NBC RESULTS FOR THE PRIMETIME WEEK OF MAY 18-24

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. � May 27, 2009 � NBC averaged a 1.2 rating, 4 share in adults 18-49 and 4.4 million viewers overall for the week of May 18-24, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

The May 2009 sweep concluded on Wednesday, May 20 and NBC was the only major network to deliver an increase versus the May 2008 sweep. NBC was up 11 percent in adults 18-49 versus last year's sweep (2.1 vs. 1.9, "most current"), while Fox was down 8 percent (3.5 vs. 3.8), ABC was down 10 percent (2.8 vs. 3.1) and CBS was flat (2.8 vs. 2.8). NBC also posted year-over-year growth in the May sweep in other key measures, including gains of 7 percent in adults 18-34 (1.6 vs. 1.5), 9 percent in adults 25-54 (2.5 vs. 2.3) and 6 percent in total viewers (6.3 million vs. 6.0 million).

Among adults 18-49, "The Office" ranked #9 among all series programs in the May sweep with a 4.3 rating ("most current"), while "The Biggest Loser" ranked #10 (tied, with a 4.2). Also among the top 20 series programs in the May sweep in adults 18-49 was "Heroes" (#16 tied, 3.9). In adults 18-34, "The Office" is the #4-ranked show in the sweep overall with a 5.0 rating and is the #2 scripted program behind only ABC's "Grey's Anatomy." Also among the top 20 in adults 18-34 are NBC's "Heroes" (#10, 3.8), "30 Rock" and "The Biggest Loser" (tied at #11, with 3.5 ratings) and "Law & Order: SVU" (#19, 2.9).

The 28-night May 2009 sweep averages in adults 18-49 are: Fox (3.5), ABC and CBS (2.8), NBC (2.1) and CW (0.9). In total viewers, the 28-night May sweep averages are CBS (11.2 million), Fox (9.6 million), ABC (9.0 million), NBC (6.3 million) and CW (2.0 million).

Primetime averages for the week of May 18-24 in adults 18-49 were Fox (3.6/12), ABC and CBS (2.1/7), Univision (1.3/4), NBC (1.2/4) and CW and Telemundo (0.6/2). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were Fox (10.2 million), CBS (8.9 million), ABC (7.3 million), NBC (4.4 million), Univision (3.4 million), CW (1.4 million) and Telemundo (1.2 million).

Through the first 35 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 47.6 years (versus 48.4 years at this point last season), 2.6 years "older" than Fox (45.0 years). By comparison, ABC's median age this season is 49.5 and CBS's median age is 54.0.

Season to date, NBC is running within 0.8 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 May 18-24:

* On Tuesday, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" more than doubled its lead-in from the previous hour's encore telecast despite unusual competition in the time period from the concluding hour of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" finale. Despite this competition, "SVU" grew from its first half-hour to its second in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and other key demos.

* On Wednesday, "Law & Order" grew by 29 percent in adults 18-49 and 19 percent in total viewers from its first half-hour to its second, despite unusual competition in the time period from a special telecast of the season finale of CBS's "Criminal Minds."

* On Thursday, "Southland" exhibited dramatic growth versus the prior week's telecast, increasing by 19 percent in adult 18-49 rating and by 39 percent in total viewers.

* "Southland" won its Thursday hour in virtually all key demographics � adults, men and women 18-49, adults men and women 18-34, and adults and men 25-54 � topping ABC's rebroadcast of "Grey's Anatomy" and CBS's special encore telecast of "Flashpoint."

* On Friday, "Dateline NBC" increased by 50 percent in 18-49 rating and 35 percent in total viewers from its first half-hour to its fourth.

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 18-24:

On Monday May 18 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" delivered a 1.2 rating, 4 share in adults 18-49 and 4.4 million viewers overall, up 9 percent in 18-49 versus the prior week (1.2/4 vs. 1.1/3). From 9-10 p.m., a second special telecast of "Deal or No Deal" (1.5/4 in 18-49, 5.4 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 25 percent in 18-49 and by 24 percent in total viewers.

Monday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Medium" (1.9/5 in 18-49, 6.6 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 27 percent in 18-49 rating and 22 percent in total viewers.

On Tuesday, May 19 from 8-8:30 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "Most Outrageous Moments" delivered a 0.8/3 in 18-49 and 3.0 million viewers overall. From 8:30-9 p.m. a second encore of "Most Outrageous Moments" (1.0/3 in 18-49, 3.0 million viewers overall) built on its lead in by 25 percent in 18-49 rating. From 9-10 p.m., a rebroadcast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.2/3 in 18-49, 3.5 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 20 percent in 18-49 and 17 percent in total viewers.

