NBC PRIMETIME RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF OCT. 12-18

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

NBC SPORTS' BEARS-FALCONS GAME LEADS THE NETWORK TO A SUNDAY PRIMETIME WIN IN ADULTS 18-49 AND OTHER KEY MEASURES

NBC FIRST-YEAR SHOWS 'TRAUMA,' 'MERCY' AND 'COMMUNITY' ALL DELIVER WEEK-TO-WEEK GROWTH IN ADULTS 18-49

'THE OFFICE' WINS ITS TOUGH THURSDAY SLOT IN ADULTS 18-34 AND ALL KEY ADULT-MALE DEMOS, RANKING #9 AMONG ALL PRIMETIME SHOWS THIS WEEK IN ADULTS 18-49

ON WEDNESDAY, 'MERCY' WINS ITS HOUR IN TOTAL VIEWERS, AND 'LAW & ORDER: SVU' CAPTURES ITS BIGGEST VIEWERSHIP SO FAR THIS SEASON IN ITS NEW SLOT

ON TUESDAY, 'THE BIGGEST LOSER' GAINS 13 PERCENT IN 18-49 AND 20 PERCENT IN TOTAL VIEWERS VERSUS THE SAME NIGHT LAST YEAR

'LAW & ORDER' LOCKS UP ITS SECOND CONSECUTIVE WEEK OF GROWTH ON FRIDAY NIGHT, CAPTURING NBC'S TOP NON-SPORTS 18-49 RATING AND OVERALL AUDIENCE IN THE SLOT SINCE JANUARY

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - October 20, 2009 - Led by strong ratings from "NBC Sunday Night Football," "The Office" and "The Biggest Loser," NBC averaged a 2.6 rating, 7 share in 18-49 and 7.4 million viewers overall for the week of October 12-18, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research. For the week, NBC ranked #2 among the major networks in adults and men 18-34, and tied for #3 in adults 18-49.

NBC Sports' "Sunday Night Football" telecast of the Chicago Bears versus the Atlanta Falcons topped the weekly primetime rankings in adults 18-49. "Sunday Night Football" also ranked #1 among all primetime programs this week in adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and all key adult-male demographics - men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54. In total viewers, "Sunday Night Football" ranked #2 among all primetime programs.

Also ranking among the top shows of the week in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49 was Thursday's "The Office," which placed #9 among all primetime programs, and Tuesday's "The Biggest Loser," which ranked #20 (rankings exclude football pre- and post-game telecasts).

Primetime averages for the week of October 12-18 in adults 18-49 were CBS (3.2/9), Fox (3.1/9), ABC and NBC (2.6/7) and CW (1.1/3). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (11.9 million), ABC (9.0 million), Fox (8.1 million), NBC (7.4 million) and CW (2.3 million).

NBC highlights for the week of October 12-18:

* NBC Sports' "Sunday Night Football" telecast of the Chicago Bears at the Atlanta Falcons propelled NBC to a primetime win Sunday night in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and all key adult-male demographics. NBC's margin of victory over the #2 network was 27 percent in adults 18-49.

* Sunday's Bears-Falcons game was up 85 percent in 18-49 rating and 81 percent or more than 8.1 million persons in total viewers versus the "Sunday Night Football" game that aired on the same night last year.

* On Friday, "Law & Order" posted its second consecutive week of growth in both adults 18-49 and total viewers, locking up NBC's highest non-sports 18-49 rating in the time period since January 23 and biggest overall audience in the slot since January 9.

* On Thursday, "The Office" ranked #1 in its highly competitive time period in adults 18-34 and all key adult-male demographics - men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 - against ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," CBS's "CSI" and Fox's "Fringe." In adults 18-49, "The Office" was the #2 show on television Thursday night, behind only "Grey's Anatomy."

