CBS PLACES FIRST IN VIEWERS FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN FIVE WEEKS AND 17 OF 21 THIS SEASON
CBS Up Significantly Over the Same Week Last Year and Remains the Only Network
To Post Season-to-Date Increases in All Key Measures
Series High Viewer Delivery Makes "The Mentalist" the Week's No. 1 Scripted Program Followed By "NCIS" and "CSI"
Reality Premieres: "Survivor: Tocantins" and "The Amazing Race" Win Their Time Periods
"The Big Bang Theory" Hits Series Highs in all Key Measures
CBS placed first in viewers for the fourth time in five weeks and 17 of 21 weeks this season, posting significant gains over the same week last year while remaining the only network to post season-to-date increases in all key measures, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for the week ending Feb.15, week 21 of the 2008-2009 television season.
THE MENTALIST, the season's No. 1 new hit, was the week's top scripted program (No. 3 overall), followed by NCIS (No. 4) and CSI (No. 5). The premiere of SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS won its time period in viewers and key demographics while the premiere of THE AMAZING RACE 14 placed first in viewers and adults 25-54.
Compared to the same week last year, CBS was up +41% in viewers, +28% in adults 25-54 and +27% in adults 18-49. Season-to-date, CBS is the ONLY broadcast network to improve its deliveries in viewers (+7%), adults 25-54 (+2%) and adults 18-49 (+3%).
For the week in viewers: CBS (11.36m), FOX (10.04m), ABC (7.58m) and NBC (6.36m). Season-to-date, CBS is first in viewers (11.82m), ahead of FOX (9.04m), ABC (8.85m) and NBC (8.52m).
For the week in households: CBS (7.1/12), FOX (5.8/09), ABC (4.8/08) and NBC (4.1/07). In households, season-to-date, CBS is first (7.4/12), ahead of ABC (5.6/09), FOX (5.4/09) and NBC (5.2/08).
For the week in key demographics, CBS was second in adults 25-54 (3.7/09) and adults 18-49 (2.8/08). Season-to-date, CBS is first in adults 25-54 (4.1/10) and a close second in adults 18-49 (3.2/08, -0.1 behind FOX).
CBS Weekly Highlights:
-- CBS was first Monday in households (8.6/13), viewers (13.87m), adults 25-54 (5.4/12) and adults 18-49 (4.3/10) from 9:00-11:00PM.
TWO AND A HALF MEN was first in households (9.2/13), viewers (15.00m), adults 25-54 (6.1/13) and adults 18-49 (4.8/11).
At 9:30 PM, THE BIG BANG THEORY was first in households (7.8/11), viewers (12.72m), adults 25-54 (5.5/12) and adults 18-49 (4.5/10). These are all series highs for a first-run episode of THE BIG BANG THEORY.
-- On Tuesday, CBS was first in households (10.7/17), second in viewers (17.35m, -0.29m behind FOX), adults 25-54 (5.4/13) and tied for second in adults 18-49 (3.8/10, with NBC). This is the first time CBS beat FOX in household ratings on an "American Idol" Tuesday since February 25, 2003 and the smallest difference in viewers ever.
NCIS was second in households (11.3/17), viewers (18.03m), adults 25-54 (5.4/13) and adults 18-49 (3.7/10).
THE MENTALIST was first in households (12.0/18), viewers (19.70m), adults 25-54 (6.2/14) and second in adults 18-49 (4.2/10). This is THE MENTALIST's best delivery ever in viewers and adults 25-54, matches the show's best adults 18-49 and adults 18-34 performances. This is CBS's best viewer performance in this time slot with a regularly scheduled program at 9:00PM since February 28, 1995 (CBS Tuesday Movie "Children of the Dust"). THE MENTALIST beat "Fringe" in adults 18-49 for three consecutive first-run head-to-head match-ups, four of the last five.
WITHOUT A TRACE was first in households (8.9/15), viewers (14.31m), tied for first in adults 25-54 (4.6/11, with NBC) and second in adults 18-49 (3.4/09). This is WITHOUT A TRACE's season high deliveries in adults 25-54 and adults 18-49.
SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS (P) was first in households (8.0/13), viewers (13.63m), adults 25-54 (5.6/14) and adults 18-49 (4.4/13). This is SURVIVOR's best viewers delivery since last winter's debut of SURVIVOR: MICRONESIA and highest adult 18-49 rating since October 23, 2008 (SURVIVOR: MICRONESIA).
CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION was first in households (10.8/17), viewers (17.94m), adults 25-54 (6.4/14) and second in adults 18-49 (4.9/12).
THE AMAZING RACE 14 (P) was first in viewers (9.20m), adults 25-54 (3.4/08), tied for first in households (5.4/09, with NBC) and second in adults 18-49 (2.6/07).
CBS top programs of the week: #3 THE MENTALIST (an average of 19.70m viewers), #4 NCIS (18.03m), #5 CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (17.94m), #7 TWO AND A HALF MEN (15.00m), #8 WITHOUT A TRACE (14.31m), #11 CSI: MIAMI (13.81m), #12 SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS (P) (13.63m), #13 60 MINUTES (13.11m), #14 THE BIG BANG THEORY (12.72m), #15 CRIMINAL MINDS (12.48m), #16 CSI: NY (11.94m), #20 ELEVENTH HOUR (10.94m), #21 COLD CASE (10.89m), #23 GHOST WHISPERER (10.31m), #27 THE AMAZING RACE 14 (P) (9.20m) and #28 NUMB3RS (9.11m).
