NBC DOMINATES THE WEEK OF JULY 30-AUGUST 5, AS THE 2012 LONDON OLYMPICS BOOSTS THE NETWORK TO 10-YEAR HIGHS

NBC WINS THE WEEK IN ALL KEY MEASURES, AS THE SEVEN NIGHTS OF OLYMPIC TELECASTS TAKE THE TOP SEVEN SPOTS FOR THE WEEK IN EVERY KEY CATEGORY

NBC'S WINNING MARGINS FOR THE WEEK ARE THE BIGGEST IN PEOPLE-METER HISTORY

THROUGH 10 NIGHTS, NBC'S PRIMETIME OLYMPIC COVERAGE IS AVERAGING 33.6 MILLION VIEWERS, HIGHEST FOR A NON-U.S. SUMMER GAMES THROUGH 10 NIGHTS SINCE 1976

ON MONDAY, OLYMPIC COVERAGE GENERATES THE BIGGEST AVERAGE AUDIENCE FOR A FIRST MONDAY OF A NON-U.S. SUMMER GAMES SINCE 1976; IN 18-49, IT'S THE TOP MONDAY ON ANY NET IN EIGHT YEARS

TUESDAY'S COVERAGE DELIVERS THE BIGGEST AUDIENCE FOR A FIRST TUESDAY OF A NON-U.S. SUMMER OLYMPICS EVER

WEDNESDAY'S PRIMETIME TELECAST IS THE MOST-WATCHED FOR A FIRST WEDNESDAY OF A NON-U.S. SUMMER OLYMPICS IN 36 YEARS

ON THURSDAY, NBC DELIVERS THE MOST-WATCHED THURSDAY TELECAST ON ANY NETWORK SINCE THE 'FRIENDS' FINALE IN MAY 2004

FRIDAY'S 18-49 AVERAGE IN PRIMETIME IS THE HIGHEST FOR ANY NETWORK ON A FRIDAY, EXCLUDING THE PRIOR WEEK'S OPENING CEREMONY, SINCE 2003

SUNDAY'S COVERAGE GENERATES THE BIGGEST AUDIENCE FOR A MIDDLE SUNDAY OF A NON-U.S. SUMMER GAMES SINCE 1976

FOR THE 2011-12 BROADCAST YEAR TO DATE, NBC IS #3 IN 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS AND #2 AMONG ABC, CBS, NBC AND FOX IN 18-34

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - August 7, 2012 - NBC's coverage of the Summer Olympic Games from London has led the network to its top-scoring week in adults 18-49 and total viewers in 10 years and the top Summer week for any network in 16 years. NBC dominated the week with an average 10.2 rating, 29 share in adults 18-49 and 32.2 million viewers overall, according to "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

NBC's 10.2 rating in 18-49 is the network's highest weekly average since an 11.4 for the week of February 18-24, 2002 during the Salt Lake City Olympics and is the highest for any network since Fox averaged an 11.5 during Super Bowl week, January 31-February 6, 2011. For a summer week, it's the best for any network since July 29-August 4, 1996, when NBC did a 12.6 during the Atlanta Olympics.

In total viewers, the 32.2 million is the best for NBC since the network averaged 32.8 million during the Salt Lake City Olympic week of February 18-24, 2002 and highest for any network since Fox did 33.6 million during Super Bowl week, January 28-February 3, 2008. For a summer week, it's the highest average for any network since NBC's 36.0 million during the Atlanta Olympic week of July 22-28, 1996.

NBC's margins of victory for the week, both over the #2 broadcast network and over the combined rating of the other three major English-language broadcast networks, were the highest in the 25-year history of People Meters (dating back to September 1987). NBC's margins in adults 18-49 were 920 percent versus second place and 278 percent versus the combined ABC, CBS and Fox rating. In total viewers, the margins of victory were 667 percent versus #2 and 250 percent versus ABC, CBS and Fox combined.

NBC dominated the week in every key ratings category and the week's seven nights of London Olympics coverage accounted for the top seven telecasts of the week in all key ratings categories.

