NBC WINS THE WEEK OF SEPT. 7-13 IN ADULTS 18-49, AS THURSDAY AND SUNDAY NFL TELECASTS TOP THE PRIMETIME WEEK

NBC IS ALSO #1 FOR THE WEEK IN ADULTS 25-54, ADULTS 18-34, TOTAL VIEWERS AND OTHER KEY MEASURES

NBC SPORTS' 'SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL' BEARS-PACKERS OPENER AND THE THURSDAY TITANS-STEEELERS NFL KICKOFF ARE THE TWO MOST-WATCHED PRIMETIME TELECASTS SINCE THE FINALE OF 'AMERICAN IDOL'

SUNDAY'S BEARS-PACKERS OPENING GAME IS THE TOP SUNDAY OPENER IN BOTH 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS SINCE NBC FIRST BEGAN TELEVISING 'SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL' IN 2006

NBC SPORTS' TITANS-STEELERS TELECAST IS THE MOST-WATCHED THURSDAY NFL KICKOFF EVER

WEDNESDAY'S 'AMERICA'S GOT TALENT' IS THE #1 SHOW OF THE NIGHT IN OVERALL VIEWERSHIP, LEADING NBC TO ITS FIFTH CONSECUTIVE WEDNESDAY WIN IN TOTAL VIEWERS

THE TUESDAY 'TALENT' WINS ITS TIME PERIOD IN ADULTS 18-49, TOTAL VIEWERS AND OTHER KEY MEASURES AND IS THE #1 PROGRAM OF THE NIGHT IN OVERALL VIEWERSHIP

'DATELINE NBC' IS FRIDAY'S #1 NON-SPORTS TELECAST IN 18-49 FOR THE 11TH TIME IN 13 WEEKS, PACING NBC TO A FRIDAY WIN IN 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. � September 17, 2009 � With two top-scoring NFL telecasts and strong numbers from the penultimate week of "America's Got Talent," NBC dominated the primetime week of September 7-13 in adults 18-49 and total viewers, averaging a 3.4 rating, 10 share in 18-49 and 10.5 million viewers overall, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research. NBC also won the week in adults 25-54, adults 18-34 and virtually all other key demographic measures

NBC Sports' two primetime NFL telecasts this week � the "Sunday Night Football" opener featuring the Chicago Bears versus the Green Bay Packers (with 21.1 million viewers overall) and the Thursday NFL Kickoff telecast pitting the Tennessee Titans against the Pittsburgh Steelers (20.9 million viewers) � emerged as the #1 and #2 primetime telecasts on any network since the finale of "American Idol" in May. In adults 18-49, the two games delivered identical 8.6 ratings, giving them a tie as the two top primetime telecasts since the "Idol" finale.

In adults 18-49, NBC's "Sunday Night Football" Bears-Packers game and the Thursday NFL Kickoff Titans-Steelers match-up game tied as the #1 telecasts of the week. The Tuesday edition of "America's Got Talent" ranked #6 (tied; rankings exclude all football pre-game and post-game telecasts).

In total viewers, NBC had the top three telecasts of the week � the "NBC Sunday Night Football" Bears-Packers game ranked #1, the Thursday NFL Kickoff Titans-Steelers game ranked #2 and the Tuesday edition of "America's Got Talent," with 12.0 million viewers, ranked #3. The Wednesday edition of "America's Got Talent" ranked #6 (excludes all football pre-game and post-game telecasts).

Primetime averages for the week of September 7-13 in adults 18-49 were NBC (3.4/10), Fox (2.4/7), CBS (1.5/5), Univision (1.4/4), ABC (1.3/4), CW (0.9/3) and Telemundo (0.7/2). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were NBC (10.5 million), Fox (6.1 million), CBS (6.0 million), ABC (4.3 million), Univision (3.4 million), CW (2.1 million) and Telemundo (1.5 million).

