'THE CELEBRITY APPRENTICE' IS THURSDAY'S #1 SHOW IN 18-49 AND THE #1 PRIMETIME ENTERTAINMENT TELECAST OF THE WEEK TO DATE

'CELEBRITY APPRENTICE' DEBUT WINS ITS SLOT IN ADULTS 18-49, ADULTS 25-54 AND ALL KEY-ADULT FEMALE DEMOS VERSUS THE ORANGE BOWL

THE LAUNCH OF 'CELEBRITY APPRENTICE' SCORES THE HIGHEST 18-49 RATING FOR ANY DEBUT IN THE'APPRENTICE' FRANCHISE SINCE SEPTEMBER 2005 AND BIGGEST OVERALL VIEWERSHIP FOR AN 'APPRENTICE' DEBUT SINCE JANUARY 2005

'DEAL OR NO DEAL' AND 'ER' ALSO POST STRONG NUMBERS, TOPPING ALL NON-SPORTS COMPETITION

BURBANK, Calif. � January 4, 2008 � Paced by the strong debut of "The Celebrity Apprentice," which is currently the #1 entertainment telecast of the week to date in adults 18-49, NBC ranked #1 on Thursday night in adults 18-49, tied with Fox's Orange Bowl coverage, according to "fast affiliate-based" "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Last night from 9-10:01 p.m. ET, the debut of "The Celebrity Apprentice" (4.5 rating, 11 share in adults 18-49, 11.0 million viewers overall) won its time period in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and all key adult-female demographics and delivered the #1 rating of the night in adults 18-49.

Versus NBC's 3.3 rating in this time period on the same night last season, "Celebrity Apprentice" is up 36 percent. In total viewers, "Celebrity Apprentice" improved the time period by 67 percent versus the same night last year (11.0 million vs. 6.6 million). "Celebrity Apprentice scored NBC's top 18-49 rating in the time period since October 18.

From half-hour to half-hour, "The Celebrity Apprentice" grew by 9 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 4.7/12 from a 4.3/11) and by 6 percent in total viewers (to 11.3 million from 10.7 million)

The new series launched with the highest 18-49 rating for a premiere in the "Apprentice" franchise since the debut of "The Apprentice 4" on September 22, 2005. In total viewers, last night's "Celebrity Apprentice" attracted the biggest overall audience for an "Apprentice" premiere since "The Apprentice 3" debuted on January 20, 2005.

From 8-9 p.m. ET, NBC's "Deal or No Deal" (3.7/10 in 18-49, 13.3 million viewers overall) was the hour's #1 non-sports choice in adults 18-49 and other key demographics and ranked #1 outright in total viewers.

From 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "ER" (3.6/10 in 18-49, 9.6 million viewers overall) was the #1 non-sports choice in the time period in adults 18-49 and most other key demos and ranked #1 outright among women 18-49 and women 25-54.

Preliminary 18-49 averages for Thursday night are: NBC and Fox, 4.0/10; CBS, 2.6/7; ABC, 1.8/5; CW, 0.8/2. In overall total viewers, January 3 preliminary results are: Fox and NBC, 11.3 million; CBS, 10.9 million; ABC, 5.4 million; CW, 2.2 million

Note that all national ratings are "live plus same day" unless otherwise indicated.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: What follows is the afternoon update with the final national Nielsen ratings.]

UPDATE: 'THE CELEBRITY APPRENTICE' IS THURSDAY'S #1 SHOW IN 18-49 AND THE #1 PRIMETIME ENTERTAINMENT TELECAST OF THE WEEK TO DATE

'CELEBRITY APPRENTICE' DEBUT WINS ITS SLOT IN ADULTS 18-49, ADULTS 25-54 AND KEY-ADULT FEMALE DEMOS VERSUS THE ORANGE BOWL

THE LAUNCH OF 'CELEBRITY APPRENTICE' SCORES THE HIGHEST 18-49 RATING FOR ANY DEBUT IN THE'APPRENTICE' FRANCHISE SINCE SEPTEMBER 2005 AND BIGGEST OVERALL VIEWERSHIP FOR AN 'APPRENTICE' DEBUT SINCE JANUARY 2005

'DEAL OR NO DEAL' AND 'ER' ALSO POST STRONG NUMBERS, TOPPING ALL NON-SPORTS COMPETITION

BURBANK, Calif. � January 4, 2008 � NBC's Thursday was paced by the strong debut of "The Celebrity Apprentice," which is currently the #1 entertainment telecast of the week to date in adults 18-49, according to updated "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Last night from 9-10:01 p.m. ET, the debut of "The Celebrity Apprentice" (4.5 rating, 11 share in adults 18-49, 11.1 million viewers overall) won its time period in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and among women 18-49 and 25-54. "Celebrity Apprentice" delivered the #1 rating of the night in adults 18-49.

Versus NBC's 3.3 rating in this time period on the same night last season, "Celebrity Apprentice" is up 36 percent. In total viewers, "Celebrity Apprentice" improved the time period by 68 percent versus the same night last year (11.1 million vs. 6.6 million). "Celebrity Apprentice" scored NBC's top 18-49 rating in the time period since October 18.

From half-hour to half-hour, "The Celebrity Apprentice" grew by 9 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 4.7/12 from a 4.3/11) and by 6 percent in total viewers (to 11.4 million from 10.7 million)

The new series launched with the highest 18-49 rating for a premiere in the "Apprentice" franchise since the debut of "The Apprentice 4" on September 22, 2005. In total viewers, last night's "Celebrity Apprentice" attracted the biggest overall audience for an "Apprentice" premiere since "The Apprentice 3" debuted on January 20, 2005.

From 8-9 p.m. ET, NBC's "Deal or No Deal" (3.7/10 in 18-49, 13.4 million viewers overall) was the hour's #1 non-sports choice in adults 18-49 and other key demographics and ranked #1 outright in adults 25-54 and total viewers.

From 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "ER" (3.6/10 in 18-49, 9.4 million viewers overall) was the #1 non-sports choice in the time period in adults 18-49 and most other key demos and ranked #1 outright among women 18-49 and women 25-54.

Updated 18-49 averages for Thursday night are: Fox 4.1/11; NBC 4.0/10; CBS, 2.5/7; ABC, 1.8/5; CW, 0.8/2. In overall total viewers, January 3 updated results are: Fox, 11.6 million; NBC, 11.3 million; CBS, 10.7 million; ABC, 5.4 million; CW, 2.2 million

Note that all national ratings are "live plus same day" unless otherwise indicated.