NBC RESULTS FOR THE PRIMETIME WEEK OF FEB. 18-24

'THE BIGGEST LOSER' GROWS WEEK TO WEEK TO EQUAL ITS TOP 18-49 RATING IN THREE WEEKS

'LAW & ORDER: SVU' IS UP WEEK TO WEEK IN 18-49 TO HIT A THREE-WEEK HIGH

'CHICAGO FIRE' MATCHES OR TOPS ITS DEBUT 18-49 RATING FROM LAST FALL FOR A SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE ORIGINAL TELECAST

'DATELINE NBC' EQUALS ITS HIGHEST FRIDAY 18-49 RATING SINCE JAN. 4

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - February 26, 2013 - NBC has delivered a 1.2 rating, 3 share in adults 18-49 and 3.8 million viewers overall for the primetime ratings week of February 18-24, according to "live plus same day" viewing data from Nielsen Media Research.

NBC's top shows last week included "The Biggest Loser" which averaged a 2.1 rating in adults 18-49, and "Chicago Fire." which averaged a 1.9.

Primetime averages for the week of February 18-24 in adults 18-49 are: ABC, 3.4/9; Fox, 2.1/6; CBS, 2.0/6; NBC, 1.2/3; and CW, 0.6/2. In overall total viewers, the weekly averages were: ABC, 11.3 million; CBS, 9.6 million; Fox, 6.6 million; NBC, 3.8 million; and CW, 1.5 million.

Season to date averages through eight weeks are: CBS, 3.1/9; NBC, 2.6/7; Fox, 2.5/7; ABC, 2.3/7; and CW, 0.7/2. In overall total viewers, the season averages are: CBS, 12.5 million; ABC, 7.9 million; NBC, 7.6 million; Fox, 7.0 million; and CW, 1.9 million.

NBC highlights for the week of February 18-24

Monday: "The Biggest Loser" (2.1 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49, 5.6 million viewers overall from 8-10:01 p.m. ET) grew week to week by 5 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.1 from a 2.0). "Loser" matched its top rating in three weeks (since January 28) and equaled its comparable week-seven rating of one year earlier.

At 10:01 p.m. ET, "Deception" (1.2/3 in 18-49, 3.2 million viewers overall) equaled the prior week's 18-49 rating to match the show's top rating in four weeks (since January 21).

Tuesday: "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" (1.3/4 in 18-49, 4.7 million viewers overall at 8 p.m. ET) improved versus an encore in the slot one week earlier by 18 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.3 from a 1.1). At 8:30, a second telecast of "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" (1.4/4 in 18-49, 4.7 million viewers overall) grew week to week by 8 percent (to a 1.4 from a 1.3).

Wednesday: "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.6/4 in adults 18-49, 5.6 million viewers overall at 9 p.m. ET,) grew week to week by 7 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.6 from a 1.5), to score its top rating since in three weeks (since January 30). From its first half-hour to its second, "SVU" grew in every key ratings measure.

At 10 p.m. ET, "Chicago Fire" (1.9/5 in adults 18-49, 6.5 million viewers overall) equaled the prior week's rating, making this the seventh consecutive telecast that's matched or beaten the show's debut 1.9 on October 10. Among all other new dramas this season on ABC, CBS and NBC and Fox, only Fox's "The Following" has matched or beaten its premiere 18-49 rating, which it's done one time. This week's "Chicago Fire" built on its lead-in by 19 percent in adults 18-49, 21 percent in adults 25-54 (2.3 vs. 1.9) and 16 percent in total viewers.

Thursday: "Community" (1.1/3 in 18-49, 3.1 million viewers overall at 8 p.m. ET) grew week to week in total viewers by 11 percent (to 3.1 million persons from 2.8 million).

At 8:30 p.m. ET, "Parks and Recreation" (1.4/4 in 18-49, 3.1 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 27 percent in 18-49 rating, and at 9 p.m. ET, a second edition of "Parks and Recreation" (1.4/4 in 18-49, 3.0 million viewers overall) maintained the 18-49 rating of the prior telecast.

At 10:01 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.1//3 in 18-49, 3.9 million viewers overall) grew versus the prior week's encore by 22 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.1 from a 0.9) and by 17 percent in total viewers (3.9 million vs. 3.3 million). The "Law & Order: SVU" encore locked up NBC's highest 18-49 and total-viewer results in the time period in five weeks (since January 17).

Friday: "Dateline NBC" (1.4/4 in 18-49, 6.3 million viewers overall from 8-10:01 p.m. ET) grew week to week by 8 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.4 from a 1.3), to match the show's highest Friday rating since January 4 (1.5 from 9-11 p.m.). "Dateline" also equaled NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the Friday 8-10 p.m. slot since a "Saturday Night Live" special on December 7 (1.5).

Saturday: A 10 p.m. ET rebroadcast of "Saturday Night Live," with host Christoph Waltz and musical guest Alabama Shakes (0.8/3 in 18-49, 2.3 million viewers overall), doubled its 18-49 lead-in to equal NBC's highest non-sports 18-49 rating in the time period since December 22. For its second half-hour from 10:30-11 p.m., the "SNL" encore tied for #1 among ABC, CBS and NBC in 18-49.