THE RETURN OF 'HEROES' PACES NBC'S WEEK OF JAN. 22-28

THE RETURN OF 'HEROES' PACES NBC'S WEEK OF JAN. 22-28

THE #1 NEW SHOW OF THE SEASON, 'HEROES,' MAKES A TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO MONDAYS AS THE TOP-RATED TELECAST OF THE NIGHT IN 18-49

NBC WINS MONDAY IN 18-49 FOR THE 14TH TIME THIS SEASON

'DEAL OR NO DEAL,' 'MY NAME IS EARL,' 'THE OFFICE' AND '1 VS 100' AND ARE ALL TIME PERIOD WINNERS IN 18-49 AND OTHER KEY MEASURES

NBC IS UP 13 PERCENT IN 18-49 AND 16 PERCENT IN 18-34 THROUGH THE FIRST 19 WEEKS OF THE 2006-07 SEASON, MAKING IT THE ONLY MAJOR NETWORK SHOWING GROWTH IN THESE KEY DEMOS

BURBANK, Calif. � January 30, 2007 � Paced by the triumphant return of "Heroes" to Monday night, NBC averaged a 2.6 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49 and 7.7 million viewers overall for the week of January 22-28, according to "live plus same day" in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

"Heroes" returned to NBC's schedule as television's top-rated Monday show in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49. For the week, "Heroes" ranked #5 out of 103 primetime programs in adults 18-49, and ranked among the week's top 10 by all key measures including adults 18-34, 25-54 and total viewers. In adults 18-34, "Heroes" was the #4 show on television (trailing only the Tuesday and Wednesday editions of "American Idol" and "Grey's Anatomy") and among men 18-49 and men 18-34, "Heroes" ranked #3, behind only the two editions of "Idol."

"Heroes" is the #1 new primetime series of the 2006-07 television season in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.

For the first 19 weeks of the 2006-07 television season, NBC is the only network showing year-to-year gains in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49. NBC is up 13 percent versus the same period last year (3.5 rating versus 3.1). In that same comparison, ABC is down 10 percent, CBS is down 5 percent and Fox is down 3 percent. Season-to-date in total viewers, only NBC and Fox are showing gains year-to-year. NBC is up 8 percent versus the opening 19 weeks of the last season (9.8 million vs. 9.1 million). Fox is up 3 percent by that measure, while ABC is down 8 percent and CBS is down 4 percent.

Additionally, NBC is the only network showing growth season-to-date among adults 18-34, up 16 percent versus the first 19 weeks of last season (2.9 vs. 2.5).

Primetime averages for the week of January 22-28 in adults 18-49 were Fox (5.2/14), CBS (3.0/8), ABC (2.9/8), NBC (2.6/7), Univision (1.7/4), CW (1.3/3) and Telemundo (0.4/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were Fox (12.6 million), CBS (11.6 million), ABC (8.0 million), NBC (7.7 million), Univision (3.9 million), CW (3.3 million) and Telemundo (0.9 million).

NBC highlights for the week of January 22-28:

* On Monday, "Heroes" returned to the NBC schedule with a convincing win in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures, beating tough first-run competition that included Fox's "24" and CBS' comedies. "Heroes" was the #1 program on television Monday night in adults 18-49.

* NBC won Monday in adults 18-49 for the second week in a row and for the 14th time this season, paced by "Heroes" and "Deal or No Deal," which also won its time period convincingly with a 24 percent margin of victory in 18-49 and a 7.7 million total viewer advantage over its nearest competitor.

* On Wednesday, "Deal or No Deal" was the top-rated alternative to "American Idol" in the 9 p.m. ET hour in 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. "Deal" was up 18 percent in 18-49 and 15 percent in total viewers versus the prior week, which also competed with "Idol."

* On Thursday, encore telecasts of "My Name is Earl" and "The Office" won their respective time periods in adults 18-49 and other key demographics. "Earl" was up by 21 percent in adults 18-49 and "The Office" was up by 42 percent in 18-49 versus their respective season-to-date averages for encore telecasts.

* On Friday, "1 vs 100" was #1 in its time period among adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. In overall viewers, this was the most-watched telecast of "1 vs 100" in its regular time period since November 10.

* On Sunday, "The Apprentice" was up 21 percent in 18-49 and 18 percent in total viewers versus the prior week, and "Crossing Jordan" delivered its highest numbers so far this season. .

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 January 22-28:

On Monday, Jan. 22, at 8 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (5.2 rating, 13 share in adults 18-49, 17.6 million viewers overall) was #1 in the time period in 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. "Deal" generated a 24 percent margin of victory over its nearest competitor in 18-49 (5.2 vs. a 4.2 for the mid-season return of Fox's "Prison Break"). In total viewers, "Deal" prevailed by more than 7.7 million viewers (17.6 million vs. 9.9 million for "Prison Break"). This was the top-scoring one-hour telecast of "Deal" since November 27 in both 18-49 and total viewers

Monday at 9 p.m. ET, the mid-season return of "Heroes" (6.6/15 in 18-49, 14.9 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, as well as in adults, men and women 18-34, men and women 18-49, adults and women 25-54 and total viewers against tough competition that included Fox's "24," CBS' first-run comedies and ABC's "Supernanny."

"Heroes" generated a 22 percent margin of victory in adults 18-49 over its nearest competitor in the hour (6.6 vs. a 5.4 for Fox's "24.") The "Heroes" victory over "24" in adults 18-49 marks the first time a regular-program competitor in this time period has topped an original episode of "24" since May 16, 2005 (the night of the "Everybody Loves Raymond" finale).