* Also on Thursday, the fourth-season debut of "30 Rock" ranked #1 in its highly competitive time period in men 18-34 and men 18-49, while "Community" was up 18 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's average in its slot this season prior to "Community's" debut. Week-to-week, "Community" increased 5 percent in 18-49 rating.

* Additionally on Thursday, "The Jay Leno Show" was up 6 percent in 18-49 rating versus the prior Thursday, marking its second consecutive week of growth on Thursday night in adults 18-49. Versus the prior week, the Thursday "Jay Leno Show" also gained 11 percent in total viewers.

* On Wednesday, "Mercy" grew week-to-week by 6 percent in adults 18-49, 7 percent in adults 18-34 and 9 percent in adults 25-54. "Mercy" ranked #1 among the major networks in the hour in total viewers.

* Also on Wednesday, "Law & Order: SVU" matched its highest 18-49 rating so far this season in its new slot while setting a new season high in total viewers. "SVU" was up 53 percent in adults 18-49 and 50 percent in total viewers versus NBC's average in the slot last year during the traditional September-May season.

* Additionally on Wednesday, "The Jay Leno Show" was up 6 percent in adults 18-49, up 10 percent in adults 25-54 and up 8 percent in total viewers versus the prior Wednesday. Wednesday's "Jay Leno Show" ranked #2 among the major networks in the hour in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, total viewers and all key adult-male demographics - men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54.

* On Tuesday, "The Biggest Loser" gained 13 percent in adults 18-49 and 20 percent in total viewers versus the same night last year.

* For its second hour Tuesday from 9-10 p.m., "The Biggest Loser" ranked #2 in adults 18-49, topping CBS's "NCIS: Los Angeles" and ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," behind only the second hour of Fox's "Hell's Kitchen" finale. "Biggest Loser" won the 9-10 p.m. hour in women 18-49 and women 25-54. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Loser" grew by 33 percent in 18-49 rating and by 19 percent in total viewers.

* Also on Tuesday, "The Jay Leno Show" ranked #1 among the major networks in the hour in adults and men 18-34 and #2 in men 18-49 and men 25-54.

* On Monday, "The Jay Leno Show" was up 7 percent in 18-49 rating and 15 percent in total viewers versus the prior Monday.

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 October 12-18:

On Monday, October 12, from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Heroes" averaged a 2.4 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49 and 5.6 million viewers overall in a highly competitive time period that included Fox's "House," ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" and CBS's comedies. In this tough slot, "Heroes" ranked #2 among the major networks in men 18-34.

"Heroes" is one of the most time-shifted programs on network television. So far this season, "Heroes" has added 32 percent to its 18-49 rating when going from its "live plus same day" to its "live plus seven day" results.

Monday from 9-10:01 p.m. ET, "Trauma" averaged a 1.8/4 in adults 18-49 and 5.5 million viewers overall in a highly competitive time period that included CBS's "Two and a Half Men" and "Big Bang Theory," ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" and Fox's "Lie to Me." Versus the prior Monday, "Trauma" was up 6 percent in 18-49 rating (1.8 vs. 1.7) and 2 percent in total viewers (5.5 million vs. 5.4 million). .

Monday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "The Jay Leno Show" averaged a 1.6/4 in adults 18-49, a 1.8/5 in adults 25-54 and 5.1 million viewers overall. Time-period competition included first-run episodes of CBS's "CSI: Miami" and ABC's "Castle."

Versus the prior Monday, "The Jay Leno Show" was up 7 percent in 18-49 rating (1.6 vs. 1.5) and 15 percent in total viewers (5.1 million vs. 4.5 million).

Comparisons to Jay Leno's 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" were: in adults 18-49 (1.6 vs. 1.4), adults 25-54 (1.8 vs. 1.8) and total viewers (5.1 million vs. 5.1 million). Comparisons to NBC's Monday-through-Friday 10-11 p.m. ET non-sports average over the prior 52 weeks were: in adults 18-49 (1.6 vs. 2.2), adults 25-54 (1.8 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (5.1 million vs. 6.9 million).

