NBC RATINGS RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF FEB. 19-25

THE #1 NEW SHOW OF THE SEASON, 'HEROES,' IS THE #1 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

'DEAL OR NO DEAL' AND 'LAW & ORDER: SVU' WIN THEIR SLOTS IN 18-49, TOTAL VIEWERS AND OTHER KEY MEASURES

IN REGULAR-PROGRAM AVERAGES, NBC IS UP 6 PERCENT THIS SEASON VERSUS LAST, THE BIGGEST INCREASE AMONG THE MAJOR NETWORKS

BURBANK, Calif. � February 27, 2007 � NBC averaged a 2.6 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49 and 8.0 million viewers overall for the week of February 19-25, 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, and other key demos. Among series programs in this week's ranking, "Heroes" trailed only the various editions of "American Idol," "Grey's Anatomy" and "CSI" among adults 18-49. 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.

Averages for the week of February 19-25 in adults 18-49 were Fox (6.0/16), ABC (4.7/12), CBS (3.2/8), NBC (2.6/7), Univision (1.8/5), CW (1.2/3) and Telemundo (0.4/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were Fox (15.0 million), ABC (13.0 million), CBS (11.2 million), NBC (8.0 million), Univision (4.3 million), CW (3.0 million) and Telemundo (0.8 million).

In regular program averages through the first 23 weeks of the 2006-07 season, NBC's primetime lineup is running within 0.3 of a point of first place in adults 18-49, versus a deficit a year ago of 0.8. NBC is up 6 percent versus last year in regular-program adult 18-49 averages (3.5 vs. 3.3), the biggest increase among the major networks.

For Nielsen's February 2007 sweep, primetime averages through 25 nights of the 28-night period in adults 18-49 are: CBS, 5.1/13; Fox, 4.7/12; ABC, 3.9/10; NBC, 2.8/7 and CW, 1.3/3. In overall total viewers, those averages are: CBS, 15.9 million; Fox, 11.6 million; ABC, 10.4 million; NBC, 8.3 million and CW, 3.3 million.

NBC highlights for the week of February 19-25:

* On Monday, "Heroes" was the highest-rated show on television in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49. "Heroes" was up 50 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's non-sports average in this time period last season.

* Also on Monday, "Deal or No Deal" won its hour in adults 18-49, total viewers and all key measures, with a 23 percent margin over its nearest competitor in 18-49 and an advantage of more than 8.0 million total viewers.

* On Tuesday, "Law & Order: SVU" won its time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and all key measures. In 18-49, "SVU" beat its nearest competitor by a 58 percent margin.

* On Thursday, both "My Name is Earl" and "The Office" performed well above NBC's prior year time-period averages (up 16 percent and 24 percent respectively in 18-49), despite competition from a special Thursday edition of "American Idol."

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 19-25:

On Monday, Feb. 19, at 8 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (4.8 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49, 17.6 million viewers overall) won the time period in 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. "Deal" posted a 23 percent margin of victory over its nearest competitor in 18-49 (4.8 vs. a 3.9 for Fox's "Prison Break"). In total viewers, "Deal" prevailed by more than 8.0 million viewers (17.6 million vs. 9.6 million for "Prison Break"). "Deal" was up by 30 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's non-sports average in this time period last season.

Monday from 9-10:02 p.m. ET, "Heroes" (6.0/14 in 18-49, 14.1 million viewers overall) was a decisive #1 in this tough time period in adults 18-49, with an 18 percent winning margin over Fox's "24" and CBS' comedies (6.0 vs. a 5.1 for both Fox and CBS in the hour). Among adults 18-34, the "Heroes" advantage over second-place "24" widens to 38 percent (6.2 for "Heroes" vs. a 4.5 for "24") and the "Heroes" margin versus the CBS comedies increases to 114 percent (6.2 vs. a 2.9 for CBS in the hour).

"Heroes" was the #1 telecast on Monday night in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, on an evening that included original telecasts of "24," "CSI" Miami," "Prison Break," "24," "Two and a Half Men," and "Rules of Engagement." "Heroes" was up 50 percent in adults 18-49 versus NBC's non-sports average in this time period last season (6.0 vs. 4.0).

