'THE SINGING BEE' TOPS THE CHARTS AS THE WEEK'S #1 SHOW

'THE SINGING BEE' TOPS THE CHARTS AS THE WEEK'S #1 SHOW

'SINGING BEE' GENERATES BUZZ AS THE TOP-RATED SUMMER SERIES DEBUT IN FIVE YEARS AMONG ADULTS 18-49

'AMERICA'S GOT TALENT,' 'LAST COMIC STANDING' AND 'LAW & ORDER: SVU' ALSO RANK IN THE WEEK'S TOP 10 AMONG ADULTS 18-49

BURBANK, Calif. � July 17, 2007 � Paced by the debut of "The Singing Bee," the #1 show of the week in 18-49 and total viewers, NBC ranked #2 for the week in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, averaging a 1.9 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49 and 5.8 million viewers overall for the week of July 9-15, according to "live plus same day" in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Overall, NBC had two of the top five and four of the top 10 programs of the week in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49. In addition to "Bee," Tuesday's "America's Got Talent" ranked #3 and "Last Comic Standing" and Tuesday's "Law & Order: SVU" were tied at #8. In overall total viewers, "Singing Bee" was #1, "America's Got Talent" ranked #3 and "SVU" ranked #10.

Tuesday's debut of "The Singing Bee" delivered the highest 18-49 rating for any new summer series premiere on any network in nearly five years. For NBC, it marks the top-rated debut in 18-49 for any unscripted series, in or out of the regular season, since the January 2004 premiere of "The Apprentice." Despite competing with Major League Baseball's All-Star Game, "Singing Bee" delivered the highest 18-49 rating for any telecast on any network since the season finale of "House" in May.

Primetime averages for the week of July 9-15 in adults 18-49 were Fox (2.4/8), NBC (1.9/6), CBS (1.7/6), ABC and Univision (1.5/5), CW (0.7/2) and Telemundo (0.5/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were Fox (6.7 million), CBS (6.3 million), NBC (5.8 million), ABC (4.4 million), Univision (3.3 million), CW (1.8 million) and Telemundo (1.2 million).

In regular program averages through 43 weeks of the 2006-07 broadcast year, NBC is running within a tenth of a point of last year's average in adult 18-49 rating (3.0 vs. 3.1). While Fox is flat versus last year in regular-program averages (at a 4.0), ABC is down 6 percent (from a 3.5 at this point last year to a 3.3 this year) and CBS is down 8 percent (from a 3.6 to a 3.3).

NBC highlights for the week of July 9-15:

* Monday's "Dateline NBC" won its time period in adults 18-49 and other key measures.

* On Tuesday, "The Singing Bee" dominated its time period in adults 18-49, 18-34 and 25-54, despite competition from Fox's telecast of Major League Baseball's All-Star Game. "Singing Bee" was the #1 show on television Tuesday in 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.

* Also on Tuesday, "America's Got Talent" won its time period in adults 18-49 and other key measures, opposite the All-Star Game.

* On Wednesday, a special 10 p.m. edition of "Last Comic Standing" swept all key demographics, winning its time period in adults, men and women 18-49, 18-34 and 25-54.

* On Friday, an encore "1 vs 100" was #1 in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. NBC was #1 on Friday night in total viewers.

* On Sunday, "Dateline NBC" reported its highest numbers in four weeks and an encore "Law & Order: SVU" won its time period in 18-49 and other key demographic measures.

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 July 9-15:

On Monday, July 9 from 9-10 p.m. ET, "Age of Love" (1.9 rating, 5 share in 18-49, 4.7 million viewers overall) grew by 36 percent in 18-49 rating and by 25 percent in total viewers versus its lead-in from the previous hour � a 1.4/4 in 18-49 and 3.8 million viewers overall for an encore telecast of "Age of Love."

At 10 p.m., "Dateline NBC" (2.4/7 in 18-49, 7.2 million viewers overall) won its time period in adults 18-49 and other key demos. "Dateline" increased by 26 percent in 18-49 rating and by 52 percent in total viewers versus its lead-in.

On Tuesday, July 10 from 8-9:30 p.m. ET, "America's Got Talent" (3.9/12 in adults 18-49, 11.4 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in adults 18-49 and other key measures opposite Fox's coverage of the All-Star Game. From its first half-hour to its third, "Talent" grew by 53 percent in 18-49 (to a 4.7/14 from a 3.1/10) and increased by 43 percent, or more than 4.0 million persons, in overall total viewers (to 13.5 million from 9.5 million).

Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. ET, the debut of "The Singing Bee" (5.1/14 in adults 18-49, 13.3 million viewers overall) dominated its time period in the key demographics of adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and adults 18-34. Despite unusual competition from Fox's telecast of Major League Baseball's All-Star Game, "Singing Bee" delivered the highest 18-49 rating and overall viewer total for any telecast on any network since the season finale of "House" on May 29

In adults 18-49, "The Singing Bee" delivered the highest rating for any new summer series premiere on any network in nearly five years (since the July 22, 2002 debut of NBC's "Meet My Folks"). It also marks the highest 18-49 rating for any unscripted series debut on NBC, in or out of the regular season, since the January 8, 2004 premiere of "The Apprentice."

