'DEAL OR NO DEAL' LEADS NBC'S WEEK OF FEB. 18-24

'DEAL OR NO DEAL' LEADS NBC'S WEEK OF FEB. 18-24

NBC WINS ITS SIXTH CONSECUTIVE MONDAY IN ADULTS 18-49, PACED BY 'DEAL OR NO DEAL,' THE TOP-RATED PRIMETIME TELECAST ON ANY NETWORK MONDAY NIGHT

'MEDIUM' WINS ITS MONDAY SLOT IN ADULTS 18-49, 18-34, 25-54 AND OTHER KEY DEMOS

'THE BIGGEST LOSER' ON TUESDAY DELIVERS NBC'S HIGHEST 18-49 RATING EVER, EXCLUDING OLYMPICS, AGAINST A REGULAR TWO-HOUR 'AMERICAN IDOL,' AND IS TUESDAY'S TOP-RATED ALTERNATIVE TO 'IDOL'

AN ENCORE 'LAW & ORDER: SVU' ON TUESDAY TOPS FIRST-RUN DRAMA COMPETITION ON ABC AND CBS

'LAW & ORDER' ON WEDNESDAY LOCKS UP A TIME-PERIOD WIN IN ADULTS 18-49, 25-54, TOTAL VIEWERS AND OTHER MEASURES

ON FRIDAY, THE DEBUT OF 'AMNE$IA' HITS A THREE-MONTH HIGH FOR NBC IN THE TIME PERIOD IN 18-49

THROUGH 22 WEEKS OF THE 2007-08 SEASON, NBC IS TIED FOR #2 IN ADULTS 18-49 AND IS THE ONLY MAJOR NETWORK TO HAVE GROWN YOUNGER IN PRIMETIME

BURBANK, Calif. � February 26, 2008 � With a potent "Deal or No Deal," key time period wins from "Medium," "SVU" and "Law & Order," and a best-ever performance by "The Biggest Loser" in head-to-head competition with a two-hour "American Idol," NBC averaged a 2.3 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49 and 7.2 million viewers overall for the week of February 18-24, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

In a week in which the top tier of the program rankings were dominated by three editions of "American Idol" and Academy Awards-related programming, NBC still placed five programs among the week's top 20 shows in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49. Monday's "Deal or No Deal" ranked #7, the Monday debut of "My Dad is Better Than You Dad" ranked #12, Tuesday's "The Biggest Loser" and an encore "Law & Order: SVU" tied at #13 and "Law & Order" on Wednesday ranked #19 (tied).

Monday's "Deal or No Deal" also ranked #6 for the week in total viewers, averaging 16.9 million viewers overall. The only programs on network television last week that attracted a bigger overall viewership than "Deal" were the three editions of "American Idol" and the Academy Awards telecast and its related Red Carpet Preview Show.

Through 22 weeks of the 2007-08 season, Fox is leading in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, with NBC, ABC and CBS tied in second place. Season-to-date averages in adults 18-49 for the period September 24, 2007 through February 24, 2008 are Fox (4.3/11), NBC, ABC and CBS (3.1/8), Univision (1.5/4), CW (1.0/3) and Telemundo (0.4/1).

Through the first 22 weeks of the 2007-08 season, NBC is the only network to have grown younger in primetime, and NBC is now the "second-youngest" of the major broadcast networks. NBC's median age has moved to 47.0 years this season from 47.6 years at this point last season. In this same comparison, ABC's median age has increased by 2.1 years (to 48.8 from 46.7), CBS's median age has increased to 52.9 years old from 51.6 and Fox's audience has aged to 43.7 from 42.9 years old.

Primetime averages for the week of February 18-24 in adults 18-49 were Fox (5.7/15), ABC (3.2/8), NBC (2.3/6), CBS (2.1/6), Univision (1.7/4), CW (0.9/2) and Telemundo (0.5/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were Fox (15.0 million), ABC (9.9 million), CBS (7.9 million), NBC (7.2 million), Univision (3.9 million), CW (2.4 million) and Telemundo (1.2 million).

For Nielsen's February 2008 sweep, primetime averages through 25 nights of the 28-night period in adults 18-49 are Fox (6.9/18), ABC (2.7/7), NBC (2.4/7), CBS (2.2/6) and CW (0.9/2). In overall total viewers, those averages are Fox (18.0 million), CBS (8.2 million), ABC (8.1 million), NBC (7.4 million) and CW (2.4 million).

NBC highlights for the week of February 18-24:

* NBC won its sixth consecutive Monday night in adults 18-49, paced by "Deal or No Deal," which scored the highest 18-49 rating and biggest overall viewership of any primetime telecast on any network Monday night

* Also on Monday, "Medium" won its hour in adults 18-49, 18-34, 25-54 and numerous other key demographics, while the debut of "My Dad is Better Than Your Dad," ranked #2 in its hour in adults 18-49, topping such competition as Fox's "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" and the finale of ABC's "Dance War."

