'GREASE' AND THE SEASON DEBUT OF 'THE APPRENTICE' DELIVER STRONG SUNDAY NUMBERS

THE PREMIERE OF 'GREASE: YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT' SCORES NBC'S HIGHEST 18-49 RATING IN THE TIME PERIOD WITH NON-SPORTS SERIES PROGRAMMING IN THREE YEARS

'THE APPRENTICE' TOPS ITS PREVIOUS DEBUT RATING IN 18-49, EARNING NBC'S BEST RESULT IN THE TIME PERIOD WITH NON-SPORTS SERIES PROGRAMMING IN MORE THAN A YEAR

BURBANK, Calif. � January 8, 2007 � NBC's first post-football Sunday of the season generated strong numbers, up 46 percent in adults 18-49 versus the same Sunday last year, paced by the debut of "Grease: You're the One That I Want" and the season premiere of "The Apprentice 6," according to preliminary "fast affiliate-based" "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

From 8-9:30 p.m. ET, the debut of the new talent-competition series "Grease: You're the One That I Want" (4.3 rating, 10 share in 18-49, 11.6 million viewers overall) scored NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this time period with non-sports series programming in three years (since January 11, 2004). In total viewers, this is NBC's top non-sports result in the time period with series programming since February 8, 2004.

"Grease" was up 87 percent in adults 18-49 versus NBC's non-sports average in this time period last season (4.3 vs. 2.3).

From 9:30-11 p.m. ET, the premiere of "The Apprentice 6" (4.1/10 in 18-49, 9.1 million viewers overall) generated NBC's highest rating in this time period with non-sports series programming in more than a year (since November 6, 2005). "The Apprentice" was up 28 percent in adults 18-49 versus NBC's non-sports average in this time period last season, and was up 5 percent in 18-49 versus the "Apprentice 5" premiere (4.1/10 vs. 3.9/9 on Monday, Feb. 27, 2006 from 9-10 p.m.).

Significantly, "The Apprentice" grew steadily throughout its 90-minute telecast, surging to take the lead in adults 18-49 in the 10:30-11 p.m. ET half-hour versus ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" and CBS' "Without a Trace." From its first half-hour to its third, "The Apprentice" built by 22 percent in 18-49 (to a 4.4/11 from a 3.6/8) and by 9 percent in overall viewers (to 9.4 million from 8.7 million).

From 7-8 p.m. ET, a special edition of "Deal or No Deal" (2.8/7 in 18-49, 10.0 million viewers overall) was the #1 non-sports choice in the hour in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. Despite extraordinary competition from a primetime NFL overrun on Fox, "Deal" was up 56 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's non-sports average in the time period last season (2.8 vs. 1.8).

Versus the same Sunday night last year, NBC was up 46 percent in adults 18-49 (3.8/9 vs. 2.6/6). Preliminary 18-49 averages for Sunday night are: Fox, 7.0/16; ABC, 4.8/11; NBC, 3.8/9; CBS, 2.9/7; CW, 1.6/2. In overall total viewers, January 7 preliminary results are: Fox, 16.2 million; ABC, 13.1 million; CBS, 12.5 million; NBC, 10.3 million; CW, 2.3 million.