'THE VOICE' PACES NBC'S PRIMETIME WEEK OF MARCH 26-APRIL 1

'THE VOICE' LEADS NBC TO A MONDAY WIN WITH THE NIGHT'S #1 RATING IN 18-49 AND A 42 PERCENT MARGIN OF VICTORY OVER 'DANCING WITH THE STARS'

IN ADULTS 18-34, 'THE VOICE' IS THE WEEK'S #1 ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM ON ABC, CBS, NBC OR FOX

MONDAY'S 'SMASH' BEATS NBC'S PRE-'SMASH' AVERAGE IN THE TIME SLOT BY 110 PERCENT

ON WEDNESDAY, 'WHITNEY' EQUALS ITS TOP 18-49 RATING SINCE FEBRUARY 15

THURSDAY'S 'COMMUNITY' EQUALS ITS SECOND-HIGHEST 18-49 RATING SINCE SEPTEMBER

ON SUNDAY, 'CELEBRITY APPRENTICE' EARNS ITS TOP 9-11 P.M. AVERAGES IN THREE WEEKS

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - April 3, 2012 - With "The Voice" ranking as primetime's #3 entertainment show of the week on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox in adults 18-49 and #1 in adults 18-34, NBC has delivered an average 1.6 rating, 4 share in adults 18-49 and 4.9 million viewers overall for the week of March 26-April 1, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

The Monday hit "The Voice" ranked #4 for the week among all primetime shows on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in adults 18-49 and was the #3 entertainment telecast, marking the ninth week in a row "The Voice" has ranked #1, 2 or 3 among primetime series on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox.

Also ranking among last week's top-30 programs in 18-49 were NBC's "Smash" (tied for #22) and "Biggest Loser" (tied for #26). In the valuable adult 18-34 demo, "The Voice" was #2 overall and the #1 entertainment program, "Community" was #14 and "30 Rock" and "Smash" tied for #20 (rankings exclude sports pre- and post-game shows).

Primetime averages for the week of March 26-April 1 in adults 18-49 were CBS (2.8/8), Fox (2.2/7), ABC (1.8/5), NBC (1.6/4) and CW (0.6/2). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (11.5 million), ABC (7.5 million), Fox (6.7 million), NBC (4.9 million) and CW (1.4 million).

Versus the same week last year, NBC is up 7 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.6 from a 1.5), making it the only network among ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox to generate a year-to-year increase by that measure.

NBC highlights for the week of March 26-April 1

* On Monday, "The Voice" was the #1 telecast of the night in adults 18-48, 18-34 and 25-54 and won its time period head to head by 41 percent in 18-49 rating over ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."

* Also on Monday, "Smash" finished within 0.2 of a rating point of the slot lead among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults 18-49 and led the hour among those networks in adults 18-34. This week's "Smash" beat NBC's time-period average for the season prior to "Smash" by 110 percent in 18-49.

* NBC claimed its seventh Monday win in eight weeks in adults 18-49.

* Tuesday's "Fashion Star" tied for #1 among ABC, CBS and NBC in the time period in adults, men and women 18-34.

* On Wednesday, "Whitney" matched its highest 18-49 rating since February 15.

* On Thursday, "Community" equaled its second-highest 18-49 rating since September 29.

* On Friday, "Dateline NBC" grew 33 percent week to week to deliver its highest 18-49 rating in three weeks.

* On Sunday, a three-hour "Celebrity Apprentice" matched the show's rating of the prior two weeks and hit a three-week high counting only its regular 9-11 p.m. block, despite special competition this week from CBS's "ACM Awards."

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 March 26-April 1:

On Monday, March 26 from 8-10 p.m. ET, "The Voice" (4.5 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49, 12.0 million viewers overall) delivered the #1 ratings of the night on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in adults 18-49, 18-34 and 25-54, winning its highly competitive time period in adults 18-49 by a 41 percent margin over ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" (3.2/8). Versus NBC's averages in the time period this season prior to "The Voice," this week's telecast is up 150 percent in 18-49 rating (with a 4.5 vs. a 1.8) and up 115 percent in total viewers (11.996 million vs. 5.587 million). "The Voice" finished within a tenth of a point of the prior week's 18-49 rating (4.6) and is up week to week by 0.4 percent in total viewers (11.996 million vs. 11.950 million). "The Voice" has now generated NBC's eight highest non-Olympic 18-49 ratings in its slot in four years (since January 14, 2008). From its first half-hour to its fourth, "The Voice" this week grew by 23 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 4.9 from a 4.0), easily the most growth over those two hours on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox.

