NBC RANKS #2 IN ADULTS 18-49 AND #1 IN TOTAL VIEWERS FOR THE WEEK OF JAN. 4-10

NBC'S SATURDAY EAGLES-COWBOYS NFL WILDCARD GAME GIVES NBC THE TOP-RATED PRIMETIME NIGHT ON ANY NETWORK SINCE THE SUPER BOWL NBC'S SATURDAY EAGLES-COWBOYS NFL WILDCARD GAME GIVES NBC THE TOP-RATED PRIMETIME NIGHT ON ANY NETWORK SINCE THE SUPER BOWL

SATURDAY'S EAGLES-COWBOYS GAME SCORES THE TOP 18-49 SATURDAY RESULTS FOR ANY NETWORK SINCE 1996 AND THE BIGGEST OVERALL SATURDAY VIEWERSHIP FOR ANY NETWORK SINCE 1994

TUESDAY'S DEBUT OF 'THE BIGGEST LOSER: COUPLES' SETS A NEW SERIES RECORD IN ADULTS 18-49 FOR A 'LOSER' PREMIERE

'BIGGEST LOSER' WINS ITS TWO-HOUR SLOT IN ADULTS 18-49 AND TIES FOR #6 AMONG ALL PRIMETIME SHOWS THIS WEEK IN THAT KEY DEMO

ON SUNDAY, THE THIRD-SEASON DEBUT OF 'CHUCK' CAPTURES THAT SHOW'S TOP RESULTS IN 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS SINCE ITS SPECIAL 3-D TELECAST IN FEBRUARY 2009

ON WEDNESDAY, 'LAW AND ORDER: SVU' LOCKS UP ITS HIGHEST 18-49 RATING OF THE SEASON AND WINS ITS HOUR IN TOTAL VIEWERS

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - January 12, 2010 - Paced by Saturday's NFL Wild Card game, which delivered the highest primetime ratings for any network since the Super Bowl and the highest Saturday results for any network in more than a decade, NBC ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and #1 in total viewers for the week of January 4-10, averaging a 3.5 rating, 9 share in 18-49 and 10.3 million viewers overall, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Additionally for the week, NBC tied for #1 in adults 25-54, ranked #1 outright in women 18-49 and women 25-54 and was #2 in all other key ratings measures.

NBC's Saturday NFL Wild Card game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys was the #1 primetime telecast of the week in adults 18-49 and most key measures. Also in the top 10 in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49 was Tuesday's debut of "The Biggest Loser: Couples," which ranked #6 (tied) among primetime programs (rankings exclude all pre and post game sports telecasts). With an average viewership of 32.1 million, Saturday's NFL Wild Card game also ranked #1 among primetime programs this week in total viewers. And, with an average viewership of 11.7 million, "The Biggest Loser: Couples" ranked #10 for the week by that measure (excludes all pre and post game sports telecasts).

Primetime averages for the week of January 4-10 in adults 18-49 were Fox (3.6/10), NBC (3.5/9), ABC (3.2/9), CBS (2.3/6) and CW (0.4/1). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were NBC (10.3 million), Fox (10.1 million), CBS (9.9 million), ABC (9.6 million) and CW (1.1 million).

NBC highlights for the week of January 4-10:

* On Sunday, A special two-hour Sunday third-season debut of "Chuck" captured the show's highest 18-49 and total-viewer results since its special 3-D episode on February 2, 2009, and second-highest 18-49 rating since December 3, 2007.

* Sunday's "Chuck" was up by 21 percent in adults 18-49 and up 12 percent in total viewers versus its average for original telecasts last season ("live plus same day").

* On Saturday, NBC Sports' coverage of the Philadelphia Eagles-Dallas Cowboys NFL Wild Card playoff game propelled NBC to the top-rated primetime night for any network in adults 18-49 and total viewers since NBC's telecast of the Super Bowl last February.

