CBS Has The Week's Top Eight Scripted Programs

CBS had the top eight scripted programs in a week that included the final three days of the television season, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for the week ending May 24, week 35 of the 2008-2009 television year.

In a week in which CBS placed second in viewers and key demographics, the Network saw its season finales of NCIS and THE Mentalist deliver more than 16.5 million viewers and a Thursday rebroadcast of CSI (9.88m) notched more viewers than all original scripted programming on the competition.

In the just concluded season which officially ended on Wednesday, CBS was the only network to post year to year gains in all key measures: +12% in viewers, +8% in adults 25-54 and +7% in adults 18-49.

For the week in viewers: CBS (8.89m) FOX (10.19m) and ABC (7.29m) and NBC (4.44m).  For the season, CBS was first in viewers (11.79m), ahead of FOX (9.83m), ABC (8.97m) and NBC (7.86m).

For the week in key demographics, CBS was second in adults 25-54 (2.8/08) and tied for second in adults 18-49 (2.1/07, with ABC).  Compared to the same week last year, CBS was up +2% in households, +4% in both viewers and adults 25-54 and even in adults 18-49.

For the week in households, CBS (5.7/10) FOX (5.9/11) ABC (4.7/08) and NBC (3.0/05). In households, in the 2008-09 season, CBS is first (7.3/12), FOX (5.8/09), ABC (5.7/09) and NBC (4.8/08).

CBS Weekly Highlights:

? How I Met Your Mother (5.4/09, 8.73m) with its season finale was second in households, adults 25-54 (4.2/11), adults 18-49 (3.7/10) and adults 18-34 (2.9/09).

? Two and a Half Men, with its season finale, was first in households (9.9/15), viewers (16.18m), adults 25-54 (6.6/16), adults 18-49 (5.3/14) and adults 18-34 (3.4/10).  Compared to last week, Two and a Half Men was up +21% in households (from 8.2/12), +16% in adults 25-54 (from 5.7/13), +18% in adults 18-49 (from 4.5/12), +17% in adults 18-34 (from 2.9/09) and added +3.07m  viewers (from 13.11m, +23%).  Two and a Half Men was the night's #1 program in both adults 25-54 and adults 18-49.

? Rules of Engagement was first in households (7.9/12), viewers (12.87m), adults 25-54 (5.6/13) and adults 18-49 (4.4/11) with its season finale.  Compared to last week, Rules of Engagement was up +25% in households (from 6.3/09), +19% in adults 25-54 (from 4.7/10), +22% in adults 18-49 (from 3.6/09) and added +2.73m viewers (from 10.14m, +27%).

? CSI: MIAMI, with its season finale, was first in households (8.9/15), viewers (14.20m), adults 25-54 (5.0/13) and adults 18-49 (3.8/10).

? NCIS was second in households (10.3/17), viewers (16.51m), adults 25-54 (4.6/12) and adults 18-49 (3.4/10).  Compared to last week, NCIS was up +1% in households (from 10.2/17), +2% in adults 25-54 (from 4.5/12), +3% in adults 18-49 (from 3.3/10) and added +310,000 viewers (from 16.51m, +2%).

? THE Mentalist (9:00-10:01 PM) was second in households (10.4/16), viewers (16.82m) and adults 25-54 (5.2/12).  Compared to last week, THE Mentalist was up +3% in households (from 10.1/15), +8% in adults 25-54 (from 4.8/11), +12% in adults 18-49 (3.7/10 from 3.3/08) and added +610,000 viewers (from 16.21m, +4%).

? Criminal Minds (9:00-11:00 PM) was first in households (8.7/14), viewers (13.99m), adults 25-54 (4.7/11) and adults 18-49 (3.5/09) from 9:00-11:00PM.  Compared to last week, Criminal Minds was up +4% in both households (from 8.4/13) and adults 25-54 (from 4.5/10), +3% in adults 18-49 (from 3.4/09) and added +620,000 viewers (from 13.37m, +5%).

? CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (R) was first in households (6.5/11), viewers (9.88m), second in adults 25-54 (2.7/07).

