NBC PRIMETIME RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF SEPT. 28-OCT. 4

'NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL' IS THE #1 PROGRAM OF THE WEEK IN ADULTS 18-49, EXCLUDING FOOTBALL PRE- AND POST-GAME SHOWS

NBC SPORTS' CHARGERS-STEELERS GAME LEADS THE NETWORK TO A SUNDAY PRIMETIME WIN IN 18-49, TOTAL VIEWERS AND OTHER KEY MEASURES

ON TUESDAY, 'THE BIGGEST LOSER' GAINS 19 PERCENT IN 18-49 AND 21 PERCENT IN TOTAL VIEWERS VERSUS THE PRIOR WEEK, WHILE GROWING 23 PERCENT IN 18-49 AND 24 PERCENT IN VIEWERS VERSUS THE SAME NIGHT LAST YEAR

ON THURSDAY, 'COMMUNITY' AND 'PARKS AND RECREATION' POST WEEK-TO-WEEK GAINS IN BOTH 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS

ON WEDNESDAY, 'MERCY' IS UP 31 PERCENT IN 18-49 VS. NBC'S 2008-09 REGULAR-SEASON AVERAGE IN THE SLOT AND 'LAW & ORDER: SVU' IS UP 47 PERCENT

ON FRIDAY 'LAW & ORDER' LOCKS UP NBC'S BIGGEST OVERALL AUDIENCE IN THE SLOT SINCE JANUARY, WHILE 'DATELINE' REPORTS WEEK-TO-WEEK GAINS OF 20 PERCENT IN 18-49 AND 29 PERCENT IN TOTAL VIEWERS

FOR THE WEEK, NBC TIES FOR #2 AMONG THE MAJOR NETWORKS IN ADULTS 18-34, IS #2 OUTRIGHT IN MEN 18-34 AND MEN 18-49 AND TIED FOR #1 IN MEN 25-54

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. � October 6, 2009 � Led by "NBC Sunday Night Football," which was the #1 primetime telecast of the week in adults 18-49 (excluding football pre-and post-game telecasts), NBC averaged a 2.7 rating, 8 share in 18-49 and 7.8 million viewers overall for the week of September 28-October 4, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

NBC Sports' "Sunday Night Football" telecast of the San Diego Chargers versus the Pittsburgh Steelers topped the weekly primetime rankings in the key demographic of adults 18-49. "Sunday Night Football" also ranked #1 among all primetime programs in adults 25-54, adults 18-34 and all key adult-male demographics. In total viewers, "Sunday Night Football" ranked #2 among all primetime programs.

For the week, NBC tied for #2 among the major networks in adult 18-34 rating, finished #2 outright in men 18-34 and men 18-49 and tied for #1 in men 25-54.

Primetime averages for the week of September 28-October 4 in adults 18-49 were Fox (3.1/9), ABC and CBS (2.9/8), NBC (2.7/8) and CW (1.1/3). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (11.3 million), ABC (9.6 million), NBC (7.8 million), Fox (7.6 million) and CW (2.2 million).

NBC highlights for the week of September 28-October 4:

* NBC Sports' "Sunday Night Football" telecast of the San Diego Chargers at the Pittsburgh Steelers propelled NBC to a convincing primetime win on Sunday night. NBC's margin of victory over the #2 network was 17 percent in adults 18-49 and 29 percent in total viewers.

* Sunday's Chargers-Steelers game was up 35 percent in 18-49 rating and 30 percent or more than 4.2 million persons in total viewers versus the "Sunday Night Football" game that aired on the same night last year

* On Friday, "Law & Order" locked up NBC's biggest overall audience in its time period since January 9, while "Dateline" reported week-to-week increases of 20 percent in adults 18-49 and 29 percent or 1.7 million persons in total viewers.

* Also on Friday, "The Jay Leno Show" ranked #1 among the major networks in the hour in adults and men 18-34, while finishing within 0.3 of a rating point of the lead in adults 18-49.

* On Thursday, freshman comedy "Community" grew week-to-week by 7 percent in adults 18-49 and 9 percent in total viewers, while sophomore "Parks and Recreation" increased by 11 percent in 18-49 and 14 percent in total viewers versus the prior week.

* Also on Thursday, "The Office" ranked #1 in its highly competitive time period in men 18-34 and men 18-49 and #2 in adults 18-34, versus such competition as ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," CBS's "CSI" and Fox's "Fringe."