* Saturday's Eagles-Cowboys game delivered the highest Saturday 18-49 primetime rating for any network since July 27, 1996 (NBC's Olympics coverage) and in total viewers attracted the biggest Saturday primetime viewership on any network since February 26, 1994 (CBS's Olympics coverage).

* On Friday, "The Jay Leno Show" matched its highest 18-49 rating for a Friday telecast in 15 weeks.

* On Wednesday, "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" locked up its highest 18-49 rating of the season and won its hour in total viewers.

* Also on Wednesday, a rebroadcast of "The Jay Leno Show" ranked #2 among the major networks in the hour in total viewers and all key adult-male demographics.

* On Tuesday, the debut of "The Biggest Loser: Couples" set a new series record in adults 18-49 for a "Biggest Loser" premiere.

* "The Biggest Loser: Couples" won its highly competitive two-hour slot in adults 18-49 and other key measures, over competition that included CBS's combination of "NCIS" and "NCIS: LA," Fox's Orange Bowl telecast and ABC's "Scrubs" and "Better Off Ted."

* Also on Tuesday, "The Jay Leno Show" scored its highest 18-49 and total-viewer result for any night of the week in four weeks

* NBC ranked #1 in primetime Tuesday night in adults 18-49 and other key demographics.

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 January 4-10:

On Monday, January 4, from 8-10:01 p.m. ET, "Heroes" averaged a 2.2 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49 and 4.9 million viewers overall in a time period that included competition from Fox's telecast of the Fiesta Bowl, ABC's premiere of "The Bachelor" and CBS's encore comedies. "Heroes" ranked #2 among the major networks in men 18-34, behind only Fox's coverage of the Fiesta Bowl. "Heroes" is one of the most time-shifted programs on network television. So far this season, "Heroes" has added 30 percent to its 18-49 rating when going from its "live plus same day" to its "live plus seven day" results. In total viewers, "Heroes" adds more than 1.4 million viewers to its previously reported "live plus same day" results when "live plus seven day" ratings are released.

Monday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "The Jay Leno Show" averaged a 1.5/4 in adults 18-49, a 1.8/4 in adults 25-54 and 4.8 million viewers overall. Monday's time-period competition included Fox's coverage of the Fiesta Bowl, ABC's special "Conveyor Belt of Love" and CBS's "CSI: Miami" encore.

"The Jay Leno Show" matched its second-highest Monday 18-49 rating in 12 weeks (since October 19) and attracted its second-biggest overall audience for a Monday telecast over that same 12-week span.

Comparisons with Jay Leno's 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" are: in adults 18-49 (1.5 vs. 1.4), adults 25-54 (1.8 vs. 1.8) and total viewers (4.8 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 (1.8 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (4.8 million vs. 6.9 million).

On Tuesday, January 5 from 8-10:01 p.m. ET, the debut of "The Biggest Loser: Couples" (4.6/12 in adults 18-49, 11.7 million viewers overall) set a new series record in adults 18-49 for a "Biggest Loser" premiere. Versus the most recent "Biggest Loser' premiere (3.8/11 in 18-49, 9.9 million viewers on September 15, 2008), this week's "Biggest Loser: Couples" debut was up 21 percent in 18-49 and 18 percent in total viewers.

"Biggest Loser: Couples" won its highly competitive two-hour slot in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and in all key adult-female demographics, over competition that Included CBS's combination of "NCIS" and "NCIS: LA," Fox's Orange Bowl telecast and ABC's "Scrubs" and "Better Off Ted."

"Biggest Loser: Couples" was the #1 telecast of the night in adults 18-49. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Loser" gained 28 percent in 18-49 rating (5.1/13 vs. 4.0/11) and 18% or 1.9 million persons in total viewers (12.6 million vs. 10.7 million).