Despite increased competition in the time period from "24," "Heroes" returned to the NBC schedule with no loss of momentum. In fact, it was up by 2 percent (0.1 of a rating point) in adults 18-49 versus its "fall finale" on December 4, 2006. "Heroes" was up by 78 percent versus NBC's 18-49 rating in this time period on the same night last year.

At 10 p.m. ET, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" (3.1/8 in 18-49, 7.2 million viewers overall) was up 7 percent in adults 18-49 versus its most recent original telecast (2.9/8 on December 4). It ranked #2 in the time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures

NBC won Monday night in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49 for the 14th time this season.

On Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 8 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" averaged a 1.9/5 in 18-49 and 6.4 million viewers overall. From 10:03-10:15 p.m. ET, NBC News' post-State of the Union analysis, led by Brian Williams and Tim Russert, delivered a 2.6/7 in 18-49, a 3.1/7 in 25-54 and 8.8 million viewers overall.

Tuesday from 10:30-11 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "The Office" (1.9/5 in 18-49, 4.4 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and other key demos.

Note: On Tuesday, Jan. 22, NBC News' coverage of President Bush's State of the Union Address from 9-10:03 p.m. ET, and its coverage of the Democratic response from 10:15-10:30 p.m. ET, were sustaining and are not included in the nightly or weekly averages.

On Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. ET, "Friday Night Lights" (1.9/4 in 18-49, 5.7 million viewers overall) ranked second only to "American Idol" in all key adult male demographics.

From 9-10 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (2.6/5 in 18-49, 9.9 million viewers overall) was the top-rated alternative to "American Idol" in adults 18-49, total viewers and virtually all key measures. "Deal" was up 18 percent in 18-49 rating and 15 percent in total viewers versus the prior week, which also competed with "Idol."

At 10 p.m. ET, "Medium" (3.1/6 in 18-49, 8.7 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in the time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.

On Thursday, Jan. 25 at 8 p.m. ET, an encore "My Name is Earl" (3.4/10 in 18-49, 8.1 million viewers overall) won its time period in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and key adult male demos. "Earl" was up 21 percent in adults 18-49 versus its season-to-date average for encore telecasts. This is the highest scoring "Earl" encore in 18-49 and total viewers since March 30, 2006.

Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "The Office" (3.7/10 in 18-49, 7.8 million viewers overall) won its time period in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and key adult male demos. "The Office" was up 42 percent in adults 18-49 versus its season-to-date average for rebroadcasts. This is the highest scoring "Office" encore in 18-49 and total viewers since March 23, 2006.

Thursday from 9-9:31 p.m. ET, an encore "Scrubs" delivered a 2.4/6 in 18-49 and 5.0 million viewers overall. From 9:31-10:01 p.m., a "30 Rock" rebroadcast averaged a 1.8/4 in 18-49 and 3.9 million viewers overall. From 10:01-10:31 p.m., a special encore telecast of "The Office" (2.4/6 in 18-49, 4.7 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 33 percent in adults 18-49. And from 10:31-11 p.m., a second encore episode of "The Office" averaged a 2.2/6 in 18-49 and 4.1 million viewers overall.

On Friday, Jan. 26 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "1 vs 100" (2.5/8 in 18-49, 9.4 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in the time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. This was the highest overall viewership for the show in its regular time period since November 10. "1 vs 100" was up by 92 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's rating in this time period on the same night last year. At 9 p.m., an encore "Las Vegas" (2.0/6 in 18-49, 6.6 million viewers overall) was #2 in adults 18-49. At 10 p.m., an encore "Law & Order" averaged a 2.2/7 in 18-49 and 7.9 million viewers overall.

On Saturday, Jan. 27, from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" averaged a 1.1/3 in 18-49 and 5.0 million viewers overall. At 9 p.m., an encore telecast of "Crossing Jordan" averaged a 0.8/2 in 18-49 and 3.6 million viewers overall. At 10 p.m., an encore "Law & Order: SVU" delivered a 1.5/4 in 18-49 and 5.8 million viewers overall.

On Sunday, Jan. 28, from 7-9 p.m. ET, the first live edition of "Grease: You're the One That I Want" averaged a 2.4/6 in 18-49 and 7.3 million viewers overall for its two-hour telecast. From its first hour to its second, "Grease" increased in 18-49 rating by 40 percent (to a 2.8/7 from a 2.0/6). In the 8-9 p.m. hour, "Grease" maintained the 2.8 rating in adults 18-49 that it has generated the previous two weeks and has now improved NBC's performance in the Sunday 8-9 p.m. hour with every one of its four telecasts to date. On this Sunday, "Grease" was up by 12 percent versus NBC's average in the hour on the same night last year (2.8 vs. 2.5).

Sunday from 9-10 p.m. ET, "The Apprentice 6" (3.4/8 in 18-49, 8.1 million viewers overall) was up 21 percent in adult 18-49 rating and by 18 percent in total viewers versus the prior week's telecast. "The Apprentice" built by 25 percent in 18-49 versus its lead-in from the previous hour. "The Apprentice" also built by 16 percent in adults 18-49 from its first half-hour to its second (to a 3.6/8 from a 3.1/7).

At 10 p.m. ET, "Crossing Jordan" (2.7/7 in 18-49, 7.9 million viewers overall) hit its highest numbers in its three telecasts so far this season. In 18-49, "Crossing Jordan" was up 13 percent versus the prior week and up 23 percent versus the week before that. "Jordan" ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and #1 among women 18-49 and adults, men and women 18-34.