NBC highlights for the week of September 7-13:

* NBC Sports' "Sunday Night Football" telecast of the Chicago Bears at the Green Bay Packers was the top-rated Sunday Night opener since 2006, when NBC premiered "Sunday Night Football" with the Colts-Giants "Manning versus Manning" game.

* With "Sunday Night Football," NBC beat the ABC-CBS-Fox time period competition combined on Sunday night in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. This was the top-rated Sunday primetime performance for any network in both 18-49 and total viewers since ABC's coverage of the Academy Awards on February 22.

* Sunday's Bears-Packers game was up 16 percent in 18-49 rating and 15 percent or more than 2.7 million persons in total viewers versus last year's "Sunday Night Football" season opener.

* On Friday, a two-hour "Dateline NBC" reported the top 18-49 and total-viewer results of the night, marking the 11th time in 13 weeks "Dateline" has been the #1 non-sports telecast on a Friday night in 18-49, and the seventh week in a row that that it was the top non-sports program on Friday night in total viewers.

* NBC ranked #1 on Friday night in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers.

* On Thursday, NBC Sports' telecast of the NFL season opener between the Tennessee Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers was the most-watched NFL Kickoff since the inception of the Thursday night opener in 2002.

* In adults 18-49, NBC's Thursday telecast of the Titans-Steelers NFL opener tied NBC's "Sunday Night Football" broadcast as the top primetime telecast on any network since the finale of "American Idol."

* NBC won Thursday night in all key ratings measures, including adults 18-34, adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers.

* On Wednesday, "America's Got Talent" was the top program of the night in total viewers, winning its slot by a 34 percent margin or 2.6 million persons in that measure.

* Also on Wednesday, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: SVU" was #1 in the time period among the major broadcast networks in adults 18-49 and ranked #1 or tied for #1 in all other key demos.

* NBC ranked #1 in primetime Wednesday night in total viewers for the fifth week in a row.

* On Tuesday, "America's Got Talent" ranked #1 in its two-hour time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and nearly every other key ratings category. "Talent" was the #1 program on television Tuesday night in total viewers.

* On Monday, back-to-back episodes of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" locked up NBC's biggest overall audiences in their respective time periods in 14 weeks.

* Also on Monday, "Dateline" ranked #1 among the major broadcast networks in its hour in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.

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 7-13:

On Monday, September 7 at 8 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (1.1 rating, 3 share in 18-49, 5.4 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in the hour in total viewers, locking up NBC's biggest overall viewership in this time period in 14 weeks (since June 1).

Monday at 9 p.m. ET, another telecast of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (1.4/4 in 18-49, 5.9 million viewers overall) apprehended NBC's biggest overall audience in this slot in 14 weeks. Week to week, "Law & Order: CI" was up in the time period for the second week in a row, posting increases over its results of two weeks ago of 40 percent in 18-49 (1.4 vs. 1.0) and 41 percent or 1.7 million persons in total viewers (5.9 million vs. 4.2 million). "Criminal Intent" ranked #2 among the broadcast networks in adults, men and women 18-49, adults, men and women 25-54 and total viewers.

Monday at 10 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.7/5 in 18-49, 6.7 million viewers overall) ranked #1 among the major networks in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. From half-hour to half-hour, "Dateline" grew by 19 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.9 from a 1.6), 19 percent in adults 25-54 (2.5 vs. 2.1) and 10 percent in total viewers (7.0 million vs. 6.4 million).

On Tuesday, September 8 from 8-9 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "America's Got Talent" (1.5/4 in 18-49, 6.5 million viewers overall) assembled NBC's biggest overall audience in this time period in five week and matched its highest 18-49 rating in the slot in four weeks. The "Talent" encore topped the second-season premiere of the CW's "90210" in the hour in numerous key measures, including adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers.

