STRONG RESULTS FROM THURSDAY ROOKIES AND RATINGS SURGES FOR MONDAY VETERANS HIGHLIGHT NBC'S PRIMETIME WEEK OF APRIL 13-19

ON THURSDAY, 'SOUTHLAND' WINS ITS HOUR IN ALL KEY MEASURES, TOPPING 'HARPER'S ISLAND' BY A DECISIVE 36 PERCENT MARGIN IN ADULTS 18-49, UP FROM 23 PERCENT A WEEK EARLIER

THURSDAY'S 'PARKS AND RECREATION' BUILDS ON ITS 'EARL' LEAD-IN BY 14 PERCENT IN 18-49 AND WINS ITS SLOT IN ADULTS 18-34

'THE OFFICE' IS THE #1 SHOW ON ANY NETWORK THURSDAY NIGHT IN ADULTS 18-49

SEASON-TO-DATE, 'THE OFFICE' IS TV'S #1 SCRIPTED SERIES IN THE VALUABLE ADULT 18-34 DEMO

'HEROES' ON MONDAY HITS A SIX-WEEK HIGH IN 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS, GAINING 27 PERCENT IN 18-49 VERSUS THE PRIOR WEEK

ALSO ON MONDAY, 'CHUCK' ACHIEVES A SIX-WEEK HIGH IN 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS AND 'MEDIUM' SUMMONS ITS BEST RATING IN EIGHT WEEKS

ON TUESDAY, 'THE BIGGEST LOSER' ADDS 45 PERCENT IN 18-49 AND 37 PERCENT IN TOTAL VIEWERS FROM ITS FIRST HALF-HOUR TO ITS FOURTH, TO RANK #1 IN ITS FINAL HALF-HOUR IN ADULTS 18-49 AND OTHER KEY MEASURES

'LOSER' IS UP 11 PERCENT IN ADULTS 18-49 AND 13 PERCENT IN TOTAL VIEWERS VERSUS ITS YEAR-AGO CYCLE, AND IS THE BIGGEST 'LOSER' CYCLE IN TOTAL VIEWERS SINCE THE FIRST 'BIGGEST LOSER' IN 2004-05

FRIDAY'S TWO-HOUR 'DATELINE' WINS ITS SLOT IN 18-49, TOTAL VIEWERS AND OTHER KEY MEASURES, ATTRACTING THE SHOW'S BIGGEST FRIDAY VIEWERSHIP SINCE DECEMBER

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. � April 21, 2009 � With strong ratings throughout the week from rookie and veteran series, including "Heroes," "Biggest Loser," "The Office," "Parks and Recreation," "30 Rock," "Southland" and "Celebrity Apprentice," NBC averaged a 2.2 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49 and 6.3 million viewers overall for the week of April 13-19, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

NBC's primetime performance was paced by "The Office," which was the #7 program of the week in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49. Among adults 18-34, "The Office" ranked #4 this week. Season-to-date, "The Office ranks #11 among all primetime series in adults 18-49. Among adults 18-34, "The Office" is primetime television's #1 scripted series season-to-date and the #3-ranked show overall, behind only the Tuesday and Wednesday editions of "American Idol."

Primetime averages for the week of April 13-19 in adults 18-49 were Fox (3.3/10), CBS (2.4/7), NBC and ABC (2.2/6), Univision (1.5/4), CW (0.6/2) and Telemundo (0.5/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (9.9 million), Fox (9.3 million), ABC (7.5 million), NBC (6.3 million), Univision (3.9 million), CW (1.5 million) and Telemundo (1.1 million).

Through the first 30 weeks of the 2008-09 season, NBC is the only one of the major broadcast networks to decrease its median age versus the prior season. NBC is the "second youngest" of the major broadcast networks, with a median age of 47.2 years (versus 48.1 years at this point last season), 2.3 years "older" than Fox (44.9 years). By comparison, ABC's median age this season is 49.3 and CBS's median age is 53.9.

Season to date, NBC is running within 0.7 of a rating point of first place in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, versus a deficit of 1.4 points at this time last season.

NBC highlights for the week of April 13-19:

* On Monday, "Heroes" hit a six-week high in both adults 18-49 and total viewers, surging 27 percent in 18-49 versus the prior week. "Heroes" ranked #1 in its highly competitive hour in adults and men 18-34, topping CBS's comedy hour, ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" and Fox's "24" in those key demos.

* Also on Monday, "Chuck" hit a six-week high in both adults 18-49 and total viewers, and "Medium" conjured up its highest 18-49 rating in eight weeks (up 23 percent vs. the prior week), while making contact with its biggest overall audience in seven weeks.

