NBC WINS THE WEEK OF DEC. 22-28 IN ADULTS 18-49, PACED BY 'SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL'

NBC WINS THE WEEK OF DEC. 22-28 IN ADULTS 18-49, PACED BY 'SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL'

THE 'NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL' BRONCOS-CHARGERS GAME IS THE #1 PRIMETIME TELECAST OF THE WEEK IN ADULTS 18-49, TOTAL VIEWERS AND VIRTUALLY ALL KEY MEASURES

THIS WEEK'S BRONCOS-CHARGERS GAME PROPELS NBC TO A SUNDAY PRIMETIME WIN IN EVERY KEY MEASURE, INCLUDING ADULTS, MEN AND WOMEN 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS

WEDNESDAY'S TELECAST OF 'IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE' GATHERS TOGETHER NBC'S BIGGEST OVERALL VIEWERSHIP FOR A CHRISTMAS EVE SINCE 2003

ON THURSDAY, A SPECIAL TWO-HOUR CHRISTMAS EDITION OF 'DEAL OR NO DEAL' IS #1 IN THE SLOT IN ADULTS 18-49 AND OTHER KEY DEMOS, SURGING 58 PERCENT IN 18-49 FROM ITS FIRST HALF-HOUR TO ITS FOURTH

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. � December 30, 2008 � Paced by "NBC Sunday Night Football," which was the #1 primetime program of the week in virtually all key measures, NBC won the week of December 22-28 in adults 18-49, averaging a 1.9 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49 and 6.3 million viewers overall. According to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research, NBC also ranked #1 for the week among adults 25-54 (tied with CBS), women 18-34 (tied with Fox), men 18-49 and men 25-54.

The "NBC Sunday Night Football" telecast of the Denver Broncos at the San Diego Chargers was the #1 primetime program of the week in nearly every key measure - adults 18-49, total viewers, adults 25-54, adults and women 18-34 and all key adult-male demographics. "NBC Sunday Night Football" ranked #2 among all primetime programs in women 18-49 and women 25-54, the only two key demographic categories in which the telecast was not #1 for the week. (Note: weekly program rankings exclude football overruns, post-game and pre-game telecasts).

Through the first 14 weeks of the 2008-09 season, NBC is now the "second youngest" of the major broadcast networks, with a median age of 46.3 years, only 1.1 years "older" than Fox (45.2 years). By comparison, ABC's median age is 50.0 and CBS's median age is 53.6. Season to date, NBC is #1 in adults 18-34 (tied with Fox at a 2.6/8) and is running within 0.3 of a rating point of first place in adults 18-49.

Primetime averages for the week of December 22-28 in adults 18-49 were NBC (1.9/6), Fox (1.8/6), CBS (1.7/5), ABC (1.4/4), Univision (1.1/4), CW and Telemundo (0.4/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (7.6 million), NBC (6.3 million), Fox (5.4 million), ABC (4.7 million), Univision (3.2 million), CW (1.3 million) and Telemundo (1.0 million).

NBC highlights for the week of December 22-28:

* The "NBC Sunday Night Football" telecast of the Denver Broncos at the San Diego Chargers was the #1 telecast of the night in all key measures, propelling NBC to a Sunday night victory in adults, men and women 18-49, adults, men and women 18-34, adults, men and women 25-54 and total viewers.

* On Thursday, a special Christmas edition of "Deal or No Deal" won its two-hour time period in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and other key demos. "Deal" increased by 58 percent in 18-49 rating and by 44 percent or 2.3 million persons in total viewers from its first half-hour to its fourth.

* On Wednesday, NBC's 26th primetime telecast of the 1946 film classic "It's a Wonderful Life" gathered together NBC's biggest overall viewership for a Christmas Eve since 2003 and matched the network's highest 18-49 rating for a Christmas Eve since that same year. This year's telecast was up 7 percent in 18-49 and 18 percent in total viewers versus its Christmas Eve results of one year ago.

* On Monday, the two-hour Monday debut of "Momma's Boys" grew dramatically from its first half-hour to its fourth, increasing by 50 percent in 18-49 rating. In its final hour from 10-11 p.m., the new unscripted series earned NBC its highest 18-49 rating and total viewer result in the slot in seven weeks, ranking #1 in adults, men and women 18-34 and finishing within 0.1 of a rating point of the lead in adults 18-49.

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 December 22-28:

On Monday, Dec. 22 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "2008: Today Looks Back, a Holiday Special" averaged a 1.5 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49 and 6.1 million viewers overall

Monday from 9-11 p.m. ET, "Momma's Boys" averaged a 1.7/5 in adults 18-49 and 5.0 million viewers overall. "Momma's Boys" grew substantially from its first half-hour to its fourth, increasing by 50 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.1/6 from a 1.4/4) and by 19 percent in total viewers (to 5.5 million from 4.6 million).

For its second hour, from 10-11 p.m. ET ("Momma's Boys'" regular time period starting this week) the new unscripted series earned NBC's highest 18-49 rating and total viewer result in the time period in seven weeks (since the "Saturday Night Live Presidential Bash 2008" special on November 3). In its final hour from 10-11 p.m., "Momma's Boys" ranked #1 in adults, men and women 18-34 and finished within 0.1 of a rating point of the time-period lead in adults 18-49.