Excluding finales, this tied as the second-highest "Biggest Loser" ever in adults 18-49, behind only the penultimate edition of the first "Biggest Loser" cycle on January 4, 2005 (a 4.8) and tied with the December 14, 2004 edition. In total viewers, this was the second-biggest non-finale "Biggest Loser" ever, behind only the year-ago debut on January 6, 2009 (11.9 million). Versus that year-ago debut, this premiere of "Biggest Loser: Couples" was up 2 percent in adults 18-49 (4.6 vs. 4.2).

Tuesday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "The Jay Leno Show" averaged a 2.1/6 in adults 18-49, a 2.5/6 in adults 25-54 and 6.3 million viewers overall. Tuesday's time-period competition included Fox's Orange Bowl coverage, CBS's "The Good Wife" and ABC's "The Forgotten." The "Leno Show" tied for #1 among the major networks in women 18-34 and tied as the #1 non-sports choice in adults and men 18-34. Additionally, "Leno" topped the first-run telecast of ABC's "The Forgotten" in all key ratings measures - adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, as well as total viewers.

"The Jay Leno Show" scored its highest 18-49 and total-viewer result for any night of the week in four weeks (since Tuesday, Dec. 8).

Comparisons with Jay Leno's 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" are: in adults 18-49 (2.1 vs. 1.4), adults 25-54 (2.5 vs. 1.8) and total viewers (6.3 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 (2.1 vs. 2.2), adults 25-54 (2.5 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (6.3 million vs. 6.9 million).

NBC ranked #1 Tuesday night in adults and women 18-49 and adults and women 18-34.

On Wednesday, January 6 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Mercy" averaged a 1.7/5 in adults 18-49 and 7.1 million viewers overall.

Wednesday from 9-10:01 p.m. ET, "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.1/8 in adults 18-49, 10.6 million viewers overall) locked up its highest 18-49 rating of the season. "SVU" ranked #1 in the hour in total viewers. In adults 18-49, "SVU" increased by 21 percent from half-hour to half-hour (to a 3.4/9 from a 2.8/7). In total viewers, the increase was 12 percent or 1.2 million persons (11.2 million vs. 10.0 million).

Wednesday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "The Jay Leno Show" averaged a 1.5/4 in adults 18-49, a 1.8/5 in adults 25-54 and 5.1 million viewers overall. Wednesday's time-period competition included CBS's telecast of "The People's Choice Awards" and the night and time-period debut of ABC's "Ugly Betty." In the time period, "Jay Leno" ranked #2 among the major networks in total viewers and all key adult-male demographics - men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54.

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 (1.5 vs. 1.4), adults 25-54 (1.8 vs. 1.8) and total viewers (5.1 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 (1.5 vs. 2.2), adults 25-54 (1.8 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (5.1 million vs. 6.9 million).

On Thursday, January 7 from 8-8:30 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Community" (1.7/5 in adults 18-49, 4.5 million viewers overall) ranked #2 among the major networks in the time period and #1 among non-sports programs in adults 18-34 and all key adult-male demos ahead of CBS's "CSI" rebroadcast and Fox's "Bones" encore. From 8:30-9 p.m., a rebroadcast of "Parks and Recreation" (1.3/3 in 18-49, 3.2 million viewers overall) tied for #2 among the major networks and tied for #1 among non-sports programs in adults 18-34, men 18-34 and men 25-54.

Thursday from 9-9:31 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "The Office" (1.7/4 in 18-49, 3.9 million viewers overall) ranked #2 among the major networks in the time slot and #1 among non-sports programs in adults, men and women 18-34 and men 18-49. From 9:31-10:01 p.m., a rebroadcast of "30 Rock" (1.6/4 in 18-49, 3.8 million viewers overall) retained 94 percent of its lead-in rating from "The Office" encore in 18-49. "30 Rock" ranked #2 among the major networks in the time period and #1 among non-sports programs in adults and men 18-34.

Thursday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "The Jay Leno Show" averaged a 1.4/4 in adults 18-49, a 1.7/4 in adults 25-54 and 4.6 million viewers overall. Thursday's time-period competition included ABC's coverage of college football's Alabama-Texas BCS Championship game and CBS's encore of "The Mentalist."