Monday from 10:02-11 p.m. ET, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" averaged a 2.4/6 in 18-49 and 6.1 million viewers overall.

On Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" averaged a 2.0/5 in 18-49 and 5.8 million viewers overall versus "American Idol." At 9 p.m., "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2.6/6 in 18-49, 9.4 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 30 percent in 18-49 and by 61 percent in total viewers despite special competition from a second hour of "Idol." "Criminal Intent" ranked #2 to "Idol" in the hour in all key adult female demographics and in adults 18-34 (tied).

Tuesday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.1/11 in 18-49, 11.9 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" generated a 58 percent winning margin over its nearest competitor (4.1 vs. a 2.6 for ABC's "Boston Legal").

On Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 8 p.m. ET, "Friday Night Lights" averaged a 1.7/5 in 18-49 and 5.2 million viewers overall versus the first hour of a special two-hour "American Idol." "Lights" finished #2 among men 18-34 and adults 18-34 (tied). At 9 p.m., "Deal or No Deal" averaged a 2.1/5 in 18-49 and 7.9 million viewers overall. At 10 p.m., "Medium" delivered a 2.4/6 in 18-49 and 7.8 million viewers overall.

On Thursday, Feb. 22 at 8 p.m. ET, "My Name is Earl" (3.6/10 in 18-49, 8.7 million viewers overall) was up 16 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's non-sports average in this time period last season, despite atypical competition from a special "American Idol."

Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET, "The Office" (4.2/10 in 18-49, 8.3 million viewers overall) finished within 5 percent of its prior week's performance in 18-49 (4.2 vs. 4.4), despite special "Idol" competition. "The Office" built by 17 percent in 18-49 versus its lead-in and was up 24 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's non-sports average in this slot last season (4.2 vs. 3.4). From 9-9:31 p.m. ET, "Scrubs" delivered a 2.8/6 in 18-49 and 5.7 million viewers overall. From 9:31-10:01 p.m., "30 Rock" averaged a 2.4/5 in 18-49 and 4.6 million viewers overall.

Thursday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "ER" (4.1/11 in 18-49, 10.0 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 64 percent in adult 18-49 rating and by 117 percent in total viewers, despite unusual competition from ABC's Oprah Winfrey Oscar special.

On Friday, Feb. 23 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "1 vs 100" (2.4/8 in 18-49, 9.0 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and total viewers. At 9 p.m. ET, "Las Vegas" (2.5/7 in 18-49, 8.4 million viewers overall) ranked #1 (tied) in adults 18-49. At 10 p.m., "Law & Order" (2.6/8 in 18-49, 8.7 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in 18-49 and total viewers and #1 among adults 18-34.

On Saturday, Feb. 24 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.8/6 in 18-49, 5.8 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in adults 18-49, 25-54 and total viewers and #1 among women 18-49 and 25-54. At 9 p.m., an encore telecast of "Law & Order: SVU" delivered a 1.5/5 in 18-49 and 5.5 million viewers overall. At 10 p.m., an encore "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (1.9/6 in 18-49, 7.5 million viewers overall) built on its 18-49 lead-in by 27 percent. In total viewers, "Criminal Intent" apprehended NBC's biggest overall audience in this time period since November 11, excluding sports.

On Sunday, Feb. 25 from 7-8 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" averaged a 1.2/3 in 18-49 and 5.0 million viewers overall. At 8 p.m., "Grease: You're the One That I Want" averaged a 1.4/3 in 18-49 and 4.5 million viewers overall. From 9-10 p.m., a special encore telecast of "Crossing Jordan" delivered a 1.3/3 in 18-49 and 4.1 million viewers overall. At 10 p.m., "Crossing Jordan" (2.3/5 in 18-49, 6.7 million viewers overall) built on its 18-49 lead-in by 77 percent. Despite competition from the Academy Awards telecast, "Jordan" finished within 0.2 of an 18-49 rating point of its result for the previous Sunday.