On Tuesday, October 13 from 8-10:01 p.m. ET, "The Biggest Loser" (3.5/9 in adults 18-49, 9.1 million viewers overall) was up 13 percent in adults 18-49 and 20 percent in total viewers versus the same night last year (a 3.1/8 and 7.6 million viewers on October 14, 2008). "The Biggest Loser" ranked #1 in its two-hour time period in women 18-49.

From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Loser" increased by 33 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 4.0/10 from a 3.0/9) and by 19 percent in total viewers (to 9.9 million from 8.3 million).

For its second hour from 9-10 p.m., "The Biggest Loser" ranked #2 in adults 18-49, topping CBS's "NCIS: Los Angeles" and ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," behind only the second hour of Fox's "Hell's Kitchen" finale. "Biggest Loser" won the 9-10 p.m. hour in women 18-49 and women 25-54.

Tuesday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "The Jay Leno Show" averaged a 1.8/5 in adults 18-49, a 2.1/6 in adults 25-54 and 5.8 million viewers overall, versus time-period competition that included CBS's "The Good Wife" and ABC's "The Forgotten." "The Jay Leno Show" ranked #1 among the major networks in the hour in adults and men 18-34 and #2 in men 18-49 and men 25-54.

Versus Jay Leno's 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Tuesday's telecast was up in adults 18-49 (1.8 vs. 1.4), adults 25-54 (2.1 vs. 1.8) and total viewers (5.8 million vs. 5.1 million). Comparisons to NBC's Monday-through-Friday 10-11 p.m. ET non-sports average over the prior 52 weeks were: in adults 18-49 (1.8 vs. 2.2), adults 25-54 (2.1 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (5.8 million vs. 6.9 million).

On Wednesday, October 14 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Mercy" (1.9/5 in 18-49, 7.4 million viewers overall) was up week-to-week by 6 percent in adults 18-49 (1.9 vs. 1.8), 7 percent in adults 18-34 (1.5 vs. 1.4) and 9 percent in adults 25-54 (2.4 vs. 2.2). "Mercy" ranked #1 in the time period among the major networks in total viewers, was #2 in women 18-49 and women 18-34 and tied for #2 in adults 18-34. Versus NBC's average in this time slot during the regular 2008-09 season, "Mercy" was up 19 percent in 18-49 rating (1.9 vs. 1.6) and 28 percent or more than 1.6 million persons in total viewers (7.4 million vs. 5.7 million).

Wednesday from 9-10:01 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.6/7 in adults 18-49, 8.8 million viewers overall) matched its highest 18-49 rating so far this season and set a new season high in total viewers. "SVU" ranked #2 in the hour in total viewers. Versus NBC's average in this slot during the regular 2008-09 season, "SVU" was up 53 percent in 18-49 rating (2.6 vs. 1.7) and 50 percent or more than 2.9 million persons in total viewers (8.8 million vs. 5.9 million). It is worth noting that so far this season, "Law & Order: SVU" has added 24 percent to its 18-49 rating when going from its "live plus same day" to its "live plus seven day" results.

"SVU" matched NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this time period during the traditional primetime season since October 8, 2008 and delivered NBC's biggest overall audience in the slot during the traditional season since October 29, 2008. From its first half-hour to its second, "SVU" grew by 21 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 2.9 from a 2.4) and by 14 percent or 1.2 million persons in total viewers (to 9.4 million from 8.2 million).

Wednesday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "The Jay Leno Show" averaged a 1.8/5 in adults 18-49, a 2.2/6 in adults 25-54 and 6.2 million viewers overall. Wednesday's time-period competition included CBS's "CSI: NY" and ABC's "Eastwick." "The Jay Leno Show" ranked #2 among the major networks in the hour in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, total viewers and all key adult-male demographics - men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 - topping "Eastwick" in those measures.

