NBC RESULTS FOR THE PRIMETIME WEEK OF MAY 12-18

ONE-HOUR 'MY NAME IS EARL' SEASON FINALE WINS ITS THURSDAY SLOT IN ADULTS 18-49 AND OTHER KEY DEMOS

SEASON FINALE OF 'THE OFFICE' TOPS LAST YEAR'S FINALE IN 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS, DESPITE TOUGH TIME-PERIOD COMPETITION FROM 'GREY'S ANATOMY' AND 'CSI'

'LAW & ORDER: SVU' SWEEPS ITS TUESDAY TIME PERIOD, RANKING #1 BY EVERY KEY RATINGS MEASURE -- ADULTS, MEN AND WOMEN 18-49, 18-34, 25-54 AND TOTAL VIEWERS

BURBANK, Calif. � May 20, 2008 � Paced by season finales of "The Office," "Law & Order: SVU," "ER," "My Name is Earl" and "Medium," NBC averaged a 1.9 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49 and 5.5 million viewers overall for the week of May 12-18, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Through 34 weeks of the 2007-08 season, Fox leads in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, with the race for #2 exceptionally tight. Season-to-date averages in adults 18-49 for the period September 24, 2007 through May 18, 2008 are Fox (4.2/11), ABC and CBS (3.0/8), NBC (2.8/8), Univision (1.5/4), CW (1.1/3) and Telemundo (0.4/1).

NBC is the only major network that has not seen its audience get significantly older this season versus last and it is now the "second-youngest" of the major broadcast networks. Through the first 34 weeks of the 2007-08 season, NBC is nearly matching its median age from the prior season (48.3 years this season vs. 48.2 years last season). In this same comparison, ABC's median age has increased by 2.2 years (to 49.2 from 47.0), CBS's median age has increased to 52.8 years old from 52.0 and Fox's median age has increased by 1.3 years to 43.9 from 42.6 years old at this point last season.

Primetime averages for the week of May 12-18 in adults 18-49 were Fox (3.5/10), ABC (3.1/9), CBS (2.6/7), NBC (1.9/5), Univision (1.5/4), CW (1.1/3) and Telemundo (0.4/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (10.3 million), ABC (9.6 million), Fox (9.2 million), NBC (5.5 million), Univision (3.6 million), CW (2.7 million) and Telemundo (1.0 million).

Through 25 nights of the 28-night May 2008 sweep period, from Thursday, April 24 through Sunday, May 18, adult 18-49 averages are Fox (3.2/10), ABC (3.0/9), CBS (2.6/8), NBC (1.9/5), Univision (1.5/4), CW (1.0/3) and Telemundo (0.4/1). In total viewers, the 25-night May sweep averages are CBS (10.2 million), ABC (9.3 million), Fox (8.7 million), NBC (5.9 million), Univision (3.6 million), CW (2.6 million) and Telemundo (1.0 million).

NBC highlights for the week of May 12-18:

* With its final episode of the current season, "Medium" continued to deliver strong numbers on Monday. Its May 12 telecast was up 30 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's average in this time period this season prior to "Medium's" debut. Season-to-date, "Medium" is up 17 percent in 18-49 and 22 percent in total viewers versus last season.

* On Tuesday, the season finale of "Law & Order: SVU" swept its time period, ranking #1 by every key ratings measure � adults, men and women 18-49, 18-34, 25-54 and total viewers. In adults 18-49, "SVU" topped its closest competitor by a 73 percent margin of victory, and it beat the ABC-CBS competition combined in adults 18-34.

* On Thursday, the one-hour season finale of "My Name is Earl" ranked #1 in adults 18-49 and other key demographics, scoring its highest 18-49 rating in five weeks and its biggest overall viewership in six weeks. "Earl" matched its year-ago finale in 18-49 and was up 3 percent in total viewers versus last year.

* Also on Thursday, the one-hour season finale of "The Office" topped its year-ago season finale by 8 percent in 18-49 and 4 percent in total viewers, despite tough time-period competition from first-run episodes of "Grey's Anatomy" and "CSI." "The Office" ranked #2 in adults 18-34 (topping "CSI" in that key demo) and #1 among men 18-49 and men 18-34, beating both the ABC and CBS dramas in those demos.

* "The Office" was the #1 show of the week among men 18-34, topping all other primetime telecasts including both editions of "American Idol" in that elusive demo. Among all programs this week, "The Office" ranked #5 in adults 18-34, #5 among men 18-49 and #10 among adults 18-49.

* Additionally on Thursday, the season finale of "ER" delivered that series' highest 18-49 and total-viewer results since January 17.

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 May 12-18:

On Monday, May 12 from 8-10 p.m. ET, "American Gladiators" averaged a 1.9 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49 and 5.0 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "American Gladiators" grew by 24 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.1 from a 1.7). "American Gladiators" earned a 1.6 rating among kids 2-11, matching NBC's top kids rating for any primetime telecast in seven weeks (since the March 24 edition of "Deal or No Deal").