* On Tuesday, "The Biggest Loser" was the top-rated alternative to "American Idol" in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures over the two hours. "Biggest Loser" delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating ever against a regular two-hour "Idol," excluding Olympics.

* Despite two hours of head-to-head competition with "Idol," "Loser" surged by 44 percent in 18-49 rating and by 37 percent in total viewers from its first half-hour to its fourth.

* Also on Tuesday, an encore "Law & Order: SVU" ranked #1 in adults 18-49, total viewers and all key ratings measures against first-run competition from CBS's "Jericho" and ABC's "Boston Legal." The "SVU" rebroadcast beat "Jericho" and "Boston Legal" combined among adults, men and women 18-34.

* NBC ranked #2 on Tuesday in adults 18-49 and total viewers, behind only "Idol"-fueled Fox. NBC has finished #2 in 18-49 on all six Tuesdays so far this season in which Fox has run "American idol," and has ranked #1 or #2 for the last 12 Tuesdays in a row.

* On Wednesday, "Law & Order" won its time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. In adults 18-49, "Law & Order" prevailed by a 63 percent margin over CBS's "CSI: NY" encore and by a 94 percent margin over ABC's first-run "Cashmere Mafia."

* Also on Wednesday, "Deal or No Deal" was the top-rated alternative to "American Idol" in adults 18-49, total viewers and other measures, topping CBS's "Big Brother," ABC's "Wife Swap" and CW's premiere of "America's Next Top Model 4."

* On Thursday, "The Celebrity Apprentice" continues to pace well ahead of the most recent cycle in the "Apprentice" franchise, with Thursday's episode, the eighth of the current cycle, topping the eighth episode of "Apprentice 6" by 10 percent in 18-49 rating. Season-to-date, the increase for "Celebrity Apprentice" over "Apprentice 6" is 20 percent in adults 18-49.

* On Friday the debut of the new comedy game show "Amne$ia" recalled NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the hour in three months and matched NBC's top result in the slot in 11 months. "Amne$ia" ranked #2 in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key 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 February 18-24:

On Monday, Feb. 18, from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (5.2 rating, 13 share in adults 18-49, 16.9 million viewers overall) delivered that series' highest 18-49 rating and biggest overall viewership for any edition of "Deal" on any night of the week in almost a year (since Monday, March 5, 2007). This was also NBC's top 18-49 rating and total viewer tally in this hour since March 5, 2007.

"Deal or No Deal" scored the highest 18-49 rating and biggest overall viewership of any primetime telecast on any network Monday night, winning its hour by all key measures. In adults 18-49, "Deal" prevailed by a 68 percent margin over its nearest competitor (5.2 vs. a 3.1 for Fox's "Prison Break" in second place). In total viewers, "Deal" nearly doubled the audience of its nearest rival (16.9 million vs. 8.7 million for ABC's "Dance War" in that hour).

The last five Monday telecasts of "Deal or No Deal" have delivered the highest 18-49 rating for any program on any network on those respective nights.

Monday from 9-10 p.m. ET, the debut of "My Dad is Better Than You Dad" (3.5/8 in 18-49, 9.8 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in the hour in adults 18-49 and other key measures, topping such competition as Fox's "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" and the finale of ABC's "Dance War." In fact, "My Dad" topped all other competitors in the hour in adults 18-49, excepting only CBS's encore "Two and a Half Men" in the 9-9:30 p.m. half-hour.

Monday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Medium" (2.8/7 in 18-49, 8.4 million viewers overall) won the hour in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and numerous other key demographic measures.

NBC won its sixth consecutive Monday night in adults 18-49, and its second Monday in a row in total viewers.

Tuesday, Feb. 19 from 8-10 p.m. ET, "The Biggest Loser 5" (3.3/8 share in adults 18-49, 8.1 million viewers overall) was the top-rated alternative to Fox's "American Idol," in adults 18-49, total viewers and all other key measures. Despite facing a two-hour edition of "Idol," "Biggest Loser" scored its highest 18-49 rating in four week, up 14 percent versus the prior week. "Biggest Loser" ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and other key measures over the two hours.

The 3.3 adult 18-49 rating for "Biggest Loser" is NBC's highest 18-49 rating ever against a regular two-hour telecast of "American Idol," excluding Olympics.

Despite head-to-head competition from "American Idol" over its two hours, "Biggest Loser" gained, from its first half-hour to its fourth, 44 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 3.9/9 from a 2.7/7) and 37 percent, or more than 2.4 million persons, in total viewers (to 9.3 million from 6.8 million).

Tuesday from 10-11 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.3/9 in 18-49, 9.3 million viewers overall) won the hour in all key ratings measures, versus first-run competition from CBS's "Jericho" and ABC's "Boston Legal." The "SVU" rebroadcast beat "Jericho" and "Boston Legal" combined among adults, men and women 18-34.