Monday at 10 p.m. ET, "Smash" (2.1/5 in 18-49, 6.1 million viewers overall) finished within a tenth of a point of its 18-49 rating of the prior week. "Smash" ran within 0.2 of a rating point of the time-period lead in adults 18-49 among ABC, CBS and NBC and was #1 in adults 18-34, women 18-34 and men 18-34 (tie). Note that "Smash" grows by an average 37 percent above these next-day "live plus same day" 18-49 ratings when Nielsen adds the extra time-shifted viewing included in "live plus seven day" results. "Smash" has now delivered NBC's eight highest in-season 18-49 ratings in this time period since January 31, 2011. This week's "Smash" beat NBC's time-period average this season prior to "Smash" by 110 percent in 18-49 rating (with a 2.2 vs. a 1.0) and by 59 percent in total viewers (6.141 million vs. 3.864 million).

"The Voice" and "Smash" led NBC to the nightlong ratings win in adults 18-49 and other key demographics. NBC has now won seven of the last eight Mondays in 18-49 after having not won an in-season Monday with regularly scheduled programming in four years

On Tuesday, March 27, from 8-9 p.m. ET, "The Biggest Loser 13" averaged a 2.0/6 in 18-49 and 5.6 million viewers overall on a night that included original competition from ABC's Tuesday premiere of "Dancing With the Stars," CBS's "NCIS" and "NCIS: LA" and Fox's "Raising Hope," "New Girl" and "Breaking In." "The Biggest Loser 13" grew from its first half-hour to its fourth by 17 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.1 from a 1.8).

From 10-11 p.m. ET, "Fashion Star" averaged a 1.5/4 in 18-49 and 4.0 million viewers overall. "Fashion Star" tied for #1 among ABC, CBS and NBC in the hour in adults, men and women 18-34.

On Wednesday, March 28 from 8-8:30 p.m. ET, "Whitney" (1.6/5 in 18-49 and 4.1 million viewers overall) matched its highest 18-49 rating since February 15 in an intensely competitive time period opposite Fox's "American Idol," CBS's "Survivor: One World" and ABC's encore "The Middle." Note that first-run telecasts of "Whitney" have averaged a 37 percent increase on these next-day "live plus same day" ratings when Nielsen has issued "live plus seven day" results.

Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET, "Are You There, Chelsea?" averaged a 1.2/4 in 18-49 and 3.1 million viewers overall in a highly competitive time period opposite Fox's "American Idol," CBS's "Survivor: One World" and ABC's rebroadcast of "Suburgatory." Keep in mind that first-run telecasts of "Chelsea" have been adding 28 percent to these next-day "live plus same day" ratings when Nielsen issues "live plus seven day" results.

Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET, "Bent" delivered a 0.9/3 in 18-49 and 2.6 million viewers overall against competition that included Fox's "American Idol," CBS's "Criminal Minds" and ABC's "Modern Family" encore. At 9:30 p.m., a second telecast of "Bent" averaged a 0.8/2 in 18-49 and 2.3 million viewers overall.

Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET, "Rock Center with Brian Williams" delivered a 0.8/2 in adults 18-49 and 3.3 million viewers overall and was up week to week for a second week in a row in both 18-49 and total viewers. Versus the prior week, the March 28 "Rock Center" was up by 14 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 0.8 from a 0.7) and up 11 percent in total viewers (3.341 million vs. 3.016 million).

On Thursday, March 29 at 8 p.m. ET, "Community" (1.7/5 in 18-49, 3.5 million viewers overall) matched its second highest 18-49 rating since September 29, behind only the strong March 15 results for the first "Community" original in three months. Despite running for the first time this spring against an original telecast of CBS's "Big Bang Theory," while also facing Fox's "American Idol" and ABC's "Missing," "Community" maintained its 18-49 rating of the prior Thursday. In the time period, "Community" is #2 among ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW in men 18-34 ahead of Fox's "American Idol" (with a 1.8 rating vs. "Idol's" 1.7). Keep in mind that on average this season, original telecasts of "Community" have been adding 39 percent to these next-day "live plus same day" 18-49 ratings when Nielsen includes additional time-shifted viewing in "live plus seven day" results.

