NBC TIES FOR #2 IN ADULTS 18-49 FOR PREMIERE WEEK WITH THE BIGGEST YEAR-TO-YEAR GAINS AMONG THE MAJOR NETS

VERSUS LAST YEAR'S PREMIERE WEEK, NBC IS UP 4 PERCENT IN 18-49 RATING, 8 PERCENT IN TOTAL VIEWERS, MORE THAN ANY OTHER MAJOR NETWORK IN BOTH CATEGORIES

NBC SPORTS' JETS-DOLPHINS GAME PROPELS THE NETWORK TO A SUNDAY WIN IN ADULTS 18-49, TOTAL VIEWERS AND OTHER KEY MEASURES

'NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL' IS THE #1 PROGRAM OF THE WEEK IN ADULTS 18-49, 18-34, 25-54 AND ALL KEY MALE DEMOS

ON MONDAY, THE SERIES PREMIERES OF 'THE EVENT' AND 'CHASE' GENERATE NBC'S BIGGEST OVERALL VIEWERSHIP IN THEIR RESPECTIVE TIME PERIODS IN MORE THAN A YEAR

ON TUESDAY, THE SEASON DEBUT OF 'THE BIGGEST LOSER 10' GAINS 40 PERCENT IN ADULTS 18-49 AND 23 PERCENT IN TOTAL VIEWERS FROM ITS FIRST HALF-HOUR TO ITS FOURTH, DESPITE FIERCE PREMIERE-WEEK COMPETITION

ON WEDNESDAY, THE TWO-HOUR PREMIERE OF 'LAW & ORDER: SVU' IS UP 28 PERCENT IN 18-49 VERSUS LAST YEAR'S ONE-HOUR PREMIERE

THE SERIES DEBUT OF 'UNDERCOVERS' IS UP 24 PERCENT IN 18-49 AND 41 PERCENT IN TOTAL VIEWERS VERSUS NBC'S NON-SPORTS AVERAGE IN THE 8 P.M. WEDNESDAY TIME PERIOD LAST SEASON

ON THURSDAY, 'COMMUNITY' HANGS TOUGH AGAINST FIERCE COMPETITION AND IS UP 10 PERCENT IN 18-49 VERSUS ITS SEASON FINALE AND 16 PERCENT VERSUS ITS FIRST 8 P.M. TELECAST LAST SEASON

'30 ROCK' ON THURSDAY SCORES NBC'S TOP 18-49 RATING FOR A REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAM IN THE SLOT IN MORE THAN A YEAR AND A HALF

'THE OFFICE' PREMIERE POSTS YEAR-OVER YEAR GAINS AGAINST TOUGHER COMPETITION AND DELIVERS ITS HIGHEST RATINGS SINCE THE BIRTH OF JIM AND PAM'S BABY

'OUTSOURCED' OPENS STRONG, RANKING #1 IN ITS SLOT IN KEY MALE DEMOS AND #2 IN ADULTS 18-49 VERSUS INTENSE PREMIERE-WEEK COMPETITION

'DATELINE NBC' REPORTS THE SHOW'S HIGHEST FRIDAY 18-49 RATING IN 15 WEEKS AND ITS BIGGEST FRIDAY VIEWERSHIP IN MORE THAN SIX MONTHS

NBC IS ALSO #2 FOR THE WEEK IN ADULTS 18-34, MEN 18-49 AND MEN 25-54 AND TIED FOR #1 IN MEN 18-34

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - September 28, 2010 - Paced by "Sunday Night Football," the #1 primetime program of the week in adults 18-49, and with strong ratings from new and returning series, NBC tied for #2 in adults 18-49 for the first week of the 2010-11 season, averaging a 2.8 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49 and 8.2 million viewers overall for the week of September 20-26, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research. For the week, NBC was #2 outright in adult 18-49 viewer totals and also ranked #2 among the major networks in adults 18-34, men 18-49 and men 25-54 and was tied for #1 in men 18-34.

NBC scored the biggest year-over-year increases versus last year's premiere week among the major networks. In adult 18-49 rating, NBC was up 4 percent year-over-year (2.8 this year vs. 2.7 last year), CBS was up 3 percent (3.3 vs. 3.2), ABC was down 15 percent (2.8 vs. 3.3) and Fox was down 16 percent (2.6 vs. 3.1). NBC's increase was 6 percent in 18-49 viewers (3.7 million vs. 3.5 million).

