NBC RATINGS RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 12-18

NBC RATINGS RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 12-18

A TWO-HOUR 'DEAL OR NO DEAL' DOMINATES ON MONDAY, SWEEPING EVERY HALF-HOUR IN 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS, EMERGING AS THE #1 SHOW OF THE NIGHT ON ANY NETWORK BY BOTH MEASURES

IN REGULAR-PROGRAM AVERAGES, NBC IS UP 6 PERCENT THIS SEASON VERSUS LAST, THE ONLY MAJOR NETWORK SHOWING GROWTH IN REGULAR-PROGRAM AVERAGES

BURBANK, Calif. � March 20, 2007 � NBC averaged a 2.5 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49 and 8.3 million viewers overall for the week of March 12-18, according to "live plus same day" in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

For the week, Monday's expanded two-hour "Deal or No Deal" ranked #7 among all 99 network programs in adults 18-49. In total viewers, Monday's "Deal" was the #4 program of the week, trailing only the Tuesday and Wednesday editions of "American Idol" and "Grey's Anatomy," among all programs.

Averages for the week of March 12-18 in adults 18-49 were Fox (4.4/12), CBS (3.4/10), ABC (2.8/8), NBC (2.5/7), Univision (1.6/4), CW (1.2/3) and Telemundo (0.4/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were Fox (11.4 million), CBS (10.7 million), NBC (8.3 million), ABC (7.9 million), Univision (3.6 million), CW (3.1 million) and Telemundo (0.9 million).

In regular program averages through the first 26 weeks of the 2006-07 season, NBC's primetime lineup is running within a 0.5 of a point of first place in adults 18-49, versus a deficit a year ago of 0.7. NBC is up 6 percent versus last year in regular-program adult 18-49 averages (3.5 vs. 3.3), the only network showing growth in regular program averages.

NBC highlights for the week of March 12-18:

* On Monday, a two-hour "Deal or No Deal" was the #1 show of the night in both adults 18-49 and total viewers. "Deal" won all four half-hours in both adults 18-49 and total viewers.

* NBC was #1 on Monday night in both 18-49 (tied) and total viewers, marking the 18th time this season NBC has been #1 or tied for #1 on Monday night in primetime's key demographic and the network's 11th Monday win in total viewers.

* On Friday, the return of "Identity" scored the highest 18-49 rating for any network in the time period in five weeks (excluding sports). "Identity" was the #1 non-sports telecast in the hour (opposite NCAA basketball), up 17 percent in adults 18-49 versus its last Friday telecast in December.

* Also on Friday, "1 vs 100" was the #1 non-sports telecast in its time period (vs. NCAA basketball), ranking #1 overall in the slot in total viewers.

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 March 12-18:

On Monday, March 12, from 8-10 p.m. ET, an expanded two-hour edition of "Deal or No Deal" (4.8 rating, 13 share in adults 18-49, 16.8 million viewers overall) was a dominant #1, sweeping all four half-hours in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Deal" grew by 39 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 5.3/13 from a 3.8/12) and by nearly 2.6 million overall viewers (to 17.4 million from 14.8 million).

"Deal or No Deal" was the #1 telecast on Monday night in both adults 18-49 and total viewers.

Monday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "The Black Donnellys" (2.5/7 in 18-49, 6.5 million viewers overall) ranked #2 for the time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.

NBC was #1 on Monday night in adults 18-49 and total viewers (among adults 18-49, NBC's 8-11 p.m. primetime average was tied by Fox's 8-10 p.m. average; in head-to-head competition from 8-10 p.m., NBC was #1). This marks the 18th time this season NBC has been #1 or tied for #1 on a Monday in adults 18-49 and NBC's 11th Monday win this season in overall total viewers.

On Tuesday, March 13 at 8 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (2.0/6 in 18-49, 5.6 million viewers overall) was up 18 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's performance in the time period on the same night last year (2.0 vs. 1.7). At 9 p.m., an encore "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" averaged a 1.7/4 in 18-49 and 6.8 million viewers overall. From 10-11 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.5/7 in 18-49, 8.2 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 47 percent in 18-49, despite atypical competition from an encore telecast of "CSI."

