NBC RATINGS RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF FEB. 12-18

THE #1 NEW SHOW OF THE SEASON, 'HEROES,' IS THE TOP-RATED PROGRAM ON TELEVISION MONDAY IN 18-49 AND THE TOP-RATED NEW SERIES OF THE WEEK IN ADULTS 18-49, 18-34 AND 25-54

'LAW & ORDER: SVU,' 'ER' AND 'LAS VEGAS' WIN THEIR TIME PERIODS IN 18-49

'FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS' ATTRACTS ITS BIGGEST VIEWERSHIP EVER FOR A REGULAR TIME PERIOD TELECAST

BURBANK, Calif. � February 21, 2007 � NBC averaged a 3.0 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49 and 8.6 million viewers overall for the week of February 12-18, according to "live plus same day" in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

This week, "Heroes" was the top-ranked freshman series in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, ranking #9 overall (out of a total of 104 shows). "Heroes" was also the top-ranked freshman series in adults 18-34 (ranking #5 overall) and in adults 25-54 (#9). Season-to-date, "Heroes" is the #1 new primetime series of the 2006-07 television season among adults 18-49, adults 25-54, adults 18-34 and total viewers.

For the first 22 weeks of the 2006-07 television season, NBC is up 3 percent versus the same period last year (3.4 rating versus 3.3). In that same comparison, CBS is up 3 percent, Fox is flat and ABC is down 17 percent. Additionally, NBC is exhibiting the most growth season-to-date among adults 18-34, up 8 percent versus the first 22 weeks of last season (2.8 vs. 2.6). In 18-34, CBS is up 4 percent, Fox is down 3 percent and ABC is down 15 percent.

In non-sports averages for the current season, NBC is also up 3 percent versus last season in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49. In that demographic, only 0.4 of a rating point separates the four top networks. Those non-sports averages in adults 18-49 for the 2006-07 season through 22 weeks are ABC (3.6, down 3 percent vs. the same period last year), CBS (3.6, down 5 percent), Fox (3.4, up 3 percent) and NBC (3.2, up 3 percent). NBC has cut its non-sports deficit from 0.7 of a rating point at this time last season to 0.4 this season.

Primetime averages for the week of February 12-18 in adults 18-49 were Fox (5.0/13), ABC (3.6/10), CBS (3.5/9), NBC (3.0/8), Univision (1.7/4), CW (1.4/4) and Telemundo (0.4/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (12.3 million), Fox (12.2 million), ABC (9.6 million), NBC (8.6 million), Univision (3.9 million), CW (3.4 million) and Telemundo (0.9 million).

NBC highlights for the week of February 12-18:

* On Monday, "Heroes" ranked #1 against tough competition in the hour among adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and total viewers. In adults 18-49, "Heroes" generated a 24 percent winning margin over Fox's "24" and a 29 percent margin over CBS' original comedy lineup.

* Also on Monday, "Deal or No Deal" was a strong #2 in adults 18-49 and #1 in overall total viewers versus competition that included a special 8 p.m. edition of "24."

* On Tuesday, "Law & Order: SVU" won its time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and all key measures. In 18-49, "SVU" topped its nearest competitor by a 75 percent margin and in adults 18-34 it beat the ABC-CBS competition combined.

* On Wednesday, "Friday Night Lights" attracted its largest total viewership ever for a regular time period telecast, and hit its highest 18-49 rating since a special Monday telecast on October 30, 2006. "Lights" ranked #2 in the hour in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.

* On Thursday, "ER" won its hour decisively in adults 18-49, topping rival dramas "Shark" and "Men in Trees," which benefited from sizable lead-in advantages.

* Also on Thursday, "The Office" matched its highest 18-49 rating this season when in competition with "Survivor," and won its tough time period among adults and men 18-34.

* On Friday, "Las Vegas" ranked #1 in its time period in adults 18-49.

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 February 12-18:

On Monday, Feb. 12, at 8 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (4.6 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49, 16.1 million viewers overall) was a strong #2 in adults 18-49 and #1 in total viewers versus a special 8 p.m. edition of "24." Despite the special competition, "Deal" was up by 24 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's non-sports average in this time period last season. From half-hour to half-hour, "Deal" grew by 24 percent in 18-49 rating and by more than 2.2 million overall viewers.

Monday at 9 p.m. ET, "Heroes" (6.3/14 in 18-49, 14.7 million viewers overall) was a decisive #1 in the time period in adults 18-49, with a 24 percent winning margin over Fox's "24" (6.3 vs. 5.1) and a 29 percent margin over CBS' comedies (6.3 vs. 4.9 for the hour). Among adults 18-34, the "Heroes" advantage over "24" widens to 51 percent (6.5 for "Heroes" vs. a 4.3 for "24") and the "Heroes" margin versus the CBS comedies increases to 110 percent (6.5 vs. a 3.1 for CBS in the hour). "Heroes" also topped the competition in the hour in total viewers and all other key measures.