In total viewers, NBC was up 8 percent versus premiere week last year (8.2 million vs. 7.6 million), CBS was up 6 percent (12. 5 million vs. 11.8 million), Fox was down 12 percent (6.5 million vs. 7.4 million) and ABC was down 13 percent (9.6 million vs. 11.1 million).

NBC Sports' "Sunday Night Football" telecast of the New York Jets versus the Miami Dolphins topped the weekly primetime rankings in the key demographic of adults 18-49. "Sunday Night Football" also ranked #1 among all primetime programs this week in adults 25-54, adults 18-34 and all key adult-male demographics. In total viewers, "Sunday Night Football" ranked #4 among all primetime programs.

Primetime averages for the week of September 20-26 in adults 18-49 were CBS (3.3/10), NBC and ABC (2.8/8), Fox (2.6/7) and CW (1.1/3). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (12.5 million), ABC (9.6 million), NBC (8.2 million), Fox (6.5 million) and CW (2.5 million).

NBC highlights for the week of September 20-26

· On Sunday, NBC Sports' "Sunday Night Football" telecast of the New York Jets at the Miami Dolphins led NBC to a Sunday primetime win in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54, total viewers and all key adult-male demographics. NBC topped its closest network competitor Sunday night in adults 18-49 by a 39 percent margin of victory.

· Sunday's Jets-Dolphins game was up 7 percent in 18-49 rating and 4 percent in total viewers versus the "Sunday Night Football" game that aired during premiere week last year.

· On Friday, "Dateline NBC" reported its highest Friday rating in 18-49 in 15 weeks and its biggest overall viewership for a Friday telecast in more than six months. In its two-hour time period, "Dateline" ranked #2 among the major networks in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key categories and was #1 in all key adult-male demos.

· On Thursday, the second season premiere of "Community" was up 10 percent in 18-49 rating versus its season finale in May and up 16 percent versus its first telecast in the 8 p.m. time period last season, despite intense time-period competition, including the first Thursday original telecast of CBS's "The Big Bang Theory,"

· Also on Thursday, the fifth season debut of "30 Rock" built by 18 percent in both 18-49 and total viewers on its lead-in from "Community," scoring NBC's best result in adults 18-49 for a regularly scheduled telecast in this time period in nearly a year and a half (since April 2009).

· Thursday's seventh season premiere of "The Office" was up 7 percent in 18-49 versus its year-ago season premiere, which ran against rebroadcasts of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" and CBS's "CSI," while this year's season debut faced original episodes of those competing series. This was the top-rated episode of "The Office" in both adults 18-49 and total viewers since the March 4 episode featuring the birth of Jim and Pam's baby.

· "The Office" ranked #1 in its time period in adults 18-34 and all key adult-male demos and #2 in adults 18-49, behind only ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" and topping the season debut of CBS's "CSI" in the demo by a 29 percent margin.

· "The Office" ranked #9 (tied) among all primetime programs this week in adults 18-49 and was #4 among adults 18-34 (excludes all football pre-game and post-game telecasts).

· Additionally on Thursday, the series premiere of "Outsourced" called up NBC's highest results in this time period, excluding sports and hour-long episodes of "The Office," since September 17, 2009 in adults 18-49 and since December 17, 2009 in total viewers.

· "Outsourced" ranked #1 in men 18-34, men 18-49 and men 25-54 (tied) and #2 in adults 18-49 in a highly competitive time period against the concluding half-hours of the season debuts of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," CBS's "CSI" and Fox's "Fringe."

· On Wednesday, the series debut of "Undercovers" was up 24 percent in 18-49 rating and 41 percent in total viewers versus NBC's non-sports average in the time period for the traditional 2009-10 season. "Undercovers" grew by 9 percent from its first half-hour to its second among viewers 18-49 and viewers 25-54.

· Also on Wednesday, the two-hour 12th season premiere of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" locked up NBC's top in-season result in the time period, excluding Olympics, since January 2, 2008 in adults 18-49 and since April 23, 2008 in total viewers

· Versus its year-ago premiere, "Law & Order: SVU" was up 28 percent in 18-49 rating and up 21 percent in total viewers.

· On Tuesday, the premiere of "The Biggest Loser 10" gained 40 percent in 18-49 rating and 23 percent or more than 1.5 million persons in total viewers from its first half-hour to its fourth, despite time-period competition that included Fox's season premiere of "Glee" and series premieres of "Raising Hope" and "Running Wilde," CBS's season premieres of "NCIS" and NCIS: Los Angeles" and ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."