* "The Office" ranked #15 among all programs this week in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, despite competing head-to-head with two other top 15 shows � "Grey's Anatomy" (#2) and "CSI" (#12; rankings exclude football pre- and post-game telecasts).

* On Wednesday, "Mercy" retained 91 percent of its premiere rating of a week earlier in adults 18-49, while delivering a 31 percent increase in adults 18-49 and a 29 percent gain in total viewers versus NBC's average for the time period during the regular 2008-09 season. "Mercy" ranked #2 among the major networks in the hour in total viewers and adults 18-34.

* Also on Wednesday, "Law & Order: SVU" apprehended gains of 47 percent in adults 18-49 and 38 percent in total viewers versus NBC's average in the slot last year during the traditional September-May season.

* On Tuesday, "The Biggest Loser" gained 19 percent in adults 18-49 and 21 percent in total viewers versus the prior week and, versus the same night last year, "Loser" was up 23 percent in adults 18-49 and 24 percent in total viewers.

* "Biggest Loser" on Tuesday grew from its first half-hour to its fourth by 34 percent in 18-49 rating and by 23 percent or more than 1.9 million persons in total viewers. In its final half-hour from 9:30-10 p.m. ET, "Biggest Loser" moved ahead of CBS's "NCIS: LA" to finish #1 in the half-hour 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 September 28-October 4:

On Monday, September 28, from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Heroes" averaged a 2.5 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49 and 5.7 million viewers overall in a highly competitive time period that included Fox's "House," ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" and CBS's comedies. In this tough slot "Heroes" ranked #2 among the major networks in men 18-34.

"Heroes" is one of the most time-shifted programs on network television, last season adding an average of 24 percent to its "live plus same day" rating in adults 18-49 when "live plus seven day" results were calculated.

Monday from 9-10 p.m. ET, the series debut of "Trauma" averaged a 2.2 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49 and 6.7 million viewers overall in a highly competitive time period that included CBS's "Two and a Half Men" and "Big Bang Theory," ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" and the season premiere of Fox's "Lie to Me." In total viewers, "Trauma" retained 88 percent of its 18-49 lead-in and in total viewers built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 17 percent or nearly one million persons.

Monday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "The Jay Leno Show" averaged a 1.7/4 in adults 18-49, a 2.0/5 in adults 25-54 and 5.5 million viewers overall. Time-period competition included first-run episodes of CBS's "CSI: Miami" and ABC's "Castle."

Comparisons to Jay Leno's 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" were: in adults 18-49 (1.7 vs. 1.4), adults 25-54 (2.0 vs. 1.8) and total viewers (5.5 million vs. 5.1 million). Comparisons to NBC's Monday-through-Friday 10-11 p.m. ET non-sports average over the prior 52 weeks were: in adults 18-49 (1.7 vs. 2.2), adults 25-54 (2.0 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (5.5 million vs. 6.9 million).

On Tuesday, September 29 from 8-10:01 p.m. ET, "The Biggest Loser" (3.7/10 in adults 18-49, 9.2 million viewers overall) gained 19 percent in adults 18-49 and 21 percent in total viewers versus the prior week (a 3.1/8 in 18-49 and 7.6 million viewers). Versus the same night last year, "Loser" was up 23 percent in adults 18-49 (3.7/10 vs. 3.0/8) and 24 percent or more than 1.7 million persons in total viewers (9.2 million vs. 7.4 million).

"The Biggest Loser" ranked #2 in its two-hour time period in adults 18-49, improving on its #4 finish of a week ago. "Loser" also ranked #2 in total viewers and other key measures and #1 in women 18-34.

From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Loser" increased by 34 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 4.3/11 from a 3.2/10) and by 23 percent or more than 1.9 million persons in total viewers (to 10.2 million from 8.3 million). In its final half-hour from 9:30-10 p.m., "Biggest Loser" moved ahead of CBS's "NCIS: Los Angeles" to finish #1 in the half-hour in adults 18-49 (4.3 for "Loser" vs. 4.0 for "NCIS: LA"), while also topping ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" and Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance."