Counting all 10 days to date, NBC's primetime coverage of the London Olympics has averaged 33.6 million viewers and a household rating of 18.8/32, making it the most-watched and highest-rated non-U.S. Summer Olympics since the Montreal Games in 1976. The 10-day average primetime viewership of 33.6 million viewers is 3.7 million more than the first 10 nights from Beijing (29.9 million) and 7.4 million more than the first 10 nights from Athens (26.2 million).

London's 10-day total-viewer average of 33.6 million marks the first time any non-U.S.-based Summer Olympics has delivered that level for the first 10 nights in history (records back to 1960).

Primetime averages for the week of July 30-August 5 in adults 18-49 were: NBC (10.2/29), CBS (1.0/3), Fox (0.9/3), ABC (0.8/3) and CW (0.2/1). In overall total viewers, the weekly averages were: NBC (32.2 million), CBS (4.2 million), ABC (2.8 million), Fox (2.2 million) and CW (0.6 million).

For the 2011-12 broadcast year to date, NBC is #3 among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in adult 18-49 rating and total viewers and is #2 in adults 18-34. NBC is the only network among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox that's up versus one year ago in viewers 18-49, total viewers or viewer 18-34. Averages for the broadcast year through 45 weeks are: Fox (2.8/8), CBS (2.6/7), NBC (2.5/7), ABC (2.3/6) and CW (0.6/2). In overall total viewers, the broadcast-year averages are: CBS (10.4 million), Fox (7.9 million), NBC (7.8 million), ABC (7.7 million) and CW (1.5 million).

NBC highlights for the week of July 30-August 5

* On Monday, NBC's coverage of the London Olympics delivered the biggest average audience for a first Monday of a non-U.S. Summer Games, 31.6 million, since Montreal in 1976. In adults 18-49, it was the top-rated Monday on any network in more than eight years.

* On Tuesday, NBC delivered the biggest audience for a first Tuesday of a non-U.S. Summer Games, 38.7 million, in the history of televised Summer Olympics. In 18-49, it was the highest-rated Tuesday on any network in more than four years

* On Wednesday, NBC amassed the biggest primetime audience, 30.8 million viewers, for a first Wednesday of a non-U.S. Summer Olympics in 36 years.

* On Thursday, NBC's averaged 36.8 million viewers made it the most-watched first Thursday of any non-U.S. Summer Olympics since Montreal in 1976 and the most-watched Thursday telecast on any network since the "Friends" finale on May 6, 2004.

* On Friday, NBC delivered the highest primetime 18-49 average for any network on a Friday night, excluding the prior week's Opening Ceremony, since January 2003.

* On Sunday, NBC's Olympic coverage generated the biggest average audience for a middle Sunday of a non-U.S. Summer Olympics since Montreal in 1976, with 31.3 million viewers. Sunday's coverage was up 15 percent from the comparable night in 2008.

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 July 30-August 5:

On Monday, July 30 from 8-11:23 p.m., NBC's coverage of the 2012 London Olympics drew 31.6 million viewers, the most for the first Monday of a non-U.S. Summer Games in 36 years (37.7 million for Montreal in 1976). The Monday viewership was 1.4 million more than the first Monday night of the 2008 Beijing Olympics (30.2 million) and 4.5 million more than the first Tuesday of the 2004 Athens Olympics (27.1 million), the last European Summer Olympics. In adults 18-49, NBC's average 10.6 rating from 8-11 p.m. made this the highest-rated Monday for any network in more than eight years, since the season three premiere of "American Idol" on Fox on January 19, 2004. In households, Monday's coverage, which featured a gold medal for the U.S. in the 100m backstroke and the finals of the men's gymnastics all-around, earned an 18.0/29 rating/share, 2 percent higher than the first Monday of the Beijing Olympics (17.6/29), which featured live coverage of three swimming gold medals, including Phelps' third in three nights.

On Tuesday, July 31, from 8-11:43 p.m. ET, NBC's primetime Olympic coverage drew 38.7 million viewers, the most for the first Tuesday of a non-U.S. Summer Games in the history of televised Summer Olympics (Rome, 1960), and earned a 21.8/35 household rating/share, making it the highest-rated night in any Summer Olympics since the 1996 Atlanta Games. In adults 18-49, NBC averaged a 12.4 rating from 8-11 p.m., making it the highest-rated Tuesday on any network in more than four years (since January 15, 2008 on Fox, with the season seven debut of "American Idol"). Tuesday's viewership was 4.7 million more than the first Tuesday of the 2008 Beijing Olympics (34.0 million) and is 8.6 million more than the first Tuesday of the 2004 Athens Olympics (30.1 million). .

