NBC RESULTS FOR THE PRIMETIME WEEK OF MAY 19-25

NBC RESULTS FOR THE PRIMETIME WEEK OF MAY 19-25

BURBANK, Calif. � May 28, 2008 � NBC averaged a 1.6 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49 and 5.3 million viewers overall for the week of May 19-25, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Through 35 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 25, 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 35 weeks of the 2007-08 season, NBC is nearly matching its median age from the prior season (48.4 years this season vs. 48.2 years last season). In this same comparison, ABC's median age has increased by 2.2 years (to 49.3 from 47.1), CBS's median age has increased to 52.8 years old from 52.1 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 19-25 in adults 18-49 were Fox (4.5/14), ABC (2.6/8), CBS (2.1/6), NBC (1.6/5), Univision (1.4/4), CW (0.8/3) and Telemundo (0.4/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were Fox (12.5 million), CBS (8.5 million), ABC (8.4 million), NBC (5.3 million), Univision (3.4 million), CW (2.2 million) and Telemundo (1.0 million).

The May 2008 sweep concluded on Wednesday, May 21. Following are complete 28-day May sweep averages (Thursday, April 24 through Wednesday, May 21) in adult 18-49: Fox (3.7/11), ABC (3.0/9), CBS (2.7/8), NBC (1.9/5), Univision (1.6/4), CW (1.0/3) and Telemundo (0.4/1). In total viewers, the May sweep averages are CBS (10.4 million), Fox (10.0 million), ABC (9.5 million), NBC (5.8 million), Univision (3.6 million), CW (2.6 million) and Telemundo (1.0 million).

NBC highlights for the week of May 19-25:

* On Thursday, "Deal or No Deal" delivered NBC's biggest overall viewership in its time period in eight weeks. "Deal" won the first hour of primetime Thursday in total viewers.

* Thursday's "Deal or No Deal" grew by 63 percent in 18-49 rating and by 38 percent, or more than 3.2 million persons in total viewers from its first half-hour to its third, despite facing formidable competition in its final half-hour from the season finale of "Grey's Anatomy."

* Also on Thursday, despite head-to-head competition from the two-hour "Grey's Anatomy" finale, the season premiere of "Last Comic Standing" grew in key demos throughout its 90-minute telecast, increasing from its first half-hour to its third by 4 percent in adult 18-49 rating, by 11 percent in adults 18-34, by 14 percent in men 18-49 and by 15 percent in men 18-34. Among men 18-34, "Last Comic" ranked #8 among all programs on the broadcast networks this week.

* On Tuesday, the two episodes of "Most Outrageous Moments," one original and one encore, were the two highest-rated telecasts in adults 18-49 of the eight editions of "Most Outrageous Moments" that have aired in the Tuesday 8-9 p.m. hour over the past five weeks, despite competition from the final "American Idol" performance episode.

* On Sunday, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: SVU" at 10 p.m. was the time period's #1 non-sports telecast in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures, surging by 67 percent in 18-49 rating and 51 percent in total viewers versus its lead-in from the previous hour.

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 19-25:

On Monday, May 19 from 8-9:30 p.m. ET, "American Gladiators" averaged a 1.7 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49 and 4.0 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its third, "American Gladiators" grew by 27 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.9/5 from a 1.5/4) and by 27 percent, or 1.0 million persons, in total viewers (to 4.6 million from 3.6 million).

Monday from 9:30-11 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" averaged a 2.0/5 in 18-49 and 5.9 million viewers overall. From its first to its third half-hour, "Dateline" increased by 44 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.3/6 from a 1.6/4) and by 50 percent, or more than 2.3 million persons, in total viewers (to 6.9 million from 4.6 million).