* On Tuesday, "The Biggest Loser: Couples" gained 19 percent in 18-49 rating and 13 percent in total viewers week-to-week to deliver its best results in both measures for a regular-slot telecast since March 10.

* On Tuesday, "The Biggest Loser: Couples" gained 45 percent in 18-49 rating and 37 percent or more than 2.8 million persons in total viewers from its first half-hour to its fourth, resulting in a first-place finish in the 9:30-10 p.m. half-hour over such formidable competition as " Fox's "Fringe," ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" results show and CBS's "Mentalist" encore.

* "The Biggest Loser: Couples" is up 11 percent in adults 18-49 and 13 percent in total viewers versus its year-ago cycle. The current, seventh cycle of "The Biggest Loser" is the biggest "Loser" cycle in total viewers since "The Biggest Loser 1" in the 2004-05 season.

* On Wednesday, an encore telecast of "Law & Order" locked up week-to-week gains of 42 percent in 18-49 and 29 percent in total viewers, to match its highest 18-49 rating for an encore telecast in one year

* On Thursday, "Southland" in its second week dominated its time period in adults 18-49 and won the hour in every key ratings category. In adults 18-49, the "Southland" margin of victory was a decisive 36 percent over CBS's "Harper's Island" in second place. On the prior Thursday, this margin was 23 percent. "Southland" also won the slot in total viewers.

* Also on Thursday, "Parks and Recreation," in its second week, built on its "Earl" lead-in by 14 percent in adults 18-49, matching the biggest build on an 8-8:30 p.m. "Earl" original in nearly two years. "Parks & Recreation" ranked #1 in its time slot in adults and men 18-34, topping CBS's "Survivor," Fox's "Bones" and ABC's "Samantha Who" in those demos.

* Additionally on Thursday, "The Office" was the #1 telecast of the night on any network in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49. "The Office" won its time period in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and other key demos, topping CBS's "CSI," Fox's "Hell's Kitchen" and ABC's encore "Grey's Anatomy" in those categories.

* Thursday's "30 Rock" scored its highest 18-49 rating since March 5 and its biggest overall viewership since February 12. Week-to-week, "30 Rock" gained 13 percent in 18-49 to finish within one share of the slot lead in adults 18-49. "Rock" won the time period in adults 18-34, men 18-34, women 18-34 (tied) and men 18-49

* On Friday, "Dateline NBC" won its two-hour time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key categories, attracting its biggest Friday viewership since December 12 and matching its highest Friday 18-49 rating since that same date.

* On Sunday, "Celebrity Apprentice" scored its highest 18-49 rating and biggest overall viewership in three weeks. With significant growth from its first half-hour to its fourth, "Celebrity Apprentice" built to a #1 finish in the final half-hour of primetime from 10:30-11 p.m. in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and all key adult-male demos.

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 April 13-19:

On Monday, April 13 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Chuck" (2.3 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49 and 6.2 million viewers overall) hit a six-week high in both adults 18-49 and total viewers (since March 2), gaining 10 percent in 18-49 rating versus the prior week (2.3 vs. 2.1). From its first half-hour to its second, "Chuck" grew 9 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 2.4 from a 2.2), 18 percent in men 18-49 (2.6 vs. 2.2) and 24 percent in men 18-34 (2.1 vs. 1.7).

Monday at 9 p.m. ET, "Heroes" (3.3/8 in 18-49, 6.8 million viewers overall) surged 27 percent in 18-49 rating versus the prior week (3.3/8 vs. 2.6/6), while gaining 12 percent in total viewers (6.8 million vs. 6.1 million). This marks a six-week high for "Heroes" in both 18-49 and total viewers (since March 2).

"Heroes" ranked #1 in its highly competitive hour in adults and men 18-34, topping CBS's hour of comedy, ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" and Fox's "24" in those demos. "Heroes" built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 43 percent in adults 18-49 and by 56 percent in adults 18-34 (to a 3.2/9 from a 1.8/5). It is worth noting that "Heroes" ratings have increased by an average 23 percent in adults 18-49 when going from "live plus same day" to "live plus seven day" measures through the season's first five months, one of the biggest increases for any major-network primetime series. In total viewers, "Heroes" has been adding an average 21 percent or 1.7 million viewers to its previously reported "live plus same day" numbers when "live plus seven day" viewing is counted.

Monday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Medium" (2.7/7 in 18-49, 7.7 million viewers overall) conjured up its highest 18-49 rating in eight weeks (since February 16) and made contact with its biggest overall viewership in seven weeks (since February 23). Week-to-week, "Medium" increased 23 percent in adults 18-49 (2.7 vs. 2.2) and 7 percent in total viewers (7.7 million vs. 7.2 million). "Medium" ranked #2 in the time period in every key ratings measurement, outscoring ABC's "Castle" in adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 and total viewers.