Monday at 10 p.m. ET, "Medium" (3.0/9 in 18-49, 8.7 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 46 percent in 18-49 rating and by 71 percent or more than 3.6 million persons in total viewers. "Medium" was up 30 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's average in this time period prior to "Medium's" debut on January 7 (3.0 vs. 2.3, "live plus same day"). Season-to-date, "Medium" is up 17 percent in 18-49 versus last season (3.5 vs. 3.0, "most current") and up 22 percent in total viewers (10.4 million vs. 8.5 million).

On Tuesday, May 13 at 8 p.m. ET, "Most Outrageous Moments" delivered a 1.2/3 in adults 18-49 and 3.9 million viewers overall. From 8:30-9 p.m., an encore telecast of "Most Outrageous Moments" averaged a 1.3/4 in 18-49 and 4.1 million viewers overall.

At 9 p.m., an encore telecast of "Law & Order: SVU" (1.9/5 in 18-49, 6.1 million viewers overall) surged versus the prior week's encore telecast in this slot by 46 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.9/5 from a 1.3/3) and by 61 percent or 2.3 million persons in total viewers (to 6.2 million from 3.9 million).

Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET, the season finale of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.8/10 in 18-49, 11.5 million viewers overall) won its time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and all key measures. In adults and men 18-34, "SVU" beat the ABC-CBS competition combined in the hour. In adults 18-49, "SVU" prevailed by 73 percent over CBS's encore "Criminal Minds" (3.8 vs. 2.2) and by 90 percent over ABC's "Women's Murder Club."

"SVU" built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 100 percent in 18-49, while the ABC and CBS competition both declined in 18-49 versus the prior hour. "SVU" also increased from its first to its second half-hour by 14 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 4.1/11 from a 3.6/9).

On Wednesday, May 14 from 8-10 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" averaged a 1.9/5 in 18-49 and 7.2 million viewers overall.

Wednesday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Law & Order" (2.6/7 in adults 18-49, 8.5 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.

On Thursday, May 15, at 8 p.m. ET, the season finale of "My Name is Earl" (3.0/9 in 18-49, 7.2 million viewers overall) scored its highest 18-49 rating in five weeks (since April 10) and biggest overall viewership in six weeks (since April 3). "Earl" ranked #1 in adults 18-49, 18-34, 25-54 and in all key adult-male demographics.

"Earl" matched last year's season-finale in 18-49 rating and was up 3 percent in total viewers versus its year-ago finale (3.0/10 in 18-49 and 6.9 million viewers overall on May 10, 2007).

Thursday from 9-10:01 p.m. ET, the season finale of "The Office" (4.2/10 in 18-49, 8.2 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in from the previous half-hour by 40 percent in adults 18-49, to deliver its highest 18-49 and total-viewer results in four weeks (since April 17).

"The Office" ranked #2 in its highly competitive hour in adults 18-34 and #1 among men 18-49 and men 18-34, topping first-run telecasts of both "Grey's Anatomy" and "CSI" in the latter demos.

"The Office" season finale was up 8 percent in 18-49 rating and 4 percent in total viewers versus last year's season finale (a 3.9/12 in 18-49 and 7.9 million viewers overall on May 17, 2007 from 8-9 p.m.).

Thursday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, the season finale of "ER" (3.3/9, 8.4 million viewers overall) scored that series' highest 18-49 and total-viewer results since January 17. From its first half-hour to its second, "ER" increased by 6 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 3.4 from a 3.2) and by 8 percent in total viewers (to 8.9 million from 8.1 million), while the competing dramas on ABC and CBS declined. On Friday, May 16 from 8-10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "American Gladiators" averaged a 0.9/3 in 18-49 and 2.4 million viewers overall. From 10-11 p.m., "Dateline NBC" (1.4/4 in 18-49, 4.3 million viewers overall) increased by 33 percent in 18-49 rating from its first to its second half-hour (to a 1.6/5 from a 1.2/4).

On Saturday, May 17, at 8 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Medium" averaged a 0.5/2 in 18-49 and 2.3 million viewers overall. At 9 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (0.8/3 in 18-49, 3.5 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 60 percent in 18-49 rating. At 10 p.m., an encore "Law & Order" (1.2/4 in 18-49, 5.0 million viewers overall) built on its 18-49 lead-in by 50 percent.

NBC's primetime performance increased steadily on Saturday, building by 225 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.3/4 from a 0.4/2) and by 137 percent, or more than 3.0 million persons in total viewers (to 5.3 million from 2.3 million) from the first to the final half-hour of primetime.

On Sunday, May 18 from 7-8 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" averaged a 1.1/4 in 18-49 and 4.4 million viewers overall. Encore telecasts of "The Office" delivered a 1.0/3 in 18-49 and 2.7 million viewers at 8 p.m., a 1.2/3 in 18-49 and 2.6 million viewers overall at 8:30 p.m., a 1.4/3 in 18-49 and 2.8 million viewers overall at 9 p.m. and a 1.6/4 in 18-49 and 3.1 million viewers overall at 9:30 p.m. From its first half-hour to its fourth, this two-hour block of "The Office" increased by 60 percent in 18-49 rating. At 10 p.m., an encore telecast of "Law & Order: SVU" delivered a 1.6/4 in 18-49 and 4.7 million viewers overall.