On Tuesday, May 20 at 8 p.m. ET, "Most Outrageous Moments" delivered a 1.4/4 in adults 18-49 and 4.0 million viewers overall. From 8:30-9 p.m., an encore telecast of "Most Outrageous Moments" averaged a 1.5/4 in 18-49 and 4.0 million viewers overall. These are the two highest-rated telecasts in adults 18-49 of the eight editions of "Most Outrageous Moments" that have aired in the Tuesday 8-9 p.m. hour over the past five weeks, despite the competition from the final "American Idol" performance episode. At 9 p.m., an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" averaged a 1.4/4 in 18-49 and 3.9 million viewers overall

At 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.1/5 in 18-49, 5.8 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 50 percent in 18-49 rating and by 49 percent in total viewers. In adults 18-34, the "SVU" rebroadcast topped a first-run episode of CBS's "Shark."

On Wednesday, May 21 from 8-9 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order" delivered a 1.3/4 in 18-49 and 5.4 million viewers overall. From 9-10 p.m. a second encore "Law & Order" averaged a 1.2/3 in 18-49 and 5.1 million viewers overall.

Wednesday from 10-11 p.m. ET, the 18th season finale of "Law & Order" delivered a 2.6/7 in adults 18-49 and 8.6 million viewers overall. "Law & Order" ranked #2 in the time period in adults 18-49, 18-34, 25-54, total viewers and other key measures. "Law & Order" topped the season finale of ABC's "Boston Legal" by 63 percent in adults 18-49 (2.6 vs. 1.6), by 145 percent in adults 18-34 (1.7 vs. 0.7) and by 33 percent, or more than 2.1 million persons, in total viewers (8.6 million vs. 6.5 million).

On Thursday, May 22, from 8-9:30 p.m. "Deal or No Deal" (2.5/8 in 18-49, 10.3 million viewers overall) delivered NBC's biggest overall viewership in this time period in eight weeks (since March 27). "Deal" ranked #1 from 8-9 p.m. in total viewers.

From its first half-hour to its third, "Deal" grew by 63 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 3.1/9 from a 1.9/6) and by 38 percent, or more than 3.2 million persons, in total viewers (to 11.8 million from 8.5 million), despite facing formidable competition in its final half-hour from the season finale of "Grey's Anatomy."

Thursday from 9:30-11 p.m. ET, the season premiere of "Last Comic Standing" averaged a 2.4/6 in 18-49 and 5.9 million viewers overall. Despite facing head-to-head competition from the season finale of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," "Last Comic" increased from its first half-hour to its third by 4 percent in adults 18-49, by 11 percent in adults 18-34, by 14 percent in men 18-49 and by 15 percent in men 18-34.

On Friday, May 23 at 8 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Most Outrageous Moments" delivered a 1.3/5 in 18-49 and 4.7 million viewers overall. At 8:30 p.m., a second rebroadcast of "Most Outrageous Moments" delivered a 1.5/6 in 18-49 and 5.1 million viewers overall. These back-to-back episodes of "Most Outrageous Moments" matched NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this hour in five weeks.

Friday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.6/5 in 18-49, 5.9 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.

On Saturday, May 24, encore telecasts of "Most Outrageous TV Moments" averaged a 0.6/3 in 18-49 and 2.5 million viewers overall at 8 p.m. ET, a 0.9/3 in 18-49 and 3.0 million viewers overall at 8:30 p.m. and a 1.2/5 in 18-49 and 3.8 million viewers overall at 8:30 p.m. From its first half-hour to its third, this block of "Most Outrageous TV Moments" increased by 100 percent in 18-49 rating. From 9:30-11 p.m., an encore telecast of "Last Comic Standing" averaged a 1.2/4 in 18-49 and 3.2 million viewers overall.

On Sunday, May 25 from 7-9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" averaged a 0.7/3 in 18-49 and 3.8 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Dateline" increased by 80 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 0.9/3 from a 0.5/2) and by 54 percent, or more than 1.6 million persons in total viewers (to 4.6 million from 3.0 million). From 9-10 p.m., an encore telecast of "Law & Order" averaged a 0.9/3 in 18-49 and 4.0 million viewers overall.

Sunday from 10-11 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: SVU" (1.5/5 in 18-49, 6.2 million viewers overall) was the time period's #1 non-sports telecast in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. "SVU" built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 67 percent in 18-49 rating and by 55 percent in total viewers.