On Tuesday, April 14 from 8-10 p.m. ET, "The Biggest Loser: Couples" (3.8/10 in 18-49, 9.1 million viewers overall) gained versus the prior week 19 percent in 18-49 rating (3.8/10 vs. 3.2/8) and 13 percent in total viewers (9.1 million vs. 8.1 million), to deliver its best results in both measures for a regular-slot telecast since March 10.

"Biggest Loser" exhibited dramatic growth from its first to its fourth half-hour, resulting in a first-place finish in 18-49 and other key demos in the 9:30-10 p.m. half-hour over such formidable competition as Fox's "Fringe," ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" results show and CBS's "Mentalist" encore. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Loser" gained 45 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 4.5/11 from a 3.1/9) and 37 percent or more than 2.8 million persons in total viewers (to 10.6 million from 7.7 million). Overall, "Loser" ranked #2 for its full two-hour time period in adults 18-49 and virtually all other key measures.

"The Biggest Loser: Couples" is up versus its year-ago cycle by 11 percent in 18-49 (4.0 vs. 3.6, "most current") and 13 percent in total viewers (10.1 million vs. 8.9 million), while the Tuesday edition of "Idol" is down 14 percent in 18-49 rating (to 10.0 from 11.6, "most current") and down 10 percent in total viewers (to 26.6 million from 29.5 million).

The current, seventh cycle of "The Biggest Loser" is the biggest "Loser" cycle in total viewers (10.1 million) since "The Biggest Loser 1" in the 2004-05 season.

Tuesday from 10-11 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" averaged a 2.4/6 in 18-49 and 6.5 million viewers overall. From half-hour to half-hour, the "SVU" encore increased by 4 percent in 18-49 (2.4 vs. 2.3) and 7 percent in total viewers (6.7 million vs. 6.3 million), while the first-run drama competition on CBS ("Without a Trace") and ABC ("Cupid") declined half-hour to half-hour in both categories). The "SVU" rebroadcast ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and all key measures, topping the first-run telecast of "Cupid" by 41 percent in adults 18-49 (2.4 vs. 1.7 for "Cupid") and by 62 percent in adults 18-34 (2.1 for "SVU" vs. a 1.3 for "Cupid").

On Wednesday, April 15 from 8-9 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order" averaged a 1.2/4 in 18-49 and 5.2 million viewers overall. At 9 p.m., a rebroadcast of "Law & Order: SVU" (1.4/3 in 18-49, 5.2 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 17 percent in 18-49 rating, despite intense competition in the hour from Fox's "American idol," ABC's "Lost" and CBS's encore of "Criminal Minds."

Wednesday at 10 p.m., an encore telecast of "Law & Order" (1.7/5 in 18-49, 6.0 million viewers overall) locked up week-to-week gains of 42 percent in 18-49 (1.7/5 vs. 1.2/3) and 29 percent in total viewers (6.0 million vs. 4.6 million), to match its highest 18-49 rating for an encore telecast in one year (since April 16, 2008)

On Thursday, April 16 at 8 p.m. ET, "My Name is Earl" (2.2/7 in 18-49, 5.4 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in its competitive time period in men 18-34 and #2 among men 18-49 and 25-54.

Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET, "Parks and Recreation" (2.5/7 in 18-49, 6.0 million viewers overall) built on its "Earl" lead-in by 14 percent in adults 18-49, matching the biggest build on an 8-8:30 p.m. "Earl" original in nearly two years (since April 26, 2007). In total viewers, "Parks" built on its lead-in by 12 percent. "Parks & Recreation" ranked #1 in its time slot in adults 18-34 and men 18-34, topping CBS's "Survivor," Fox's "Bones" and ABC's "Samantha Who" in those demos.

"Parks and Recreation" in its second telecast improved on NBC's season-to-date average for this time period prior to "Parks" by 14 percent in adults 18-49 (2.5 vs. 2.2, "live plus same day") and by 30 percent in adults 18-34 (2.6 vs. 2.0).

Thursday from 9-9:31 p.m. ET, "The Office" (4.2/11 in 18-49, 8.4 million viewers overall) was the #1 telecast of the night in adults 18-49. "The Office" won its time period in adults and men 18-49 and adults, men and women 18-34, topping CBS's "CSI," Fox's "Hell's Kitchen" and ABC's encore "Grey's Anatomy" in those key demographics. Versus the prior week, "The Office" increased 8 percent in adults 18-49 (4.2 vs. 3.9).

