ARENA RATINGS DON'T DISCOURAGE NBC.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

Facing a nearly two-thirds decline in ratings for its Arena Football League broadcasts over the past three months, NBC this week reaffirmed its commitment to returning for the second season of its partnership with the league.

``We knew that this was not going to be an easy feat introducing a league new to the television viewer,'' NBC spokesperson Cameron Blanchard said. ``But we still think the product is great and we can continue to reach viewers.''

The network's most-recent telecast, on Sunday in Week 13 of the AFL season, drew a 0.6 national rating, worst of all weekend network sports programming and below even a college cheerleading and dance team competition (1.3) that aired Saturday on CBS.

The network in recent weeks has tried to attract viewers by previewing a trailer for ``The Matrix Reloaded'' during its telecast as well as having NFL quarterbacks Kurt Warner and Tommy Maddox - both former AFL stars - serve as guest commentators.

But ratings have continued to plummet from a high of 1.7 for the Week 3 broadcast on Feb. 16.

``This is the first year of a long-term agreement,'' AFL commissioner David Baker said in a statement. ``The games have been great and NBC has received critical acclaim for its production.''

The ratings decline has been reminiscent of NBC's last foray in televising spring football with the XFL in 2001. The XFL, which folded after one season, saw a 75 percent drop in viewers from its debut to its championship game on the network.

However, NBC has made a profit on its AFL telecasts after a reported $35 million loss on the XFL. The network did not pay a rights fee to the AFL as part of a partnership made after NBC lost its NBA rights last year.