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 (1.4 vs. 1.4), adults 25-54 (1.7 vs. 1.8) and total viewers (4.6 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 (1.7 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (4.6 million vs. 6.9 million).

On Friday, January 8 from 8-10:01 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.9/6 in adults 18-49, 9.0 million viewers overall) reported its second-highest 18-49 and total-viewer results of the season. In the time period, "Dateline" ranked #2 among the major networks in adults 18-49, tied for #1 in adults 18-34 and #1 in total viewers.

From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Dateline" increased by 53 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.3 from a 1.5) and by 48 percent or 3.5 million persons in total viewers (to 10.7 million from 7.2 million). For its second hour from 9-10 p.m., "Dateline" ranked #1 or tied for #1 among the major networks in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers. "Dateline" delivered NBC's highest 18-49 and total viewers results so far this season in this hour.

Friday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "The Jay Leno Show" averaged a 1.4/4 in adults 18-49, a 1.7/5 in adults 25-54 and 5.6 million viewers overall. Friday's time-period competition included ABC's "20/20" and CBS's "Numb3rs." The "Leno Show" matched its highest 18-49 Friday rating in 15 weeks (since September 25) and attracted its biggest overall Friday audience in four weeks (since December 11).

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 (1.4 vs. 1.4), in adults 25-54 (1.7 vs. 1.8) and total viewers (5.6 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 (1.7 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (5.6 million vs. 6.9 million).

For the week, "The Jay Leno Show" earned its highest weeklong rating in 18-49 (a 1.6) in three weeks (since the week of December 14-18) and its biggest overall audience (5.2 million) in four weeks (since the week of December 7-11).

On Saturday, Jan. 9, NBC Sports' coverage of the Philadelphia Eagles-Dallas Cowboys NFL Wild Card playoff game propelled NBC to the top-rated primetime night for any network in adults 18-49 and total viewers since NBC's telecast of the Super Bowl (Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009). For the full primetime night (Saturday from 8-11 p.m.), NBC averaged an 11.8/33 in adults 18-49, 32.3 million viewers overall and an 18.1/30 household rating/share.

In adults 18-49, this was the highest Saturday primetime rating for any network since July 27, 1996 (NBC's Olympics coverage, 11.8). In total viewers, this was the biggest Saturday primetime viewership on any network since February 26, 1994 (CBS's Olympics coverage, 38.1 million).

For its full duration, the game averaged an 11.8/33 in adults 18-49, 32.1 million viewers overall and an 18.0/30 household rating and share from 8:06-11:12 p.m. ET. The pre-kickoff telecast from 7:57-8:06 p.m. averaged a 9.6/30 in adults 18-49, 27.0 million viewers overall and a 15.6/27 household rating and share.

On Sunday, January 10, from 7-9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" reported a 1.4/4 in 18-49 and 6.3 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Dateline" increased its 18-49 rating by 100 percent (to a 2.0 from a 1.0) and its overall viewership by 68 percent or more than 3.2 million persons (to 8.1 million from 4.8 million).

Sunday from 9-11 p.m. ET, a special two-hour Sunday third-season debut of "Chuck" (2.9/7 in 18-49, 7.5 million viewers overall) captured the show's highest 18-49 and total-viewer results since February 2, 2009, the night of a special 3-D episode aired one day after the Super Bowl. Excluding that 3-D episode, it's "Chuck's" top 18-49 rating since December 3, 2007. In key male demos, "Chuck" delivered its highest ratings since that same date of December 3, 2007. In the time period, "Chuck" ranked #2 among the major networks in all key adult-male demos -- men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 -- and #1 in those male categories from 10-11 p.m.

Versus its "live plus same day" average for originals last season, Sunday's "Chuck" was up by 21 percent in 18-49 (2.9 vs. 2.4) and up 12 percent in total viewers (7.5 million vs. 6.6 million).