Tuesday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "The Jay Leno Show" averaged a 2.2/6 in adults 18-49, a 2.7/7 in adults 25-54 and 6.6 million viewers overall, versus time-period competition that included CBS's "The Good Wife" and ABC's "The Forgotten." "The Jay Leno Show" ranked #2 among the major networks in the hour in adults 18-34, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54, topping "The Forgotten" in all three key adult demographic measures.

Versus Jay Leno's 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Tuesday's telecast was up in adults 18-49 (2.2 vs. 1.4), adults 25-54 (2.7 vs. 1.8) and total viewers (6.6 million vs. 5.1 million). Versus NBC's Monday-through-Friday 10-11 p.m. ET non-sports average over the prior 52 weeks, Tuesday's telecast was comparable in adults 18-49 (2.2 vs. 2.2), adults 25-54 (2.7 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (6.6 million vs. 6.9 million).

NBC ranked #2 on Tuesday night in adults, men and women 18-49 and adults, men and women 25-54.

On Wednesday, September 30 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Mercy" (2.1/6 in 18-49, 7.4 million viewers overall) retained 91 percent of its premiere rating of a week earlier in adults 18-49. In the time period, "Mercy" ranked #2 among the major networks in adults 18-34 and total viewers. Versus NBC's average in this time slot during the regular 2008-09 season, "Mercy" was up 31 percent in 18-49 rating (2.1 vs. 1.6) and 29 percent or more than 1.6 million persons in total viewers (7.4 million vs. 5.7 million).

Wednesday from 9-10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" averaged a 2.5/7 in adults 18-49 and 8.1 million viewers overall. Versus NBC's average in this time period during the regular 2008-09 season, "SVU" was up 47 percent in 18-49 rating (2.5 vs. 1.7) and 38 percent or more than 2.2 million persons in total viewers (8.1 million vs. 5.9 million). From its first half-hour to its second, "SVU" grew by 13 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 2.7/7 from a 2.4/6) and by 10 percent in total viewers (to 8.5 million from 7.7 million).

Wednesday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "The Jay Leno Show" averaged a 1.9/5 in adults 18-49, a 2.2/6 in adults 25-54 and 6.1 million viewers overall. Wednesday's time-period competition included CBS's "CSI: NY" and ABC's "Eastwick."

Versus Jay Leno's 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Wednesday's telecast was up in adults 18-49 (1.9 vs. 1.4), adults 25-54 (2.2 vs. 1.8) and total viewers (6.1 million vs. 5.1 million). Comparisons to NBC's Monday-through-Friday 10-11 p.m. ET non-sports average over the prior 52 weeks were: in adults 18-49 (1.9 vs. 2.2), adults 25-54 (2.2 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (6.1 million vs. 6.9 million).

On Thursday, October 1 from 8-8:30 p.m. ET, "Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday" averaged a 1.8/5 in adults 18-49 and 5.0 million viewers overall, increasing versus the prior week by 6 percent in 18-49 rating (1.8 vs. 1.7) and by 11 percent in total viewers (5.0 million vs. 4.5 million).

Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET, "Parks and Recreation" (2.0/6 in 18-49, 4.7 million viewers overall) increased week-to-week by 11 percent in 18-49 rating (2.0 vs. 1.8) and 14 percent in total viewers (4.7 million vs. 4.1 million). "Parks" built on its lead-in by 11 percent in adults 18-49 and by 18 percent in adults 18-34 (to a 2.0 from a 1.7).

Thursday from 9-9:31 p.m. ET, "The Office" (3.9/10 in 18-49, 7.4 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in its highly competitive time period in men 18-34 and men 18-49 and #2 in adults 18-34, against competition that included ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," CBS's "CSI" and Fox's "Fringe."

Thursday from 9:31-10:01 p.m., "Community" (2.9/7 in 18-49, 5.9 million viewers overall) increased week-to-week by 7 percent in 18-49 rating (2.9 vs. 2.7) and 9 percent in total viewers (5.9 million vs. 5.4 million). "Community" ranked #1 among the major networks in the half-hour in men 18-34 and #2 in adults 18-34.

Thursday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "The Jay Leno Show" averaged a 1.5/4 in adults 18-49, a 1.9/5 in adults 25-54 and 5.0 million viewers overall. Thursday's time-period competition included CBS's "The Mentalist" and the season premiere of ABC's "Private Practice."