· By the 9:30-10 p.m. ET half-hour, "Biggest Loser" had risen to #2 among the major networks in adults 18-49, ahead of CBS's "NCIS: Los Angeles" season premiere and Fox's "Running Wilde" series debut.

· Also on Tuesday, "Parenthood" ranked #2 among the major networks in adults 18-49, topping the series debut of ABC's "Detroit 1-8-7." "Parenthood" tied for #1 in the hour in women 18-49 and ranked #1 outright in women 18-34.

· On Monday, the series debuts of "The Event" and "Chase" each generated NBC's biggest overall viewership in their respective time periods in more than a year, excluding Olympics.

· "The Event" was up 112 percent in adults 18-49 versus NBC's non-sports average in its time period during the traditional 2009-10 season.

· "The Event" increased from its first half-hour to its second in every key demographic measure and total viewers. Among adults 18-49, "The Event" gained 9 percent from its first to its second half-hour.

· "Chase" was up 53 percent in 18-49 rating and 43 percent or more than 2.2 million persons in total viewers versus NBC's non-sports average in its time period during the traditional 2009-10 season.

· Also On Monday, the fourth season premiere of "Chuck" was up 11 percent in adults 18-49 and 16 percent in total viewers versus its season finale on May 24.

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 20-26:

On Monday, Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. ET, the fourth season premiere of "Chuck" (2.0 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49, 5.8 million viewers overall) generated that show's highest 18-49 rating since April 26 and biggest overall viewership since April 5. Versus its season finale on May 24, the "Chuck" season debut was up 11 percent in 18-49 rating (2.0 vs. 1.8) and 16 percent in total viewers (5.8 million vs. 5.0 million).

Monday from 9-10 p.m. ET, the series premiere of "The Event" (3.6/9 in adults 18-49, 10.9 million viewers overall) matched NBC's highest non-Olympic 18-49 rating in this time period since February 2, 2009 and delivered NBC's biggest overall audience in the hour, excluding Olympics, since September 14, 2009.

"The Event" was up 112 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's non-sports average in this time period during the traditional 2009-10 season (3.6 vs. 1.7). In its highly competitive time period, "The Event" ranked #1 among the major networks in men 18-34 and #2 in men 18-49 and men 25-54.

From its first half-hour to its second, "The Event" grew by 9 percent in adult 18-49 rating (to a 3.8 from a 3.5), lifting "The Event" to within a tenth of a rating point of CBS's "Mike and Molly" premiere and second place among the major networks in the 9:30-10 p.m. half-hour, narrowing a deficit that was 1.4 points behind CBS in the prior half-hour. "The Event" increased from its first half-hour to its second in every key demographic measure and total viewers.

Monday at 10 p.m. ET, the series debut of "Chase" (2.3/6 in adults 18-49, 7.3 million viewers overall) tracked down NBC's highest non-sports 18-49 rating in this hour in more than a year (since September 14, 2009). In the slot, "Chase" ranked #2 among the major networks in all key adult-male demographics - men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54.

"Chase" was up 53 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's non-sports average in this time period during the traditional 2009-10 season (2.3 vs. 1.5). In total viewers, "Chase" was up 43 percent, or more than 2.2 million persons, versus NBC's "live plus same day" non-sports average in the hour last season (7.3 million vs. 5.1 million).

Versus its premiere Monday last season, NBC was up 4 percent in adult 18-49 rating (2.6 vs. 2.5) and 33 percent or 2.0 million persons in total viewers (8.0 million vs. 6.0 million). NBC posted its top Monday 18-49 and total viewer averages, excluding Olympics, since September 14, 2009.

On Tuesday, Sept. 21 from 8-10 p.m. ET, the premiere of "The Biggest Loser 10" averaged a 2.9/8 in adults 18-49 and 7.2 million viewers overall in a highly competitive time period that included Fox's season premiere of "Glee" and series premieres of "Raising Hope" and "Running Wilde," CBS's season premieres of "NCIS" and NCIS: Los Angeles" and ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."

From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Biggest Loser" gained 40 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 3.5 from a 2.5) and 23 percent or more than 1.5 million persons in total viewers (to 8.1 million from 6.5 million). By the 9:30-10 p.m. half-hour, "Biggest Loser" had risen to #2 among the major networks in adults 18-49, ahead of CBS's "NCIS: Los Angeles" season premiere and Fox's "Running Wilde" series debut.

Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET, "Parenthood" delivered a 2.5/7 in adults 18-49 and 5.8 million viewers overall against the second hour of CBS's "NCIS: Los Angeles" season premiere and the series debut of ABC's "Detroit 1-8-7." In the hour, "Parenthood" ranked #2 among the major networks in adults 18-49, ahead of "Detroit 1-8-7" (2.5 vs. 2.3), and ranked #1 in the hour in women 18-34 and women 18-49 (tied). "Parenthood" was up 9 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's average in the time period during the traditional 2009-10 season (2.5 vs. 2.3; non-sports, "live plus same day").

On Wednesday, Sept. 22 from 8-9 p.m. ET, the premiere of "Undercovers" averaged a 2.1/6 in 18-49 and 8.7 million viewers overall. "Undercovers" increased its audience from half-hour to half-hour in all key ratings categories. "Undercovers" grew by 9 percent from its first half-hour to its second among both viewers 18-49 (to 2.82 million from 2.60 million) and viewers 25-54 (to 3.48 million from 3.19 million).

The debut of "Undercovers" was up 24 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's average in this time period for the traditional 2009-10 season (2.1 vs. 1.7, non-sports, "live plus same day") and up 41 percent in total viewers (8.7 million vs. 6.2 million).

In the time period, "Undercovers" ranked #2 in total viewers, delivering NBC's biggest in-season overall audience in the slot, excluding Olympics, since December 3, 2008.

Tuesday from 9-11 p.m. ET, the 12th season premiere of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.2/9 in 18-49, 10.1 million viewers overall) locked up NBC's top in-season result in this two-hour time period, excluding Olympics, since January 2, 2008 in adults 18-49 and since April 23, 2008 in total viewers.

Versus its year-ago premiere from 9-10 p.m. on September 23, 2009, "Law & Order: SVU" was up 28 percent in 18-49 rating (3.2 vs. 2.5) and up 21 percent in total viewers (10.1 million vs. 8.4 million). Comparing just this year's results in the 9-10 p.m. hour, "SVU" was up 20 percent in 18-49 (3.0 vs. 2.5) and 16 percent in total viewers (9.7 million vs. 8.4 million). These were "SVU's" top 18-49 and total viewer results since March 24.

From its first half-hour to its fourth, "SVU" grew by 37 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 3.7 from a 2.7 and by 18 percent or 1.6 million persons in total viewers (10.7 million vs. 9.1 million). For its second hour from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Law & Order; SVU" ranked #1 among the major networks in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and other key measures versus the series premieres of CBS's "The Defenders" and ABC's "The Whole Truth." The "SVU" margin of victory in that hour was 21 percent in 18-49 rating (3.5 vs. 2.9 for "The Defenders" in second place).

On Thursday, Sept. 23 from 8-8:30 p.m. ET, the second season premiere of "Community" (2.2/7 in 18-49, 5.0 million viewers overall) was up 10 percent in 18-49 versus its season finale in May and up 16 percent versus its first telecast in this 8 p.m. time period last season (a 1.9 on October 8; "Community" had originally debuted on September 17 in the 9:30 p.m. time period, with a 3.8 following "The Office").

Despite intense time-period competition, including the first Thursday original telecast of CBS's "The Big Bang Theory," "Community scored NBC's highest non-sports rating in this time period since March 4. In the time period "Community" ranked #2 among the major networks in men 18-34 and men 18-49 (tie).

Thursday from 8:30-9 p.m. ET, the fifth season debut of "30 Rock" (2.6/8 in 18-49, 5.9 million viewers overall) built by 18 percent in both 18-49 and total viewers on its lead-in from "Community," scoring NBC's highest results in 18-49 and viewers in this time period, excluding sports, since December 17, 2009. In its time period, "30 Rock" ranked #1 among the major networks in men 18-34 and #2 in adults 18-34, men 18-49 and men 25-54 (tie).

The 2.6 rating in adults 18-49 for "30 Rock" marks NBC's best result for a regularly scheduled telecast in this time period in nearly a year and a half (since April 9, 2009).

Thursday from 9-9:31 p.m. ET, the seventh season premiere of "The Office" (4.4/12 in adults 18-49, 8.5 million viewers overall) was up 7 percent in 18-49 versus its year-ago season premiere (a 4.1 on September 17, 2009), which ran against rebroadcasts of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" and CBS's "CSI," while this year's season debut faced original episodes of those competing series.