On Wednesday, March 14 at 8 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Dateline" averaged a 2.2/7 in 18-49 and 7.8 million viewers overall. This was up 16 percent in 18-49 and 32 percent in total viewers versus the prior week. At 9 p.m., "Crossing Jordan" (2.1/5 in 18-49, 7.4 million viewers overall) finished within 12 percent of last week's results in 18-49 rating, despite the arrival of "American Idol" in the 9 p.m. half-hour. At 10 p.m., an encore telecast of "Medium" averaged a 1.9/5 in 18-49 and 6.1 million viewers overall.

On Thursday, March 15 from 8-9 p.m. ET, an hour of encore episodes of "The Office," with additional never-before-seen footage, averaged a 2.8/8 in 18-49 and 6.5 million viewers overall. This was up 27 percent in 18-49 versus the prior week's rebroadcasts in this time period (which faced competition from "Survivor" and "American Idol").

Thursday from 9-9:31 p.m. ET, "Scrubs" averaged a 2.9/7 in 18-49 and 6.4 million viewers overall.

From 9:31-10:01 p.m. ET Thursday, the premiere of "Andy Barker, P.I." (2.4/6 in 18-49, 6.0 million viewers overall) retained 83 percent of its lead-in from "Scrubs" in 18-49 and 93 percent in total viewers. "Andy Barker" tracked down NBC's largest total viewership in the time period since January 11.

From 10:01-11 p.m. ET Thursday, the debut of "Raines" delivered a 2.9/8 in adults 18-49 and 10.5 million viewers overall. "Raines" built on its lead-in by 21 percent in 18-49 and 75 percent in total viewers.

On Friday, March 16 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "1 vs 100" (2.4/8 in 18-49, 9.1 million viewers overall) was the time period's #1 non-sports telecast in adults 18-49 and #1 overall in total viewers.

Friday at 9 p.m. ET, the return of "Identity" (2.8/8 in 18-49, 9.0 million viewers overall) scored the highest non-sports 18-49 rating for any network in this time period in five weeks (since a 2.9 for "Las Vegas" on February 9). Versus its previous Friday telecast (on December 22 at 8 p.m.), the March 16 series return of "Identity" was up 17 percent in adults 18-49 and 16 percent in overall total viewers.

"Identity" was the #1 non-sports telecast in the hour in adults 18-49 and numerous other key measures.

At 10 p.m. ET Friday, an encore telecast of the previous night's premiere episode of "Raines" averaged a 2.1/6 in 18-49 and 7.2 million viewers overall, up 5 percent in 18-49 versus NBC's season average for repeat programming in this time period.

An estimated 21.6 million viewers overall saw all or part of "Raines" in its two telecasts on Thursday, March 15 and Friday, March 16.

On Saturday, March 17 at 8 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" averaged a 1.1/4 in 18-49 and 5.3 million viewers overall. At 9 p.m., a rebroadcast of "Law & Order" delivered a 1.4/4 in 18-49 and 6.5 million viewers overall. At 10 p.m., an encore "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (1.9/6 in 18-49, 7.2 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 36 percent in 18-49.

On Sunday, March 18 from 7-8 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.8/5 in 18-49, 6.7 million viewers overall) was up 38 percent in 18-49 versus the prior week. At 8 p.m., "Grease: You're the One That I Want" (1.9/5 in 18-49, 6.7 million viewers overall) matched its highest 18-49 rating in five weeks (since February 11).

At 9 p.m. ET Sunday, an encore telecast of "Deal or No Deal" (3.7/9 in 18-49, 12.2 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 95 percent in 18-49 to finish a strong #2 in the time period. "Deal" was also #2 among total viewers. From its first to its second half-hour, "Deal" grew by 28 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 4.1/10 from a 3.2/8). In total viewers, "Deal" increased from half-hour to half-hour by more than 2.3 million viewers. "Deal" ranked #1 in both 18-49 and total viewers from 9:30-10:00 p.m.

Sunday at 10 p.m. ET, "The Apprentice" (2.8/7 in 18-49, 7.2 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.