NBC IS #2 FOR THE WEEK IN ADULTS 18-49

MONDAY'S 'DEAL OF NO DEAL' AND THE DEBUT OF THE NEW GAME SHOW 'IDENTITY' TIE AS THE #1 ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMS OF THE WEEK IN 18-49

'IDENTITY' RANKS #1 AMONG ADULTS 18-49 IN ITS MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY HOURS

NBC IS UP 13 PERCENT IN 18-49 AND 20 PERCENT IN 18-34 THROUGH THE FIRST 14 WEEKS OF THE 2006-07 SEASON, THE ONLY MAJOR NETWORK TO SHOW GROWTH IN THESE KEY DEMOS

BURBANK, Calif. � December 27, 2006 � NBC ranked #2 this week in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, as well as in overall total viewers, averaging a 2.4 rating, 7 share in 18-49 and 7.3 million viewers overall for the week of December 18-24, according to "live plus same day" in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research. Among adults 18-34, NBC ranked #1 for the week (tied with Fox).

NBC's Monday telecast of "Deal or No Deal" and the debut telecast that same night of the new game show "Identity" tied as the #1 entertainment programs of the week in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49. The Monday "Deal" and "Identity" tied as the #2-ranked programs overall, trailing only CBS' Sunday NFL post-game show. Monday's "Deal or No Deal" was also the #1 entertainment program of the week in total viewers (again trailing only the CBS NFL Sunday post-game show among all primetime telecasts). Monday's debut of "Identity" ranked #3 among entertainment programs and #4 among all 97 programs this week in total viewers.

In its five telecasts this week, "Identity" ranked #1 in adults 18-49 in its respective time periods on Monday, Tuesday (tie), Wednesday and Friday nights, and was a strong #2 on Thursday night.

For the first 14 weeks of the 2006-07 television season, NBC is the only network showing year-to-year gains in adults 18-49. NBC is up 13 percent versus the same period last year (3.6 rating versus 3.2). In that same comparison, ABC is down 3 percent, CBS is down 5 percent and Fox is down 6 percent. Season-to-date in total viewers only NBC and ABC are showing gains year-to-year. NBC is up 9 percent versus the opening 14 weeks of the last season (10.1 million vs. 9.2 million). ABC is up 2 percent by that measure, while CBS is down 4 percent and Fox is down 2 percent.

NBC is also the only network showing growth season-to-date among adults 18-34, up 20 percent versus the first 14 weeks of last season (3.0 vs. 2.5).

Primetime averages for the week of December 18-24 in adults 18-49 were CBS (2.5/8), NBC (2.4/7), ABC and Fox (2.0/6), Univision (1.4/4), CW (0.9/3) and Telemundo (0.3/1). NBC has now ranked #1 or #2 for each of the last three weeks in adults 18-49. In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (8.8 million), NBC (7.3 million), ABC (6.3 million), Fox (5.6 million), Univision (3.3 million), CW (2.5 million) and Telemundo (0.7 million).

NBC highlights for the week of December 18-24:

* On Monday, the premiere of the new game show "Identity" won its time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and all key measures, and retained 100 percent of its 18-49 lead-in from "Deal or No Deal." "Identity" was the top-rated game show premiere in adults 18-49 in almost five years.

* On Monday, "Deal or No Deal" dominated its time period, with a 69 percent advantage over its nearest competitor in 18-49 and a winning margin of more than 7.7 million overall total viewers "Deal" was television's #1 show on Monday night in total viewers.

* NBC won Monday night in 18-49, its 11th Monday win in 14 weeks this season. NBC also won the night in total viewers, marking the network's fifth Monday victory this season by that measure.

* On Tuesday, night two of "Identity" at 8 p.m. delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating and overall viewership in the hour since September 19, ranking #1 in adults 18-49 (tied) and #1 among adults, men and women 18-34.

* Also on Tuesday, an encore "Law & Order: SVU" was #1 in adults 18-49, total viewers and all key measures.

* On Wednesday, night three of "Identity" won its time period in 18-49, total viewers and most other key measures. Wednesday's "Identity" grew by 3 percent in 18-49 rating and 7 percent in total viewers versus Tuesday's 8 p.m. telecast.

* On Thursday, night four of "Identity" built by 3 percent in 18-49 and 9 percent in total viewers versus Wednesday's telecast, marking the show's second consecutive night of growth by both measures.

* Also on Thursday, an encore episode of "My Name is Earl" in a special time period ranked #1 in adults 18-49 (tied) and in adults 18-34, and an encore "Scrubs" in a special slot ranked #2 in 18-49 and #1 in adults 18-34.

* NBC was #1 on Friday night in adults 18-49, winning every half-hour in primetime's key demographic, for the network's sixth Friday victory of the season. NBC also won Friday in total viewers, its second Friday win of the season by that measure.

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 December 18-24:

On Monday, Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (4.4 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49, 15.4 million viewers overall) dominated its time period with a 69 percent margin of victory in 18-49 (4.4 vs. 2.6 for Fox's second-place "House" encore). In overall total viewers, "Deal" won by 7.7 million viewers, more than doubling its nearest competition (15.4 million vs. 7.6 million for "House"). "Deal" was the #1 show on television Monday night in total viewers.