? FLASHPOINT 10:00 PM THURSDAY SPECIAL (R) (S) (10:01-11:00PM) was first in households (4.9/09), viewers (7.37m), second in adults 25-54 (2.4/07) and adults 18-49 (1.7/05).

? GHOST WHISPERER (R) was first in households (3.9/08), viewers (5.91m), adults 25-54 (1.7/06) and adults 18-49 (1.2/05).  GHOST WHISPERER won its time slot for the 27th time this season in households and viewers, 26th time in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54.

? FLASHPOINT (R) was first in households (4.1/08), viewers (6.50m), adults 25-54 (1.6/05) and adults 18-49 (1.2/04).  FLASHPOINT finished first in its time period in households and viewers for 17th of 18 broadcasts, was first in adults 25-54 for the 16th time in 18 broadcasts and first in adults 18-49 for the 13th time in 18 airings.

? NUMB3RS (R) was first in households (4.1/08), viewers (6.39m), tied for first in adults 25-54 (1.7/05, with both ABC and NBC) and tied for second in adults 18-49 (1.2/04, with NBC, -0.1 behind ABC). NUMB3RS won its time slot for the 26th time this television year in households, 27^th time in viewers, was first for the 23^rd time in adults 25-54.

? 60 Minutes (R) was first in households (5.3/11), viewers (8.14m) and tied for first in adults 25-54 (1.5/06, with ABC).

? COLD CASE (R) was first in households (4.6/08), viewers (7.01m), adults 25-54 (2.0/06) and adults 18-49 (1.5/05).

Prime averages are based on the following hours of rated broadcasts in Week #35:

CBS – 22 hours

NBC – 22 hours

ABC – 22 hours

FOX – 15 hours

NATIONAL NIELSEN SUMMARY - PRIMETIME

Week #35 of 2008-09 Season (ending: 05/24/09)

2008-09 2007-08

HOUSEHOLDS

Rtg Sh Rtg Sh Chg

CBS 5.7 10 5.6 10 +2%

NBC 3.0 5 3.5 6 -14%

ABC 4.7 8 5.6 10 -16%

FOX 5.9 11 7.3 13 -19%

VIEWERS

(000) (000) Chg

CBS 8,893 8,545 +4%

NBC 4,444 5,257 -15%

ABC 7,289 8,421 -13%

FOX 10,194 12,492 -18%

A25-54 

Rtg Sh Rtg Sh Chg

CBS 2.8 8 2.7 8 +4%

NBC 1.5 4 1.9 5 -21%

ABC 2.5 7 3.1 9 -19%

FOX 4.2 12 5.2 15 -19%

A18-49 

Rtg Sh Rtg Sh Chg

CBS 2.1 7 2.1 6 n.c.

NBC 1.2 4 1.6 5 -25%

ABC 2.1 7 2.6 8 -19%

FOX 3.6 12 4.5 14 -20%

A18-34 

Rtg Sh Rtg Sh Chg

CBS 1.3 5 1.3 5 n.c.

NBC 0.8 3 1.1 4 -27%

ABC 1.7 6 2.0 7 -15%

FOX 2.9 11 3.8 13 -24%

NATIONAL NIELSEN SUMMARY - PRIMETIME

2008-09 RATINGS REPORT (09/22/08-05/20/09, most current)

2008-09 2007-08

HOUSEHOLDS

Rtg Sh Rtg Sh Chg

CBS 7.3 12 6.7 11 +9%

NBC 4.8 8 5.2 8 -8%

ABC 5.7 9 6.0 10 -5%

FOX 5.8 9 6.6 11 -12%

VIEWERS

(000) (000) Chg

CBS 11,790 10,555 +12%

NBC 7,859 8,105 -3%

ABC 8,974 9,277 -3%

FOX 9,832 11,262 -13%

A25-54 

Rtg Sh Rtg Sh Chg

CBS 4.1 10 3.8 9 +8%

NBC 3.2 8 3.3 8 -3%

ABC 3.4 8 3.6 9 -6%

FOX 4.1 10 4.7 11 -13%

A18-49 

Rtg Sh Rtg Sh Chg

CBS 3.2 8 3.0 8 +7%

NBC 2.8 7 2.8 8 n.c.