On Tuesday, Dec. 23 from 8-9 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order" (1.3/4 in 18-49, 6.2 million viewers overall) increased from its first half-hour to its second by 17 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.4 from a 1.2). At 9 p.m., a rebroadcast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.6/5 in 18-49, 6.0 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in its time period in adults 18-49 and total viewers and #1 among women 18-34 (tied). From its first half-hour to its second, "SVU" increased by 21 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.7 from a 1.4). At 10 p.m., a second encore telecast of "Law & Order: SVU" (2.0/6 in 18-49, 7.1 million viewers overall) finished within a tenth of a rating point of the time-period lead in adults 18-49 and won the hour among adults 18-34. The 10 p.m. "SVU" built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 25 percent in 18-49 rating.

On Wednesday, Dec. 24 from 8-11 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of the 1946 film classic "It's a Wonderful Life" (1.6/6 in 18-49, 5.3 million viewers overall) gathered together NBC's biggest overall viewership for a Christmas Eve since 2003 and matched the network's highest 18-49 primetime average for a Christmas Eve since that same year. This year's Christmas Eve telecast was up 7 percent in 18-49 and 18 percent in total viewers versus the film's Christmas Eve results of one year ago (a 1.5/5 in 18-49 and 4.5 million viewers overall on Monday, Dec. 24, 2007). "It's a Wonderful Life" ranked #1 in the time period in adults 25-54, women 25-54, men 18-49 (tie) and men 25-54 (tie). From its first half-hour to its sixth, "Wonderful Life" increased by 100 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.2/7 from a 1.1/5) and by 58 percent or 2.4 million persons in total viewers (to 6.7 million from 4.3 million).

"It's a Wonderful Life" improved on the performance of its telecast of 11 days earlier by 23 percent in 18-49 rating and 8 percent in total viewers (a 1.3/4 in 18-49 and 4.9 million viewers overall on Saturday, Dec. 13). This marks NBC's 26th primetime run of "It's a Wonderful Life," directed by Frank Capra and starring Jimmy Stewart, since the movie was brought to broadcast network television in 1994.

On Thursday, Dec. 25 from 8-10 p.m. ET, a special Christmas edition of "Deal or No Deal" (1.6/5, 6.5 million viewers overall) won its time period in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and other key demos. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Deal" increased by 58 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.9/6 from a 1.2/5) and by 44 percent or 2.3 million persons in total viewers (to 7.6 million from 5.3 million).

Thursday at 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "The Office" (1.3/4 in 18-49, 3.4 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in the time period among adults 18-49 and #1 in adults, men and women 18-34. From 10:30-11 p.m., a second rebroadcast of "The Office" (1.1/4 in 18-49, 2.8 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in the half-hour in adults 18-49 and #1 in adults, men and women 18-34.

On Friday, Dec. 26 from 8-9 p.m. ET, a special telecast of the "12 Days of Christmas" episode of Bravo's "Top Chef" averaged an 0.8/3 in 18-49 and 2.6 million viewers overall.

Friday from 9-11 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Dateline NBC" (1.4/5 in 18-49, 5.2 million viewers overall) increased from its first half-hour to its fourth by 80 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.8/6 from a 1.0/3) and by 62 percent or more than 2.4 million persons in total viewers (to 6.4 million from 3.9 million). In its final hour from 10-11 p.m., "Dateline" ranked #1 among the broadcast networks in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and other key demographic measures.

On Saturday, Dec. 27 from 8-10 p.m. ET, a special presentation of "The Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony: The TV Event of the Year" averaged a 0.6/2 in 18-49 and 2.7 million viewers overall. At 10 p.m., an encore telecast of "Law & Order: SVU" (0.9/3 in 18-49, 4.2 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in women 18-34, women 18-49 (tie) and women 25-54. From its first half-hour to its second, "SVU" increased by 38 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.1/3 from a 0.8/2) and by 27 percent or 1.0 million persons in total viewers (to 4.7 million from 3.7 million).

On Sunday, Dec. 28, the "NBC Sunday Night Football" telecast of the Denver Broncos at the San Diego Chargers averaged a 5.4/15 in adults 18-49, 14.8 million viewers overall and a 9.0/15 household rating/share for its full duration from 8:24-11 p.m. ET.

"NBC Sunday Night Football" was the #1 primetime telecast on Sunday in adults 18-49, total viewers and virtually all other key measures, propelling NBC to a Sunday night victory in all key measures - adults, men and women 18-49, adults, men and women 18-34, adults, men and women 25-54 and total viewers. For the night (from 7:30-11 p.m. ET), NBC averaged a 4.7/13 in 18-49 and 12.8 million viewers overall.

Also on Sunday, "Football Night in America 2" from 7:30-7:55 p.m. ET averaged a 1.8/5 in 18-49, 4.8 million viewers overall and a 2.9/5 household rating/share. "Football Night in America 3" from 7:55-8:15 p.m. delivered a 2.6/8 in 18-49, 7.5 million viewers overall and a 4.6/8 in households. From 8:15-8:24 p.m., "NBC Sunday Night Football Pre Kickoff" averaged a 3.7/11 in 18-49, 10.1 million viewers overall and a 6.1/10 in households. Note: "Football Night in America" from 7-7:30 p.m. ET was sustaining programming and does not figure in the nightly or weekly primetime averages.