NBC'S "AMERICA'S GOT TALENT" ATTRACTS ITS BIGGEST OVERALL VIEWERSHIP EVER FOR A SEASON DEBUT, WHILE "THE VOICE" HITS A SERIES HIGH IN TOTAL VIEWERS

IN 18-49, IT'S THE TOP "VOICE' TELECAST IN FOUR WEEKS AND BIGGEST "TALENT" PREMIERE IN FOUR YEARS, DESPITE SPECIAL COMPETITION FROM THE NBA FINALS

THE SIXTH SEASON DEBUT OF "AMERICA'S GOT TALENT' IS UP 17 PERCENT IN ADULTS 18-49 AND 21 PERCENT IN TOTAL VIEWERS VERSUS LAST YEAR'S PREMIERE

"THE VOICE' SURGES WEEK TO WEEK BY 29 PERCENT IN ADULTS 18-49 AND 69 PERCENT OR 5.9 MILLION PERSONS IN TOTAL VIEWERS

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - June 1, 2011 - Last night, the sixth season premiere of NBC's "America's Got Talent" attracted the biggest overall viewership ever for a "Talent" season debut and delivered the highest 18-49 rating for a "Talent" season premiere since 2007, according to "fast affiliate-based" "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research. Additionally, "The Voice" surged week to week by 29 percent in adults 18-49 while attracting its biggest overall viewership to date.

Last night from 8-10 p.m. ET, the sixth season premiere of "America's Got Talent" (4.2 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49, 15.0 million viewers overall) was up versus last year's season premiere by 17 percent in adults 18-49 (4.2 vs. a 3.6 rating on June 1, 2010) and by 21 percent or 2.6 million persons in total viewers (15.0 million vs. 12.4 million).

This marks the top "America's Got Talent" season premiere in adults 18-49 since 2007 (a 4.3 from 9-11 p.m. on June 5, 2007) and it sets a new record for a "Talent" season debut in total viewers. In fact, this was the third most-watched telecast of "America's Got Talent" ever in total viewers, behind only the 2009 and 2010 season finales.

"America's Got Talent" won its two-hour time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures, pending updates.

From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Talent" grew by 50 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 4.8 from a 3.2) and by 39 percent or 4.7 million persons in total viewers (16.7 million vs. 12.1 million), despite competition last night from ABC's coverage of the NBA Finals.

From 10-11 p.m. ET, the fourth and final battle round episode of "The Voice" (4.9/13 in 18-49, 14.4 million viewers overall) surged versus the prior week by 29 percent in adults 18-49 (4.9 vs. 3.8) and by 69 percent or 5.9 million persons in total viewers (14.4 million vs. 8.5 million). This marks the highest 18-49 rating for "The Voice" in four weeks and its biggest overall viewership ever, despite special competition from the NBA Finals.

Versus NBC's average in this time period last summer, last night's telecast of "The Voice" was up 69 percent in 18-49 rating (4.9 vs. 2.9, "live plus same day," non-sports) and up 50 percent in total viewers (14.375 million vs. 9.593 million).

NBC is currently ranking #1 in primetime for the night in total viewers and all key adult-female demographics, pending updates, and is #2 in adults 18-49, within one tenth of a rating point of first place for the night.

Preliminary 18-49 averages for Tuesday night are: ABC, 4.5/12; NBC, 4.4/12; CBS, 1.4/4; Fox, 1.0/3; CW, 0.3/1. In overall total viewers, May 31 preliminary results are: NBC, 14.8 million; ABC, 10.8 million; CBS, 9.0 million; Fox, 2.6 million; CW, 0.9 million.

Note that all national ratings are "live plus same day" unless otherwise indicated.