Versus Jay Leno's 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Thursday's telecast was up in adults 18-49 (1.5 vs. 1.4) and adults 25-54 (1.9 vs. 1.8) and comparable in total viewers (5.0 million vs. 5.1 million). Comparisons to NBC's Monday-through-Friday 10-11 p.m. ET non-sports average over the prior 52 weeks were: in adults 18-49 (1.5 vs. 2.2), adults 25-54 (1.9 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (5.0 million vs. 6.9 million).

On Friday, October 2 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Law & Order" (1.2/5 in 18-49, 6.8 million viewers overall) delivered NBC's biggest overall audience in the time period since January 9. "Law & Order" ranked #2 in the slot among the major networks in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, total viewers and other key measures. From its first half-hour to its second, "Law & Order" increased by 18 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 1.3 from a 1.1) and 18 percent in adults 25-54 (2.0 vs. 1.7).

Friday from 9-10:01 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.8/6 in 18-49, 7.7 million viewers overall) finished within a tenth of a rating point of the lead among the major networks in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 and ranked #1 in adults 18-34. Week-to-week, "Dateline" reported increases of 20 percent in adults 18-49 (1.8/6 vs. 1.5/5) and 29 percent or more than 1.7 million persons in total viewers (7.7 million vs. 6.0 million).

Friday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "The Jay Leno Show" averaged a 1.4/5 in adults 18-49, a 1.9/6 in adults 25-54 and 5.3 million viewers overall. Friday's time-period competition included CBS's "Numb3rs" and ABC's "20/20." In the time slot, "The Jay Leno Show" finished within 0.3 of a rating point of the lead among the major networks in adults 18-49, and ranked #1 among the major networks in adults and men 18-34.

Versus Jay Leno's 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Friday's telecast was comparable in adults 18-49 (1.4 vs. 1.4) and up in adults 25-54 (1.9 vs. 1.8) and total viewers (5.3 million vs. 5.1 million). Comparisons to NBC's Monday-through-Friday 10-11 p.m. ET non-sports average over the prior 52 weeks were: in adults 18-49 (1.4 vs. 2.2), adults 25-54 (1.9 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (5.3 million vs. 6.9 million).

On Saturday, October 3 from 8-9 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Mercy" averaged a 0.6/2 in 18-49 and 2.6 million viewers overall. At 9 p.m., a rebroadcast of "Trauma" (0.8/2, 3.6 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 33 percent in adults 18-49 and 38 percent in total viewers.

Saturday at 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.4/4 in 18-49, 5.4 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 75 percent in 18-49 rating. "SVU" tied for #2 in adults 18-49 and ranked #2 outright in adults 18-34, making it the #1 non-sports choice in the hour among the major networks in that measure.

On Sunday, October 4, the "NBC Sunday Night Football" telecast of the San Diego Chargers at the Pittsburgh Steelers lead NBC to a convincing Sunday win in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, total viewers and other key measures. For its full duration, the Chargers-Steelers game averaged a 7.4/19 in adults 18-49, 18.4 million viewers overall and an 11.0/18 household rating/share from 8:31-11:10 p.m. ET.

Sunday's Chargers-Steelers game was up 35 percent in 18-49 rating and 30 percent or more than 4.2 million persons in total viewers versus the "Sunday Night Football" game that aired on the same night last year (a 5.5/14 in 18-49 and 14.2 million viewers overall for the Steelers-Jaguars on October 5, 2008).

For the night (from 7:30-11 p.m. ET), NBC averaged a 6.3/16 in adults 18-49 and 15.7 million viewers overall. NBC's margin of victory over the #2 network in adults 18-49 was 17 percent (6.3/16 for NBC from 7:30-11 p.m. vs. a 5.4/14 for Fox from 7-10 p.m.) and in total viewers it was 29 percent, or 3.6 million persons in total viewers (15.7 million vs. 12.1 million for Fox).

Also on Sunday, "Football Night in America 2" from 7:30-7:57 p.m. ET averaged a 2.0/6 in 18-49, 4.8 million viewers overall and a 3.1/5 household rating/share. "Football Night in America 3" from 7:57-8:22 p.m. delivered a 4.1/11 in 18-49, 10.7 million viewers overall and a 6.4/11 in households. From 8:22-8:31 p.m., "NBC Sunday Night Football Pre Kickoff" averaged a 5.5/15 in 18-49, 14.8 million viewers overall and an 8.7/14 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.