Tuesday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: SVU" (2.5/7 in 18-49, 6.9 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 108 percent in 18-49 and by 99 percent in total viewers, despite atypical competition from the concluding hour of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" finale. "SVU" grew from its first half-hour to its second by 8 percent in 18-49 (to a 2.6/7 from a 2.4/6) and by 11 percent in adults 25-54 (to a 3.0/8 from a 2.7/7).

On Wednesday May 20 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" averaged a 1.0/3 in 18-49 and 5.0 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its second, "Criminal Intent" increased by 10 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.1 from a 1.0) and by 12 percent in total viewers (to 5.3 million from 4.8 million).

Wednesday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Law & Order" (2.0/5 in 18-49, 6.7 million viewers overall) built by 100 percent in 18-49 rating and 54 percent in total viewers on its lead-in from the previous hour � a 1.0/3 in 18-49 and 4.3 million viewers overall from 9-10 p.m. from a rebroadcast of "Law & Order: SVU."

From its first half-hour to its second, "Law & Order" grew by 29 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 2.2/6 from a 1.7/4), by 27 percent in adults 25-54 (to a 2.8/7 from a 2.2/5) and by 19 percent or more than 1.1 million persons in total viewers (to 7.2 million from 6.1 million).

On Thursday, May 21 at 8 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "My Name is Earl" delivered a 1.1/4 in 18-49 and 3.2 million viewers overall. From 8:30-9 p.m., a special encore telecast of "30 Rock" delivered a 1.2/4 in 18-49 and 2.8 million viewers overall. The "30 Rock" rebroadcast built on its "Earl" lead-in by 9 percent in adults 18-49 and by 43 percent in adults 18-49 (1.0/4 vs. 0.7/3).

Thursday from 9-9:31 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "The Office" (1.5/5 in 18-49, 3.3 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 25 percent in adults 18-49 and by 40 percent in adults 18-34 (1.4/5 vs. 1.0/4). From 9:31-10:01 p.m. another encore telecast of "30 Rock" delivered a 1.4/4 in 18-49 and 3.3 million viewers overall.

Thursday 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "Southland" (1.9/6 in 18-49, 6.5 million viewers overall) increased by 19 percent in 18-49 rating and by 39 percent or more than 1.8 million persons in total viewers versus the prior week (1.6/4 in18-49, 4.6 million viewers overall on May 14). "Southland" ranked #1 in the hour in virtually all key demographics � adults, men and women 18-49, adults men and women 18-34, and adults and men 25-54 - topping ABC's rebroadcast of "Grey's Anatomy" and CBS's special encore telecast of "Flashpoint." Versus its lead-in, "Southland" built by 36 percent in 18-49 rating and by 96 percent in total viewers.

From its first half-hour to its second, "Southland" increased 17 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.1/6 from a 1.8/5) and 11 percent in total viewers (to 6.8 million from 6.1 million) while the encore drama competition on ABC and CBS declined half-hour to half-hour in both measures.

On Friday, May 22 from 8-8:29 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Howie Do It" averaged a 0.6/3 in 18-49 and 2.4 million viewers overall. From 8:29-9 p.m., a second rebroadcast of "Howie Do It" delivered a 0.6/2 in 18-49 and 2.2 million viewers overall.

Friday from 9-11 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" averaged a 1.1/5 in 18-49 and 5.2 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Dateline" increased by 50 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.2 from a 0.8) and 35 percent or more than 1.3 million persons in total viewers (to 5.3 million from 3.9 million).

On Saturday, May 23 from 8-9 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" averaged a 0.6/2 in 18-49 and 3.1 million viewers overall. From 9-10 p.m., an encore "Southland" averaged a 0.6/2 in 18-49 and 2.9 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its second, "Southland" increased by 40 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 0.7/3 from a 0.5/2).

Saturday at 10 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "Law & Order" (0.9/3 in 18-49, 4.4 million viewers overall) built from half-hour to half-hour by 25 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 1.0 from a 0.8).

On Sunday, May 24 from 7-9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (0.9/3 in 18-49, 4.6 million viewers overall) ranked #2 among women 25-54. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Dateline" increased by 27 percent among adults 25-54 (to a 1.4 from a 1.1) and 42 percent in women 25-54 (1.7 vs. 1.2).

From 9-11 p.m., a rebroadcast of "The Last Templar, Part 1" averaged a 0.9/3 in 18-49 and 3.9 million viewers overall. The concluding Part 2 of this encore telecast of "The Last Templar" is scheduled for broadcast, Sunday, May 31 from 9-11 p.m. ET.