"Heroes" was up 58 percent in adults 18-49 versus NBC's non-sports average in this time period last season (6.3 vs. 4.0).

Monday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" (2.8/7 in 18-49, 6.4 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and total viewers.

On Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 8 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (2.4/6 in 18-49, 6.3 million viewers overall) was up 20 percent in 18-49 versus its season-to-date average when airing opposite "American Idol." "Dateline" delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this time period versus "Idol" competition since February 28, 2006.

Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2.9/7 in 18-49, 8.5 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 21 percent in 18-49 to deliver NBC's highest rating in this time period since January 9.

Tuesday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.9/12 in 18-49, 12.9 million viewers overall) won the hour in adults 18-49 and all key demographic measures as well as in total viewers. In 18-49, "SVU" posted a 75 percent winning margin over its nearest competitor (4.9 vs. a 2.8 for ABC's "Boston Legal"). In adults 18-34, "SVU" beat the ABC-CBS competition combined.

On Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. ET, "Friday Night Lights" (2.5/7 in 18-49, 7.4 million viewers overall) scored its highest 18-49 rating since a special Monday telecast on October 30. In overall total viewers, this was the "most-watched" regular time period telecast ever of "Friday Night Lights." From its first half-hour to its second, "Lights" grew by 13 percent in 18-49 (to a 2.7 from a 2.4).

"Friday Night Lights" ranked #2 in the hour in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and total viewers.

Wednesday from 9-10 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" averaged a 2.6/6 in 18-49 and 10.0 million viewers overall. At 10 p.m., "Medium" averaged a 2.9/8 in 18-49, 8.6 million viewers overall.

On Thursday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. ET, "My Name is Earl" (3.9/11 in 18-49, 9.1 million viewers overall) won its slot among men 18-34. "Earl" was up 26 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's non-sports average in this time period last seasons.

Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET, "The Office" (4.4/11 in 18-49, 8.8 million viewers overall) was up 29 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's non-sports average in this slot last season and up 7 percent versus its fall average this season for original episodes facing "Survivor" (4.4 vs. 4.1). "The Office" won this highly competitive time period among adults and men 18-34. From 9-9:31 p.m. ET, "Scrubs" delivered a 3.0/7 in 18-49 and 6.2 million viewers overall. From 9:31-10:01 p.m., "30 Rock" averaged a 2.5/6 in 18-49 and 5.0 million viewers overall.

Thursday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "ER" (4.8/13 in 18-49, 11.6 million viewers overall) won its time period in adults 18-49, topping rival dramas that benefited from sizable lead-in advantages. In adults 18-49, "ER" built on its lead-in from the previous half-hour by 92 percent, while the competing programs in the hour both declined substantially � ABC's "Men in Trees" fell 63 percent in 18-49 versus its lead-in from "Grey's Anatomy" (10.8 to 4.0) and "Shark" dropped 40 percent in 18-49 versus its "CSI" lead-in (7.3 to 4.4). In total viewers, "ER" surged by more than 6.5 million viewers versus its lead-in, while "Shark" dropped by more than 7.5 million viewers and "Men in Trees" fell by 14.9 million versus their respective lead-ins.

On Friday, Feb. 16 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "1 vs 100" (2.6/8 in 18-49, 9.3 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and total viewers. At 9 p.m. ET, "Las Vegas" (2.5/9 in 18-49, 8.1 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in adults 18-49. At 10 p.m., "Law & Order" delivered a 2.6/8 in 18-49 and 9.0 million viewers overall.

On Saturday, Feb. 17, from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" averaged a 1.4/5 in 18-49 and 5.4 million viewers overall. At 9 p.m., an encore telecast of "Law & Order: SVU" averaged a 1.3/4 in 18-49 and 4.8 million viewers overall. At 10 p.m., an encore "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (1.9/6 in 18-49, 7.4 million viewers overall) built on its 18-49 lead-in by 46 percent.

On Sunday, Feb. 18, from 7-8 p.m. ET, a special Sunday edition of "Deal or No Deal" (2.4/7 in 18-49, 9.5 million viewers overall) matched NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this time period since January 7, and attracted the network's biggest overall viewership in the hour since that same date.

From 8-9 p.m. ET, "Grease: You're the One That I Want" averaged a 1.9/5 in 18-49 and 6.7 million viewers overall. From 9-10 p.m., "The Apprentice" (2.3/6 in 18-49, 6.0 million viewers overall) built by 21 percent in 18-49 rating versus its lead-in. From its first half-hour to its second, "Apprentice" grew by 24 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.6/6 from a 2.1/5). At 10 p.m., "Crossing Jordan" averaged a 2.5/6 in 18-49 and 7.0 million viewers overall.