"Law & Order: SVU" locked up its highest 18-49 rating for a rebroadcast since October 24, 2006. In total viewers, it was the top "SVU" encore since July 17, 2007.

NBC ranked #2 on Tuesday night in adults 18-49 and total viewers, behind only Fox's two hours of "American Idol." NBC has finished #2 in 18-49 on all six Tuesdays so far this season in which Fox has run "American idol," and has ranked #1 or #2 for the last 12 Tuesdays in a row.

On Wednesday, Feb. 20 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (2.1/5 in 18-49, 9.0 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in adults 18-49, 25-54, total viewers. "Deal" was the top-rated alternative to "American Idol," topping CBS's "Big Brother," ABC's "Wife Swap" and CW's premiere of "America's Next Top Model 4" in those and other key measures. At 9 p.m., "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (1.8/4 in 18-49, 7.7 million viewers) ranked #2 in adults 25-54 (tied) and total viewers.

Wednesday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Law & Order" (3.1/8 in 18-49, 10.9 million viewers overall) won the time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures, matching its highest 18-49 rating in five weeks (since January 16). In adults 18-49, "Law & Order" prevailed by a 63 percent margin over CBS's "CSI: NY" encore (3.1/8 vs. a 1.9/5) and by a 94 percent margin over ABC's first-run "Cashmere Mafia" (3.1/8 vs. 1.6/4 for "Cashmere Mafia").

On Thursday, Feb. 21 from 8-9 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "My Name is Earl" averaged a 1.7/4 in 18-49 and 4.5 million viewers overall. Opposite tough competition that included Fox's "American idol" results show and CBS's "Survivor," the "Earl" rebroadcast increased from its first half-hour to its second by 13 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.8 from a 1.6).

Thursday from 9-10:01 p.m. ET, "The Celebrity Apprentice" (3.2/8 in adults 18-49, 8.1 million viewers overall) built by 88 percent in 18-49 rating and by 80 percent in total viewers from its lead-in.

"Celebrity Apprentice" continues to pace solidly ahead of the most recent cycle in the "Apprentice" franchise, with Thursday's episode, the eighth of the current cycle, topping the eighth episode of "Apprentice 6" by 10 percent in 18-49 rating (3.2 vs. a 2.9 on Sunday, March 11, 2007 at 10 p.m.). Season-to-date, the increase for "Celebrity Apprentice" over "Apprentice 6" is 20 percent in adults 18-49 in "live plus same day" averages.

Thursday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "Lipstick Jungle" (2.4/6 in 18-49, 5.7 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in adults 18-34 (tied with ABC's "Eli Stone") and #1 outright among women 18-34. In adults 18-49, "Lipstick Jungle" finished within one tenth of a rating point of "Eli Stone" (2.4 vs. 2.5), despite an 84 percent lead-in advantage for the ABC drama, coming out of a first-run "Lost."

On Friday, February 22 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "1 vs 100" (2.1/6 in adults 18-49, 7.4 million viewers overall) scored its highest 18-49 rating in four weeks. "1 vs 100" ranked #2 in the time period in total viewers, women 18-49 (tied) and women 25-54.

Friday at 9 p.m. ET, the debut of "Amne$ia" (2.4/7 in 18-49, 7.4 million viewers) posted NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the hour in three months (since November 23, 2007) and matched NBC's top result in the slot in 11 months (since March 16, 2007). "Amne$ia" ranked #2 in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.

Friday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (2.0/6 in 18-49, 6.3 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and other key measures.

NBC ranked #2 on Friday night in adults 18-49.

On Saturday, Feb. 23, at 8 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "My Dad is Better You're your Dad" averaged a 0.8/3 in 18-49 and 2.7 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its second, "My Dad" increased by 29 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 0.9/3 from a 0.7/2).

Saturday from 9-11 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of the made-for-television movie "Knight Rider" averaged a 1.5/4 in 18-49 and 4.8 million viewers overall. "Knight Rider" grew throughout its two-hour telecast, moving into a tie for first place in adults 18-49 in its final 10:30-11 p.m. half-hour, pulling even with ABC's rebroadcast of "Forrest Gump." From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Knight Rider" increased by 50 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.8/5 from a 1.2/4) and by 30 percent, or more than 1.2 million persons, in total viewers (to 5.6 million from 4.3 million).

On Sunday, February 24 from 7-11 p.m. ET, NBC averaged a 1.3/3 in 18-49 and 4.7 million viewers overall with encore telecasts of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." The individual telecasts averaged a 1.0/3 in 18-49 and 3.6 million viewers overall from 7-8 p.m., a 1.4/3 in 18-49 and 5.5 million viewers from 8-9:03 p.m., a 1.4/3 in 18-49 and 5.0 million viewers overall from 9:03-10:05 p.m. and a 1.5/4 in 18-49 and 5.1 million viewers overall from 10:05-11:08 p.m.