NBC’s inaugural XFL game featuring the Las Vegas Outlaws’ 19-0 home victory over the New York/New Jersey Hitmen earned a 10.3 rating 17 share making it the highest rated Saturday night on NBC since September 30 2000 according to the overnights released by Nielsen Media Research. The debut also surpassed NBC’s Major League Baseball American League Championship Series Game 4 (New York Yankees at Seattle Mariners) which had an overnight rating of an 8.1 14 share on Saturday October 14 2000.

The 10.3 rating more than doubled NBC’s Saturday night January 2001 national average of a 4.2/7 and propelled the network to a primetime victory in the preliminary overnights. ABC earned a 7.6/12 CBS a 7.2/12 and FOX a 5.8/10 for the night.

"We’re off to a very good start and are pleased with last night " said Dick Ebersol Chairman NBC Sports and Olympics. "We’re trying to bring Saturday night viewers back to NBC and last night’s game more than doubled the time period and was the highest rated Saturday night since the last Saturday of the Olympics.

"The fan and viewer come first for us and the fact that a vast an overwhelming majority of them stayed through a blowout is a testament to their interest and to the product.

A blowout is every producers’ greatest fear but in this case the unique and original manner of producing the game obviously attracted a lot of very early fans. As Vince has repeatedly said we’re a work in progress and we can’t wait to see Chicago Enforcers’ John Avery go into Los Angeles next Saturday night to play the Xtreme."

NBC switched from the Las Vegas game (all the scoring took place in the first half) to the Chicago Enforcers – Orlando Rage thriller for their final quarter with Orlando leading 27-22 at home. In a wild finish Orlando held on to outlast Chicago 33-29. This game earned a local Chicago rating of an 11.1 19 share and a 10.7/17 in Orlando. Las Vegas was the highest rated overnight-metered market generating a 17.7 rating/29 share followed by Minneapolis with a 14.9/27.

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