Monday at 9 p.m. ET, the premiere of "Identity" (4.4/11 in 18-49, 12.3 million viewers overall) retained 100 percent of its lead-in from "Deal" in adults 18-49, and built by 24 percent on the "Deal" lead-in among adults 18-34 (with a 4.1 rating in that demo vs. a 3.3 for "Deal"). "Identity" dominated its time period winning in adults 18-49, 18-34, 25-54, total viewers and other key measures. "Identity" tied "Deal or No Deal" as Monday's top-rated telecast in adults 18-49.

"Identity" was the top-rated game show premiere in adults 18-49 in nearly five years (since the Jan. 15, 2002 telecast of ABC's "The Chair"). Its debut outperformed the premiere of "Deal or No Deal" (a 3.9/11 in 18-49 from 8-9 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 19, 2005) and the premiere of "1 vs 100" (4.2/13 from 9-10 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 13, 2006). "Identity" was up 83 percent in adults 18-49 versus NBC's rating in this hour on the same night last year. At 10 p.m., an encore telecast of the Christmas episode of "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" averaged a 1.6/4 in 18-49 and 4.5 million viewers overall.

NBC won Monday night in adults 18-49, the network's 11th Monday win in 14 weeks this season. NBC also won the night in total viewers, its fifth Monday win of the season by that measure. Versus the same night last year, NBC was up 30 percent in 18-49 (3.5 vs. 2.7) and by 3.3 million viewers overall (10.7 million vs. 7.4 million).

On Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. ET, night two of "Identity" (2.9/8 in 18-49, 8.2 million viewers overall) delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating and total viewership in the time period since September 19. "Identity" ranked #1 in adults 18-49 (tied) and #1 among adults, men and women 18-34.

Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET, an encore "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2.6/7 in 18-49, 8.2 million viewers overall) was up 24 percent in 18-49 versus the prior week, ranking #2 in adults 18-49 and #1 among women 18-34 (tied).

Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET, an encore "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.7/8 in 18-49, 8.5 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in adults 18-49, 18-34, 25-54 and total viewers.

On Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 8 p.m. ET, night three of "Identity" (3.0/9 in 18-49, 8.8 million viewers overall) was #1 in its time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and most key measures. "Identity" grew by 3 percent in 18-49 rating and by 7 percent in overall total viewers versus the previous night. "Identity" was up by 20 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's season average for the time period (3.0 vs. 2.5). The show increased by 14 percent in 18-49 from its first half-hour to its second (to a 3.2/9 from a 2.8/9).

Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (2.9/8 in 18-49, 8.6 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in both adults 18-49 and adults 18-34 (tied with CBS' "Criminal Minds" encore). At 10 p.m., an encore "Medium" (2.2/6 in 18-49, 6.2 million overall) ranked #2 in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures, outperforming ABC's first-run "Primetime."

On Thursday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. ET, night four of "Identity" (3.1/9 in 18-49, 9.5 million viewers overall) was up by 3 percent in 18-49 rating and 9 percent in overall total viewers versus Wednesday night's telecast. "Identity" ranked #2 in adults 18-49, total viewers and most key ratings measures, trailing only CBS' venerable "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" encore.

Thursday from 9-10:01 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of the hour-long Christmas episode of "The Office" averaged a 2.4/7 in 18-49 and 5.8 million viewers overall. From 10:01-10:31 p.m., an encore "My Name is Earl" (2.9/8 in 18-49, 6.3 million viewers overall) tied for #1 in adults 18-49 and ranked #1 outright in adults 18-34. And from 10:31-11 p.m., an encore "Scrubs" (2.3/7 in 18-49, 4.9 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and #1 in adults 18-34.

On Friday, Dec. 22 at 8 p.m. ET, night five of "Identity" (2.4/8 in 18-49, 7.8 million viewers overall) won its time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. From its first half-hour to its second, "Identity" increased in 18-49 rating by 24 percent (to a 2.6/9 from a 2.1/8).

At 9 p.m. ET Friday, "1 vs 100" (2.4/8 in 18-49, 7.5 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in the time period in 18-49 and other key demographics.

Friday at 10 p.m. ET, an encore "Law & Order" (2.2/7 in 18-49, 7.2 million viewers overall) won the time period in all key demographics.

NBC won Friday night in adults 18-49, winning every half-hour in primetime's key demo. This marks NBC's sixth Friday win of the season in 18-49. NBC also won Friday in total viewers, its second Friday win of the season by that measure.

On Saturday, Dec. 23 from 8-10 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" averaged a 1.5/5 in 18-49 and 5.3 million viewers overall. From 10-11 p.m., an encore "Law & Order" (1.9/6 in 18-49, 6.9 million viewers overall) ranked #2 by all key ratings measures.

On Sunday, Dec. 24 from 8-11 p.m. ET, NBC's telecast of the 1946 film classic "It's a Wonderful Life" averaged a 1.7/6 in 18-49 and 4.9 million viewers overall. In its final hour from 10-11 p.m., "Wonderful Life" ranked #1 by all key ratings measures. The movie built by 92 percent in 18-49 rating from its first to its final half-hour (to a 2.3/8 from a 1.2/5) and by 81 percent ,or more than 2.8 million persons, in total viewers (to 6.5 million from 3.6 million). This was NBC's 21st primetime run of "It's a Wonderful Life," directed by Frank Capra and starring Jimmy Stewart, since the movie was brought to broadcast network television in 1994.

Also on Sunday, "Football Night in America" from 7:30-8 p.m. ET averaged a 0.9/4 in 18-49 and 2.7 million viewers overall. 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.