Thursday at 8:30 ET, "30 Rock" (1.5/5 in 18-49, 3.1 million viewers overall) matched its 18-49 rating of one week earlier in the highly competitive time period versus Fox's "American Idol," CBS's "Rules of Engagement" and ABC's "Missing." "30 Rock" finished #2 in the time period among ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW in men 18-34. Note that "30 Rock" originals have been adding 47 percent to these next-day "live plus same day" ratings when Nielsen issues "live plus seven day" results so far this season.

Thursday from 9-9:31 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "The Office" delivered a 1.2/3 in 18-49 and 2.6 million viewers overall. This is the second highest 18-49 rating this season among six "Office" encores aired to date.

Thursday at 9:31 ET, "Up All Night" (1.3/4 in 18-49, 2.9 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in from an "Office" encore by 8 percent in 18-49 rating and 13 percent in total viewers. Note that "Up All Night" originals have been adding 51 percent to these next-day "live plus same day" ratings when Nielsen issues "live plus seven day" results so far this season.

Friday at 10 p.m. ET, "Awake" averaged a 1.0/3 in 18-49 and 3.2 million viewers overall, building on its total-viewer lead-in by 9 percent. Note that "Awake" is one of the most time-shifted shows on television, with the "live plus same day" rating for its first two telecasts growing by 62 percent when Nielsen issued "live plus seven day" ratings for that week.

Friday, March 30 at 8 p.m. ET, "Who Do You Think You Are?" averaged a 0.8/3 in 18-49 and 5.2 million viewers overall and ranked #2 among ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW in total viewers.

Friday at 9 p.m. ET, "Grimm" delivered a 1.2/4 in 18-49 and 4.2 million viewers overall with its first original telecast in three weeks. "Grimm" built on its lead-in by 50 percent in 18-49 rating. Note that "Grimm" originals have been adding 63 percent to these next-day "live plus same day" ratings when Nielsen issues "live plus seven day" results so far this season. .

Friday at 10 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.2/4 in 18-49, 4.6 million viewers overall) reported a three-week high in 18-49 rating and was up 33 percent week to week in 18-49 rating (to a 1.2 from a 0.9). From its first half-hour to its second, "Dateline" grew by 30 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.3 from a 1.0), 20 percent in adults 25-54 (1.8 vs. 1.5) and 18 percent in total viewers (5.0 million vs. 4.2 million).

On Saturday, March 31 at 8 p.m. ET, "Escape Routes" averaged a 0.2/1 in 18-49 and 1.1 million viewers overall. At 9 p.m., "The Firm" averaged a 0.3/1 in 18-49 and 2.2 million viewers overall. And at 10 p.m. ET, an encore of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" captured a 0.7/2 in 18-49 and 3.4 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its second, "SVU" grew in all key ratings categories, including gains of 60 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 0.8 rating from a 0.5) and 28 percent in total viewers (3.8 million vs. 3.0 million).

On Sunday, April 1 from 7-8 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.0/3 in 18-49, 4.7 million viewers overall) matched its 18-49 rating of the prior week. From its first half-hour to its second, "Dateline" grew in nearly all key ratings categories, including gains of 10 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.1 from a 1.0) and 11 percent in total viewers (4.9 million vs. 4.4 million).

Sunday from 8-11 p.m. ET, a special three-hour edition of "The Celebrity Apprentice" (1.8/5 in 18-49, 6.0 million viewers overall) matched its 18-49 rating of the prior two weeks despite the lengthier time period and special competition this week from CBS's "Academy of Country Music Awards." "Celebrity Apprentice" built on NBC's results in the prior hour from 7-8 p.m. ET by 80 percent in 18-49 rating and 28 percent in total viewers.

From 9-11p.m. ET, the regular time period for "The Celebrity Apprentice," this week's telecast delivered the show's best results in the two-hour block in three weeks (since March 11), with a 1.9 rating in 18-49 and 6.3 million viewers overall.

From its first half-hour to its sixth, "Celebrity Apprentice" grew by 47 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.2 from a 1.5), and by 36 percent or 1.8 million persons in total viewers (7.0 million vs. 5.2 million). For its final hour from 10-11 p.m. ET, "The Celebrity Apprentice" was #2 among ABC, CBS and NBC behind CBS's "ACM Awards" and ahead of ABC's "GCB" in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, total viewers and other key categories.