Versus the prior Wednesday, "The Jay Leno Show" was up 6 percent in 18-49 rating (1.8 vs. 1.7), up 10 percent in adults 25-54 (2.2 vs. 2.0) and up 8 percent in total viewers (6.2 million vs. 5.7 million).

Versus Jay Leno's 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Wednesday's telecast was up in adults 18-49 (1.8 vs. 1.4), adults 25-54 (2.2 vs. 1.8) and total viewers (6.2 million vs. 5.1 million). Comparisons to NBC's Monday-through-Friday 10-11 p.m. ET non-sports average over the prior 52 weeks were: in adults 18-49 (1.8 vs. 2.2), adults 25-54 (2.2 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (6.2 million vs. 6.9 million).

On Thursday, October 15 from 8-8:30 p.m. ET, "Community" (2.0/5 in adults 18-49, 5.0 million viewers overall) was up 18 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's average this season in this time period prior to "Community's" debut (2.0 vs. 1.7). Versus the prior week, "Community" increased by 5 percent in 18-49 (2.0 vs. 1.9) and matched NBC's highest non-sports 18-49 rating in this slot since April 30. It is worth noting that so far this season, "Community" has added 23 percent to its 18-49 rating when going from its "live plus same day" to its "live plus seven day" results.

Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET, "Parks and Recreation" (2.0/6 in 18-49, 4.5 million viewers overall) retained 100 percent of its lead-in among adults 18-49 and built on its lead-in by 5 percent in adults 18-34 (2.1 vs. 2.0). So far this season, "Parks and Recreation" has added 18 percent to its 18-49 rating when going from its "live plus same day" to its "live plus seven day" results.

Thursday from 9-9:31 p.m. ET, "The Office" (4.1/10 in 18-49, 8.0 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in its highly competitive time period in adults 18-34 and all key adult-male demographics - men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 - against ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," CBS's "CSI" and Fox's "Fringe." In adults 18-49, "The Office" ranked #2. It is worth noting that so far this season, "The Office" has added 25 percent to its 18-49 rating when going from its "live plus same day" to its "live plus seven day" results.

"The Office" was the #2 show on television Thursday night in adults 18-49, behind only "Grey's Anatomy."

Thursday from 9:31-10:01 p.m. ET, the fourth-season debut of "30 Rock" (3.0/8 in 18-49, 6.4 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in its highly competitive time period in men 18-34 and men 18-49 and #2 in adults and women 18-34 and men 25-54. It is worth noting that "30 Rock" is a heavily time-shifted program, last season adding an average 21 percent in adults 18-49 to its "live plus same day" numbers when "live plus seven day" results were calculated.

Thursday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "The Jay Leno Show" averaged a 1.8/5 in adults 18-49, a 2.0/5 in adults 25-54 and 5.4 million viewers overall. Thursday's time-period competition included CBS's "The Mentalist" and ABC's "Private Practice." "The Jay Leno Show" tied for #2 among the major networks in the hour in men 18-34 and men 18-49.

Versus the prior Thursday, "The Jay Leno Show" was up 6 percent in adults 18-49 (1.8 vs. 1.7), up 5 percent in adults 25-54 (2.0 vs. 1.9) and up 11 percent in total viewers (5.4 million vs. 4.8 million). Versus two weeks ago, the Thursday telecast of "The Jay Leno Show" was up 20 percent in 18-49 rating (1.8 vs. 1.5).

Comparisons to Jay Leno's 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" were: in adults 18-49 (1.8 vs. 1.4), adults 25-54 (2.0 vs. 1.8) and total viewers (5.4 million vs. 5.1 million). Comparisons to NBC's Monday-through-Friday 10-11 p.m. ET non-sports average over the prior 52 weeks were: in adults 18-49 (1.8 vs. 2.2), adults 25-54 (2.0 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (5.4 million vs. 6.9 million).