Tuesday from 9-11 p.m. ET, a two-hour edition of "America's Got Talent" (2.9/8 in adults 18-49, 12.0 million viewers overall) was the #1 telecast of the night in total viewers. "America's Got Talent" ranked #1 in its two-hour time period in adults 18-49, total viewers and nearly every other key ratings category.

NBC ranked #1 for the night in adults 25-54 and total viewers. It was NBC's eighth consecutive Tuesday win in total viewers.

On Wednesday, September 9 from 8-9:12 p.m. ET, NBC carried coverage of President Obama's address to Congress. This coverage was sustaining and is not included in the nightly or weekly averages.

Wednesday from 9:12-10:12 p.m. ET, "America's Got Talent" (2.1/6 in 18-49, 10.1 million viewers overall) was the #1 telecast of the night in total viewers. "Talent" ranked #1 in its time period in total viewers with a 34 percent margin or 2.6 million viewers (10.1 million vs. 7.5 million for Fox's premiere of "Glee").

Wednesday from 10:12-11 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.4/4 in 18-49, 5.6 million viewers overall) ranked #1 among the major broadcast networks in adults 18-49 and #1 or tied for #1 in all other key demographics.

NBC ranked #1 in primetime Wednesday in total viewers. It's NBC's fifth consecutive Wednesday win in total viewers.

On Thursday, September 10, NBC Sports' coverage of the NFL Kickoff game between the Tennessee Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers averaged an 8.6/25 in adults 18-49, 20.9 million viewers overall, and a 12.8/22 household rating/share from 8:41-11:50 p.m. ET. This was the most-watched NFL Kickoff game since the inception of the NFL Thursday night opener in 2002.

NBC Sports' telecast of the Titans-Steelers opener was also the most-watched sports telecast since Super Bowl XLIII, topping such 2009 telecasts as the NCAA basketball championship, the Kentucky Derby, the NBA Finals and Major League Baseball's All-Star Game. It was also the most-watched primetime telecast since the May 20, 2009 finale of "American Idol." (Note: NBC Sports' "Sunday Night Football" telecast three nights later of the Chicago Bears versus the Green Bay Packers on September 13 tied Thursday's game in adults 18-49 and topped it in total viewers just three nights later).

Thursday from 8-8:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports' NFL Kickoff special averaged a 3.2/11 in adults 18-49, 9.2 million viewers overall and a 5.8/11 household ratings/share. From 8:30-8:41 p.m., the game Pre Kickoff averaged a 5.7/19 in 18-49, 15.5 million viewers overall and a 9.5/17 household rating/share. The pre-game telecasts were decisively #1 in their time periods.

In 8-11 p.m. ET primetime averages Thursday night, NBC scored a 7.3/22 in adults 18-49 and 18.5 million viewers overall. In adults 18-49, this was NBC's best result for a non-Olympic Thursday since January 20, 2005 and in total viewers it was NBC's top result for a non-Olympic Thursday since the night of the "Friends" finale (May 6, 2004).

NBC won Thursday night decisively in all key ratings measures, including adults 18-34, 18-49, 25-54 and total viewers. In adults 18-49, NBC topped its closest broadcast competitor by 284 percent (a 7.3 rating in 18-49 vs. a 1.9 for CBS in second place). In total viewers, NBC's margin of victory was 137 percent or 10.7 million persons (18.5 million vs. 7.8 million for CBS in second place).

Versus last year's Giants-Redskins Thursday NFL Kickoff, which started early to allow coverage of the Republican National Convention, this year's Titans-Steelers matchup was up 59 percent in adults 18-49 (8.6/25 vs. a 5.4/14 on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008 from 7:08-10:01 p.m. ET) and 55 percent or 7.4 million persons in total viewers (20.9 million vs. 13.5 million).

On Friday, September 11 from 8-9 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "Southland" averaged a 0.8/3 in 18-49 and 3.3 million viewers overall, matching the show's highest 18-49 rating in seven Friday encore telecasts to date.