On Wednesday, August 1 from 8-11:26 p.m. ET, NBC's Olympic coverage drew 30.8 million viewers, the most-watched first Wednesday of any non-U.S. Summer Olympics in 36 years (since Montreal in 1976). The average viewership of 30.8 million was 3.1 million more than the first Wednesday of the Beijing Olympics (27.7 million viewers) and 2.4 million more than the first Wednesday of the Athens Olympics (28.4 million viewers). In adults 18-49, NBC's 8-11 p.m. average of a 9.8 rating made it the highest-rated Wednesday for any network since January 19, 2011 (Fox's Season 10 debut of "American Idol"). In households, the Wednesday primetime coverage earned a 17.9/30 national rating/share, 7 percent higher than the first Wednesday in 2008 (16.7/28) and 3 percent higher than the first Wednesday in 2004 (17.3/29). Wednesday's coverage featured two more gold medals in the pool for the U.S. (Nathan Adrian in the 100m freestyle and the women's 4x200m freestyle relay) and Danell Leyva taking bronze for the U.S. in the men's gymnastics all-around.

On Thursday, August 2 from 8 p.m.-midnight ET, NBC's Olympic coverage drew 36.8 million viewers, making it the most-watched first Thursday of any non-U.S. Summer Olympics since Montreal in 1976 and the most-watched Thursday telecast on any network since the "Friends" finale on May 6, 2004. Thursday's primetime coverage, which featured Gabby Douglas winning the gold medal in the women's gymnastics all-around and Michael Phelps outdueling Ryan Lochte in the 200m IM to earn his record 20th career Olympic medal, was up 7.1 million persons (+24%) versus the first Thursday in 2008 (29.7 million viewers) and up 5.1 million viewers (+16%) versus the first Thursday in 2004 (31.7 million viewers). In adults 18-49, NBC averaged an 11.4 rating from 8-11 p.m., making this the top-rated Thursday for any network since the "Friends" finale on May 6, 2004. In households, the Thursday coverage earned a 21.1/36 national rating/share, 18 percent higher than the first Thursday in 2008 (17.9/31) and 9 percent higher than the first Thursday in 2004 (19.3/32).

On Friday, August 3 from 8:30-11:09 p.m. ET, NBC's Olympic coverage averaged 28.5 million viewers overall and a 16.2 rating/29 share in households. The increase over 2008 in households was 5 percent. In adults 18-49, NBC averaged an 8.6 rating in primetime, the highest for any network, excluding the prior week's Opening Ceremony from London, since January 3, 2003 (Fiesta Bowl on ABC).

On Saturday, August 4, from 8:30-11:15 p.m. ET, NBC's Olympics coverage averaged 28.0 million viewers and a 15.9 rating/29 share in households. With the August 4 results, the London Olympics have delivered the top two out-of-season Saturday nights in total viewers, 18-49 and households since the Beijing Olympics in August 2008.

On Sunday, August 5 from 7:30-11:29 p.m. ET, NBC's Olympic coverage drew an average of 31.3 million viewers, the best for a middle Sunday for a non-U.S. Summer Olympics since the Montreal Olympics in 1976 (35.0 million). This marks the ninth time in 10 nights that the average viewership for the London Olympics surpassed the Beijing Olympics. This marks the seventh night with at least 30 million viewers, equaling the combined total of the 2008 Beijing Olympics (five nights) and the 2004 Athens Olympics (two nights). The average 31.3 million viewers was up 15 percent from the comparable night at the Beijing Olympics (27.2 million) and up 20 percent from the comparable night at the Athens Olympics (26.0 million). In households the Sunday coverage, which featured Usain Bolt winning his second consecutive gold medal in the 100 meters and Carmelita Jeter taking the gold medal in the 400 meters, drew 31.3 million viewers, earned a 17.5/29 national rating/share, 9 percent higher than the comparable night from Beijing (16.0/27), and 11 percent higher than the comparable night from Athens (15.8/28)