On Friday, October 16 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Law & Order" (1.6/6 in 18-49, 7.7 million viewers overall) locked up NBC's highest non-sports 18-49 rating in the time period since January 23 and biggest overall audience in the slot since January 9. Week-to-week, "Law & Order" was up 7 percent in 18-49 rating (1.6 vs. 1.5) and 7 percent in total viewers (7.7 million vs. 7.2 million). This marks "Law & Order's" second consecutive week of growth on Friday night - versus two weeks earlier, the October 16 "Law & Order" was up 33 percent in 18-49 rating (1.6 vs. 1.2) and 14 percent in total viewers (7.7 million vs. 6.8 million).

"Law & Order" ranked #2 in the slot among the major networks in total viewers, women 18-49 and men and women 25-54. It is worth noting that so far this season, "Law & Order" has added 28 percent to its 18-49 rating when going from its "live plus same day" to its "live plus seven day" results.

Friday from 9-10:01 p.m. ET, the NBC News special "Secrets of the Lost Symbol" averaged a 1.3/4 in 18-49 and 5.7 million viewers overall.

Friday from 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "The Jay Leno Show" averaged a 1.3/4 in adults 18-49, a 1.6/4 in adults 25-54 and 5.0 million viewers overall. Friday's time-period competition included Fox's coverage of the American league Championship Series, CBS's "Numb3rs" and ABC's "20/20." In the time slot, "The Jay Leno Show" tied for #2 among men 18-34.

Comparisons to Jay Leno's 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" were: in adults 18-49 (1.3 vs. 1.4), in adults 25-54 (1.6 vs. 1.8) and total viewers (5.0 million vs. 5.1 million). Comparisons to NBC's Monday-through-Friday 10-11 p.m. ET non-sports average over the prior 52 weeks were: in adults 18-49 (1.3 vs. 2.2), adults 25-54 (1.6 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (5.0 million vs. 6.9 million).

On Saturday, October 17 at 8 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Mercy" averaged a 0.6/2 in 18-49 and 2.4 million viewers overall. At 9 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "Trauma" (0.7/2 in 18-49, 3.0 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 17 percent in 18-49 rating and 25 percent in total viewers.

Saturday at 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.3/4 in 18-49, 5.3 million viewers overall) ranked #2 among the major networks in the time period in adults and women 18-34. "SVU" increased from its first half-hour to its second by 25 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 1.5 from a 1.2) and by 33 percent in adults 18-34 (to a 1.2 from a 0.9).

On Sunday, October 18, the "NBC Sunday Night Football" telecast of the Chicago Bears at the Atlanta Falcons led NBC to a commanding win for the night in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and all key adult-male demographics. For its full duration the Bears-Falcons game averaged a 7.2/18 in adults 18-49, 18.2 million viewers overall and a 10.9/17 household rating/share for its full duration from 8:31-11:29 p.m. ET.

Sunday's Bears-Falcons game was up 85 percent in 18-49 rating and 81 percent or more than 8.19 million persons in total viewers versus the "Sunday Night Football" game that aired on the same night last year (a 3.9/9 in 18-49 and 10.0 million viewers overall for Seattle-Tampa Bay on October 19, 2008).

For the night (from 7:30-11 p.m. ET), NBC averaged a 5.6/15 in adults 18-49 and 14.4 million viewers overall. NBC's margin of victory over the #2 network in adults 18-49 was 27 percent (5.6/15 for NBC from 7:30-11 p.m. vs. a 4.4/11 for CBS from 7-11 p.m.).

Also on Sunday, "Football Night in America 2" from 7:30-7:58 p.m. ET averaged a 1.1/3 in 18-49, 3.3 million viewers overall and a 2.3/4 household rating/share. "Football Night in America 3" from 7:58-8:22 p.m. delivered a 2.5/7 in 18-49, 6.8 million viewers overall and a 4.3/7 in households. From 8:22-8:31 p.m., "NBC Sunday Night Football Pre Kickoff" averaged a 4.5/12 in 18-49, 12.0 million viewers overall and a 7.1/11 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.