Friday from 9-11 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.7/5 in 18-49, 7.4 million viewers overall) reported the #1 results of the night in both 18-49 and total viewers. "Dateline" delivered the highest results for any Friday non-sports telecast on any major network in nearly four months (since May 15) in total viewers and in adults 18-49 scored the top Friday non-sports rating for any major network telecast in 11 weeks (since June 26).

This marks the 11th Friday in 13 weeks that "Dateline NBC" has scored the top non-sports rating for any broadcast network in 18-49 and the seventh week in a row that it was the top non-sports program on Friday in total viewers.

From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Dateline" grew by 36 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.9/6 from a 1.4/5) and by 29 percent or 1.8 million persons in total viewers (to 8.0 million from 6.2 million).

NBC ranked #1 on Friday night in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers.

On Saturday, September 12 from 8-9 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" averaged a 0.7/2 in 18-49 and 3.8 million viewers overall. This marks NBC's highest 18-49 and total-viewer results in this time period in more than three months (since June 6).

Saturday at 9 p.m. ET, a rebroadcast of "Law & Order" (1.2/4 in 18-49, 5.4 million viewers overall) locked up NBC's best 18-49 rating in this slot since June 6 and biggest overall audience since January 3. "Law & Order" built on its lead-in by 71 percent in 18-49 and 41 percent in total viewers.

Saturday at 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.4/4 in 18-49, 5.9 million viewers overall) ranked #1 among the major networks in total viewers, adults 18-34 and all key adult-female demos. "SVU" captured NBC's best 18-49 rating in the slot since June 6 and biggest overall audience since February 28.

On Sunday, Sept. 13, the "NBC Sunday Night Football" telecast of the Chicago Bears at the Green Bay Packers propelled NBC to a convincing Sunday win by all key measures. For its full duration, the Bears-Packers game averaged an 8.6/22 in adults 18-49, 21.1 million viewers overall and a 12.6/21 household rating/share from 8:32-11:48 p.m. ET.

Sunday's Bears-Packers game was up 16 percent in 18-49 rating and 15 percent or more than 2.7 million persons in total viewers versus last year's "Sunday Night Football" season opener (a 7.4/19 in 18-49 and 18.4 million viewers overall for the Bears-Colts on September 7, 2008).

This was the top-rated "Sunday Night Football" opener in both adults 18-49 and total viewers since 2006, when NBC premiered "Sunday Night Football" with the Colts-Giants "Manning versus Manning" game. In total viewers, Sunday's game topped NBC Sports' Thursday Titans-Steelers Kickoff game, which was the most-watched primetime telecast since the May 20, 2009 finale of "American Idol." In adults 18-49, Sunday's Bears-Packers game tied Thursday's Titans-Steelers matchup with identical 8.6 ratings.

For the night (from 7:30-11 p.m. ET), NBC averaged a 7.2/18 in 18-49 and 17.8 million viewers overall, up 14 percent in both 18-49 rating and total viewers versus the same night last year. This was the top-rated Sunday primetime performance for any network in both 18-49 and total viewers since ABC's coverage of the Academy Awards on February 22.

NBC won the night by all key ratings measures. In adults 18-49, NBC's margin of victory over the #2 network was 89 percent in 18-49 (7.2 vs. a 3.8 for Fox) and by 109 percent, or more than 9.2 million persons in total viewers (17.8 million vs. 8.5 million for CBS).

Also on Sunday, "Football Night in America 2" from 7:30-7:57 p.m. ET averaged a 1.8/6 in 18-49, 4.8 million viewers overall and a 3.1/6 household rating/share. "Football Night in America 3" from 7:57-8:22 p.m. delivered a 4.7/14 in 18-49, 12.0 million viewers overall and a 7.2/12 in households. From 8:22-8:23 p.m., "NBC Sunday Night Football Pre Kickoff" averaged a 6.8/19 in 18-49, 17.0 million viewers overall and a 10.0/17 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.