Season-to-date, "The Office" is the #11-ranked primetime program in adults 18-49, despite airing in head-to-head competition with the #1 show on the CBS schedule ("CSI") and one of the two top shows on the ABC schedule ("Grey's Anatomy"). Among adults 18-34, "The Office" is primetime television's #3 show and #1 scripted series (averaging a 5.6/14 season-to-date in that demo), behind only the Tuesday and Wednesday editions of "American Idol."

Thursday from 9:31-10:01 p.m. ET, "30 Rock" (3.5/9 in 18-49, 7.3 million viewers overall) scored its highest 18-49 rating since March 5 and its biggest overall viewership since February 12. Week-to-week, "30 Rock" gained 13 percent in 18-49 (3.5 vs. 3.1) and 8 percent in total viewers (7.3 million vs. 6.8 million). "30 Rock" finished within one share of the slot lead in adults 18-49 and won the time period in adults 18-34, men 18-34, women 18-34 (tied) and men 18-49.

Thursday 10:01-11 p.m. ET, the second original telecast of "Southland" (3.0/9 in 18-49, 9.6 million viewers overall) dominated its time period in adults 18-49 and won the hour in every key ratings category. In adults 18-49, the "Southland" margin of victory was a decisive 36 percent (3.0 vs. a 2.2 for CBS's "Harper's Island" in second place). With the prior week's premiere telecast of "Southland," this margin had been 23 percent. In adults 18-34 this week, the margin of victory was 50 percent (2.4 vs. a 1.6 for "Harper's"). "Southland" topped the CBS-ABC competition combined in the hour in all key adult-male demographics.

In its second week, "Southland" retained a potent 94 percent of its robust 18-49 rating from its week-ago premiere (3.0 vs. 3.2). In total viewers, "Southland" retained 97 percent of its premiere results (9.6 million vs. 9.9 million).

From half-hour to half-hour, "Southland" maintained its full 3.0 rating in adults 18-49 and increased its overall viewership by 2 percent (to 9.7 million from 9.5 million), while both CBS's "Harper's Island" and ABC's "Private Practice" encore declined half-hour to half-hour in both categories.

NBC ranked #2 for the night in adults 18-49, within 0.1 of a rating point of CBS. NBC was #1 for the night among adults 18-34, men 18-34 and men 18-49, and tied for #1 among women 18-34.

On Friday, April 17 from 8-8:29 p.m. ET, "Howie Do It" averaged a 0.8/3 in 18-49 and 3.2 million viewers overall. From 8:29-9 p.m., a second episode of "Howie Do It" delivered a 0.9/3 in 18-49 and 3.4 million viewers overall

Friday from 9-11 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.8/6 in 18-49, 7.0 million viewers overall) won its two-hour time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key categories. "Dateline" attracted its largest Friday viewership since December 12 and matched its highest Friday 18-49 rating since that same date. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Dateline" increased by 43 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.0/7 from a 1.4/5) and by 44 percent or 2.4 million persons in total viewers (to 8.0 million from 5.5 million). In the 10:30-11 p.m. lead-in to local news, "Dateline" posted a 33 percent margin of victory among adults 25-54 (with a 2.8 vs. a 2.1 for CBS's "Numb3rs" encore in second place).

On Saturday, April 18 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Kings" averaged a 0.5/2 in 18-49 and 2.2 million viewers overall. From 9-10 p.m., a rebroadcast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (0.9/3 in 18-49, 4.1 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 80 percent in 18-49 and 85 percent in total viewers. At 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Southland" averaged a 0.7/3 in 18-49 and 3.5 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its second, "Southland" increased by 14 percent in adults 18-49 (0.8 vs. 0.7).

On Sunday, April 19 from 7-9 p.m. ET, "Miss USA 2009" averaged a 1.4/4 in 18-49 and 5.0 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its fourth, coverage of the 58th Annual Miss USA Competition increased by 90 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.9/5 from a 1.0/3) and by 82 percent or more than 3.0 million persons in total viewers (to 6.8 million from 3.7 million).

Sunday from 9-11 p.m. ET, "The Celebrity Apprentice" (3.2/8 in 18-49, 8.4 million viewers overall) scored its highest 18-49 rating and biggest overall viewership in three weeks. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Celebrity Apprentice" increased 13 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 3.4/9 from a 3.0/7) and 14 percent or 1.1 million persons in total viewers (to 9.0 million from 7.9 million), building to a #1 finish in the final half-hour of primetime from 10:30-11 p.m. in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and all key adult-male demos.

"Celebrity Apprentice" was up 39 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's non-sports average in the time period this season prior to "Apprentice's" debut (3.2 vs. 2.3, "live plus same day").