This was the top-rated episode of "The Office" in both adults 18-49 and total viewers since the March 4 episode featuring the birth of Jim and Pam's baby. Versus its average in the most recent May sweep, "The Office" was up 26 percent in 18-49 rating and 25 percent or 1.5 million persons in total viewers (8.5 million vs. 6.8 million).

In its time period, "The Office" was #1 in adults 18-34 and all key adult-male demos - men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 - and #2 in adults 18-49 behind only ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" and ahead of the season debut of CBS's "CSI" by a 29 percent margin or one full rating point (4.4 vs. 3.4).

Thursday from 9:31-10 p.m. ET, the series premiere of "Outsourced" (3.6/10 in 18-49, 7.5 million viewers) called up NBC's highest non-sports results in this time period, excluding hour-long episodes of "The Office," since September 17, 2009 in adults 18-49 and since December 17, 2009 in total viewers. "Outsourced" retained 82 percent of its 18-49 lead-in from "The Office."

"Outsourced" ranked #1 in men 18-34, men 18-49 and men 25-54 (tied) and #2 in adults 18-49 in a highly competitive time period against the concluding half-hours of the season debuts of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," CBS's "CSI" and Fox's "Fringe."

Thursday at 10 p.m. ET, "The Apprentice" averaged a 1.4/4 in 18-49 and 3.8 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its second, "Apprentice" maintained its 18-49 rating and increased 8 percent in total viewers while competing programming on ABC and CBS declined half-hour to half-hour in both categories.

On Friday, Sept. 23 from 8-10 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.6/8 in 18-49, 7.3 million viewers overall) reported its highest Friday rating in 18-49 in 15 weeks (since June 11) and its biggest overall viewership for a Friday telecast in more than six months (since March 12).

In its two-hour time period, "Dateline" ranked #2 among the major networks in adults 18-49, total viewers and most other key categories and #1 in all key adult-male demos - men 18-34, men 18-49 and men 25-54. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Dateline" grew by 58 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.9/6 from a 1.2/5) and by 33 percent or more than 2.0 million persons in total viewers (to 8.2 million from 6.1 million).

Friday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Outlaw" averaged a 1.1/4 in adults 18-49 and 4.9 million viewers overall.

On Saturday, Sept. 24 from 8-9 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "The Event" averaged a 0.7/2 in 18-49 and 2.9 million viewers overall. "The Event" matched NBC's highest in-season 18-49 rating in this time period since March 13.

Saturday at 9 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of Monday's "Chase" debut averaged a 0.7/3 in 18-49 and 4.1 million viewers overall. "Chase" built on its lead-in by 40 percent in total viewers.

Saturday at 10 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" delivered a 1.1/4 in 18-49 and 4.6 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its second, "SVU" grew by 20 percent in adult 18-49 rating (to a 1.2 from a 1.0), 23 percent in adult 25-54 rating (1.6 vs. 1.3) and 29 percent in adult 18-34 rating (0.9 vs. 0.7).

On Sunday Sept. 25, the "NBC Sunday Night Football" telecast of the New York Jets at the Miami Dolphins propelled NBC to a Sunday primetime win in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. For its full duration, the Jets-Dolphins game averaged a 7.3/19 in adults 18-49, 18.1 million viewers overall and an 11.3/19 household rating/share from 8:31-11:50 p.m. ET.

NBC won Sunday night in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and total viewers as well as all key adult-male demographics. NBC was also tied for #1 among the major networks Sunday night in women 18-34. In adults 18-49, NBC's margin of victory over the #2 network was 39 percent in 18-49 (6.1 vs. a 4.4 for CBS, which was boosted by an NFL overrun) and 5 percent in total viewers (15.4 million vs. 14.6 million for CBS).

Sunday's Jets-Dolphins game was up 7 percent in 18-49 rating and 4 percent in total viewers versus the "Sunday Night Football" game that aired during premiere week last year (a 6.8/17 in 18-49 and 17.5 million viewers overall for the Colts-Cardinals on September 27, 2009).

Also on Sunday, "Football Night in America 2" from 7:30-7:55 p.m. ET averaged a1.8/6 in 18-49, 4.7 million viewers overall and a 3.0/5 household rating/share. "Football Night in America 3" from 7:55-8:20 p.m. delivered a 4.1/12 in 18-49, 10.1 million viewers overall and an 6.3/11 in households. From 8:20-8:31 p.m., "NBC Sunday Night Football Pre Kickoff" averaged a 5.2/15 in 18-49, 13.9 million viewers overall and an 8.5/14 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.