ABC 2.9 8 3.0 8 -3%

FOX 3.6 10 4.3 11 -16%

A18-34 

Rtg Sh Rtg Sh Chg

CBS 2.1 6 2.0 6 +5%

NBC 2.3 7 2.3 7 n.c.

ABC 2.4 7 2.4 7 n.c.

FOX 3.2 10 3.8 11 -16%

National Nielsen Rank for Demographic: PER2+ for 5/18/2009 - 5/24/2009

Persons 2+ (000)

1. American Idol-Wednesday FOX 28838

2. American Idol-Tuesday FOX 23822

3. Dancing with the Stars Results ABC 20311

4. Dancing with the Stars ABC 19166

5. THE Mentalist CBS 16820

6. NCIS CBS 16505

7. Two and a Half Men CBS 16183

8. CSI: MIAMI CBS 14197

9. Criminal Minds CBS 13986

10. Rules of Engagement CBS 12871

11. WITHOUT A TRACE CBS 11209

12. CSI (R) CBS 9881

13. 24 FOX 9645

14. Glee Preview Tuesday-5/19 9PM (S) FOX 9619

15. So You Think Can Dance-Thursday (P) FOX 8846

16. How I Met Your Mother CBS 8733

17. NBA Playoffs On ABC-Saturday 3

LA Lakers vs Denver Nuggets (S) ABC 8731

18. The Bachelorette (P) ABC 8690

19. 60 Minutes (R) CBS 8140

20. Dancing with the Stars Special-5/19 (R)(S) ABC 7647

National Nielsen Rank for Demographic: A2554 for 5/18/2009 - 5/24/2009

Adults 25-54 Rating

1. American Idol-Wednesday FOX 11.8

2. American Idol-Tuesday FOX 10.3

3. Two and a Half Men CBS 6.6

4. Dancing with the Stars Results ABC 6.5

5. Dancing with the Stars ABC 5.6

5. Rules of Engagement CBS 5.6

7. THE Mentalist CBS 5.2

8. CSI: MIAMI CBS 5.0

9. Criminal Minds CBS 4.7

10. NCIS CBS 4.6

11. Glee Preview Tuesday-5/19 9PM (S) FOX 4.4

12. How I Met Your Mother CBS 4.2

13. 24 FOX 3.9

14. NBA Playoffs On ABC-Saturday 3

LA Lakers vs Denver Nuggets

(S) ABC 3.7

15. So You Think Can Dance-Thursday (P) FOX 3.6

16. The Bachelorette (P) ABC 3.4

17. WITHOUT A TRACE CBS 3.3

18. Rules of Engagement SPECIAL (S) CBS 3.2

19. Law And Order: SVU NBC 2.9

20. CSI (R) CBS 2.7

National Nielsen Rank for Demographic: A1849 for 5/18/2009 - 5/24/2009

Adults 18-49 Rating

1. American Idol-Wednesday FOX 10.0

2. American Idol-Tuesday FOX 8.6

3. Two and a Half Men CBS 5.3

4. Dancing with the Stars Results ABC 5.2

5. Rules of Engagement CBS 4.4

5. Dancing with the Stars ABC 4.4

7. Glee Preview Tuesday-5/19 9PM (S) FOX 3.9

8. CSI: MIAMI CBS 3.8

9. THE Mentalist CBS 3.7

9. How I Met Your Mother CBS 3.7

11. Criminal Minds CBS 3.5

11. NBA Playoffs On ABC-Saturday 3

LA Lakers vs Denver Nuggets (S) ABC 3.5

13. NCIS CBS 3.4

13. So You Think Can Dance-Thursday (P) FOX 3.4

15. 24 FOX 3.1

16. The Bachelorette (P) ABC 3.0

17. Rules of Engagement SPECIAL (S) CBS 2.7

18. Law And Order: SVU NBC 2.5

18. WITHOUT A TRACE CBS 2.5

20. Law And Order NBC 2.0