In overall total viewers, "Singing Bee" was the most-watched new summer series premiere on any network in more than two years, since the debut of ABC's "Dancing With The Stars" on June 1, 2005. For NBC it was the most-watched summer series premiere in total viewers in at least 13 years

"Singing Bee" built by 31 percent in 18-49 rating versus the full duration program rating of its lead-in, "America's Got Talent," and by 9 percent in 18-49 versus the final half-hour of "Talent" (a 4.7 from 9-9:30 p.m.)

Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.9/8 in 18-49, 8.5 million viewers overall) ranked a strong #2 in 18-49 to Fox's baseball telecast and was #1 in all key adult-female demographics

NBC and Fox tied for #1 for the night in adults 18-49, marking the sixth consecutive Tuesday night that NBC has ranked #1 or tied for #1.

On Wednesday, July 11 at 8:30 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of Tuesday's debut episode of "The Singing Bee" (1.7/6 in 18-49, 4.8 million viewers overall) built by 13 percent in 18-49 versus its lead in � a 1.5/5 in 18-49 and 4.9 million viewers overall for a encore "Most Outrageous Moments" from 8-8:30 p.m.

Wednesday from 9-10 p.m. ET, "America's Got Talent" (2.6/8 in adults 18-49, 7.6 million viewers overall) built on it lead-in by 53 percent in 18-49. "Talent" posted an 18 percent improvement in adults 18-49 versus NBC's prior summer-to-date average in this time period (2.6 vs. 2.2). "America's Got Talent" ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and other key measures.

Wednesday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Last Comic Standing" (2.9/9 in 18-49, 6.9 million viewers overall) was #1 in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, adults 18-34 and other key measures. "Last Comic" built on its lead-in by 12 percent in 18-49.

This special 10 p.m. edition of "Last Comic Standing" matched the show's highest 18-49 rating of its current cycle and delivered its biggest overall audience since June 13, the night of the "Last Comic" two-hour season premiere.

On Thursday, July 12 from 8-9 p.m. ET, a one-hour encore "My Name is Earl" averaged a 1.7/6 in 18-49 and 4.3 million viewers overall. At 9 p.m., a rebroadcast of "The Office" delivered a 1.8/6 in 18-49 and 3.9 million viewers overall. At 9:30 p.m., an encore "30 Rock" averaged a 1.4/4 in 18-49 and 3.2 million viewers overall.

At 10 p.m. ET, a special encore telecast of "The Office" (1.9/6 in 18-49, 3.7 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 36 percent in adults 18-49. "The Office" ranked #1 among adults, men and women 18-34. From 10:30-11 p.m., a special encore telecast of "Scrubs" averaged a 1.4/5 in adults 18-49 and 2.9 million viewers overall.

On Friday, July 13 from 8-9 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "1 vs 100" (1.3/5 in 18-49, 5.1 million viewers overall) was #1 in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. At 9 p.m., a rebroadcast of "Las Vegas" averaged a 1.0/4 in 18-49 and 3.9 million viewers overall.

Friday at 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (1.6/6 in 18-49, 5.9 million viewers overall) locked up NBC's highest 18-49 and total-viewer results in this time period in four weeks. "Criminal Intent" built on its lead-in by 60 percent in 18-49 to rank #2 in that key demo. In total viewers, the drama built on its lead-in by 51 percent, or 2.0 million viewers, to rank #1 in the slot by that measure.

NBC ranked #1 Friday night in total viewers, marking the network's first Friday win by this measure since January 19.

On Saturday, July 14 from 8-8:30 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of Tuesday's premiere episode of "The Singing Bee" averaged a 0.7/3 in 18-49 and 2.6 million viewers overall. From 8:30-10 p.m., a rebroadcast of Tuesday's 90-minute "America's Got Talent" averaged a 0.9/4 in 18-49 and 3.1 million viewers overall. At 10 p.m., an encore telecast of Wednesday's "America's Got Talent" (1.2/4 in 18-49, 4.0 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 33 percent in 18-49 to tie for #2 in adults 18-49 and 18-34 and rank #2 outright in adults 25-54.

On Sunday, July 15 from 7-9 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Dateline NBC" (1.4/5 in 18-49, 5.9 million viewers overall) reported the show's highest 18-49 and total viewer results for a Sunday telecast in four weeks, up 27 percent in 18-49 versus the prior week (1.4 vs.1.1). From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Dateline" grew by 80 percent in 18-49 (to a 1.8/6 from a 1.0/4) and by 68 percent, or 3.0 million persons, in total viewers (to 7.4 million from.4.4 million).

Sunday at 9 p.m. ET, an encore "Law & Order" delivered a 1.5/4 in 18-49 and 5.5 million viewers overall. At 10 p.m., a rebroadcast of "Law & Order: SVU" (1.9/6 in 18-49, 6.2 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 27 percent in adults 18-49 to win the time period in 18-49 and other key measures.