m. ET, "Heroes" (6.3/15 in 18-49, 14.4 million viewers overall) hit a new series high in adults 18-49 and scored the highest 18-49 rating for any first-year series on any network this season.

"Heroes," which was the night's #1 telecast in 18-49, won its time period by most key demographic measures. In adults 18-49, its advantage over second place was two full ratings points, or 47 percent (6.3 vs. a 4.3 from 9-10 p.m. for CBS' comedies). "Heroes" was up 58 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's 2005-06 season average in the time period, excluding sports (6.3 vs. 4.0).

Monday at 10 p.m. ET, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" averaged a 3.2/8 in 18-49 and 7.7 million viewers overall,

NBC won Monday night in adults 18-49. This marks the network's fifth Monday win in the key demo in six weeks this season.

On Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. ET, "Friday Night Lights" (2.6/7 in 18-49, 6.3 million viewers overall) finished just one-tenth of a rating point below its previous high (a 2.7 for its premiere and for the Oct. 17 telecast). "Lights" increased by 12 percent in 18-49 rating from its first to its second half-hour (to a 2.8 from a 2.5).

On Tuesday from 9-10 p.m. ET, an encore "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (3.4/8 in 18-49, 9.4 million viewers overall) was up 13 percent in 18-49 versus its comparable first-run telecast of a year ago (a 3.0/7 on Sunday, Oct. 23).

Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.0/11 in adults 18-49, 10.7 million viewers overall) was the #1 non-sports choice in the hour, outperforming a first-run "Boston Legal" on ABC by 29 percent in 18-49 (4.0 vs. 3.1) and a repeat "Criminal Minds" (2.9 in 18-49) on CBS by 38 percent.

On Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 8 p.m. ET, "30 Rock" averaged a 2.2/6 in 18-49 and 6.0 million viewers overall. At 8:30 p.m., "Twenty Good Years" averaged a 2.0/5 in 18-49 and 5.4 million viewers overall.

Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET, "The Biggest Loser" (3.4/8 in 18-49, 7.9 million viewers overall) scored season highs in both 18-49 and total viewers. "Biggest Loser" has increased in 18-49 rating for the last two weeks in a row and has increased its total viewership week-to-week for the last four weeks in a row. From half-hour to half-hour, "Loser" increased by 20 percent in 18-49 (to a 3.6/9 from a 3.0/8).

At 10 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (3.3/9 in 18-49, 8.9 million viewers overall) delivered NBC's highest 18-49 and total viewer results of the season in this time period. "Dateline" was up 32 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's season-to-date average in the slot (3.3 vs. 2.5).

On Thursday, Oct. 26 at 8 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "My Name is Earl" (2.8/8 in 18-49, 7.4 million viewers overall) matched NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this time period with encore programming since March 31, 2005. At 8:30 p.m. ET, an encore of "The Office" (2.7/7 in 18-49, 6.4 million viewers overall) retained 96 percent of its 18-49 lead-in from "Earl."

Thursday from 9-10:01 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (3.5/9 in 18-49, 11.2 million viewers overall) generated its highest Thursday 18-49 rating in five weeks and its highest Thursday total viewership of the season. From 10:01-11 p.m. ET, an encore "ER" averaged a 2.6/7 in 18-49 and 7.1 million viewers overall.

On Friday, Oct. 27 at 8 p.m. ET, "1 vs 100" (2.9/9 in 18-49, 9.7 million viewers overall) more than doubled NBC's 18-49 rating in the time period versus the same night last year (2.9/9 vs. 1.4/5) and topped last year's total viewer result by 43 percent (9.7 million vs. 6.8 million). "1 vs 100" won the hour in adults 18-34 and was #2 in 18-49.

Friday at 9 p.m. ET, the fourth season premiere of "Las Vegas" (3.1/9 in 18-49, 9.3 million viewers overall) was the hour's #1 non-sports choice in adults 18-49, trailing only the World Series on Fox. "Vegas" won the hour in women 18-34. "Las Vegas" improved the time period by 35 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's performance in the slot on the same night last year (3.1/9 vs. 2.3/7). At 10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order" averaged a 2.6/8 in 18-49 and 9.0 million viewers overall.

On Saturday at 8 p.m. ET, Oct. 28, "Dateline NBC" posted a 1.6/6 in 18-49 and 5.3 million viewers overall. At 9 p.m., "Kidnapped" averaged a 1.2/4 in 18-49 and 3.7 million viewers overall. At 10 p.m., an encore "Law & Order: SVU" (1.6/5 in 18-49, 6.4 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 33 percent in 18-49.

On Sunday, Oct. 29, the "NBC Sunday Night Football" telecast of the Dallas Cowboys versus the Carolina Panthers averaged a 6.8/17 in adults 18-49, 17.3 million viewers overall and an 11.2/18 household rating and share from 8:20-11:20 p.m. ET.

NBC was #1 on Sunday night in adults 18-49 and total viewers.

Versus the comparable night on NBC in 2005, NBC's Sunday primetime this week was up 100 percent in 18-49 (6.0/15 vs. 3.0/7) and up 46 percent in total viewers (15.270 million vs. 10.486 million)

Through eight games, "NBC Sunday Night Football" is averaging 17.3 million viewers, up 9 percent from ABC's "Monday Night Football" average through eight games in 2005 (15.9 million)

Also on Sunday, "Football Night in America 2" from 7:30-7:59 p.m. ET averaged a 3.1/9 in 18-49, 7.4 million viewers overall and a 4.8/8 in households. "Football Night in America 3" from 7:59-8:13 p.m. delivered a 3.8/10 in 18-49, 9.1 million viewers overall and a 5.8/9 in households. From 8:13-8:20 p.m., "NBC Sunday Night Football Pre Kickoff" averaged a 4.7/12 in 18-49, 11.6 million viewers overall and a 7.4/12 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.