Prime averages are based on the following hours of rated broadcasts in Week #21:
CBS - 21 hours
NBC - 21 hours
ABC - 21 hours
FOX - 14 hours
NATIONAL NIELSEN SUMMARY - PRIMETIME
Week #21 of 2008-09 Season (ending: 02/15/09)
2008-09 2007-08
HOUSEHOLDS
Rtg Sh Rtg Sh Chg
CBS 7.1 12 5.2 8 +37%
NBC 4.1 7 5.5 9 -25%
ABC 4.8 8 4.4 7 +9%
FOX 5.8 9 6.7 11 -13%
VIEWERS
(000) (000) Chg
CBS 11,361 8,067 +41%
NBC 6,361 8,906 -29%
ABC 7,579 6,956 +9%
FOX 10,044 11,504 -13%
A25-54
Rtg Sh Rtg Sh Chg
CBS 3.7 9 2.9 7 +28%
NBC 2.5 6 3.4 8 -26%
ABC 3.1 8 2.7 7 +15%
FOX 4.4 11 5.0 12 -12%
A18-49
Rtg Sh Rtg Sh Chg
CBS 2.8 8 2.2 6 +27%
NBC 2.1 6 3.0 8 -30%
ABC 2.7 7 2.3 6 +17%
FOX 3.9 10 4.6 12 -15%
A18-34
Rtg Sh Rtg Sh Chg
CBS 1.7 5 1.4 4 +21%
NBC 1.7 5 2.3 7 -26%
ABC 2.5 8 1.8 5 +39%
FOX 3.4 10 4.3 13 -21%
NATIONAL NIELSEN SUMMARY - PRIMETIME
SEASON-TO-DATE RATINGS REPORT (09/22/08-02/15/09)
2008-09 2007-08
HOUSEHOLDS
Rtg Sh Rtg Sh Chg
CBS 7.4 12 7.0 11 +6%
NBC 5.2 8 5.5 9 -5%
ABC 5.6 9 6.1 10 -8%
FOX 5.4 9 6.6 11 -18%
VIEWERS
(000) (000) Chg
CBS 11,820 11,004 +7%
NBC 8,520 8,741 -3%
ABC 8,854 9,484 -7%
FOX 9,037 11,181 -19%
A25-54
Rtg Sh Rtg Sh Chg
CBS 4.1 10 4.0 10 +2%
NBC 3.5 8 3.6 9 -3%
ABC 3.4 8 3.7 9 -8%
FOX 3.7 9 4.6 11 -20%
A18-49
Rtg Sh Rtg Sh Chg
CBS 3.2 8 3.1 8 +3%
NBC 3.0 8 3.2 8 -6%
ABC 2.9 8 3.1 8 -6%
FOX 3.3 9 4.2 11 -21%
A18-34
Rtg Sh Rtg Sh Chg
CBS 2.1 6 2.1 6 n.c.
NBC 2.6 8 2.7 8 -4%
ABC 2.4 7 2.5 7 -4%
FOX 3.0 9 3.9 11 -23%
National Nielsen Rank for Demographic: PER2+ for 2/9/2009 - 2/15/2009
Persons 2+ (000)
1. American Idol-Tuesday FOX 24941
2. American Idol-Wednesday FOX 24825
3. THE MENTALIST CBS 19699
4. NCIS CBS 18031
5. CSI CBS 17938
6. Grey's Anatomy-Thursday 9PM ABC 15159
7. TWO AND A HALF MEN CBS 14995
8. WITHOUT A TRACE CBS 14308
9. Private Practice ABC 14097
10. Desperate Housewives ABC 14010
11. CSI: MIAMI CBS 13813
12. SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS (P) CBS 13632
13. 60 MINUTES CBS 13112
14. THE BIG BANG THEORY CBS 12723
15. CRIMINAL MINDS CBS 12476
16. CSI: NY CBS 11939
17. The Bachelor ABC 11586
18. Dateline NBC 2/10 (S) NBC 11259
19. 20/20-Friday ABC 10990
20. ELEVENTH HOUR CBS 10941
National Nielsen Rank for Demographic: A25-54 for 2/9/2009 - 2/15/2009
Adults 25-54 Rating
1. American Idol-Wednesday FOX 10.7
2. American Idol-Tuesday FOX 10.6
3. CSI CBS 6.4
4. Grey's Anatomy-Thursday 9PM ABC 6.3
5. THE MENTALIST CBS 6.2
6. TWO AND A HALF MEN CBS 6.1
7. Private Practice ABC 5.9
8. Desperate Housewives ABC 5.8
9. SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS (P) CBS 5.6
10. THE BIG BANG THEORY CBS 5.5
11. NCIS CBS 5.4
12. CSI: MIAMI CBS 5.0
13. Fringe FOX 4.8
14. Dateline NBC 2/10 (S) NBC 4.6
14. WITHOUT A TRACE CBS 4.6
14. Lost ABC 4.6
17. The Bachelor ABC 4.5
17. Office NBC 4.5
19. 20/20-Friday ABC 4.2
19. 24 FOX 4.2
National Nielsen Rank for Demographic: A18-49 for 2/9/2009 - 2/15/2009
Adults 18-49 Rating
1. American Idol-Wednesday FOX 9.5
2. American Idol-Tuesday FOX 9.2
3. Grey's Anatomy-Thursday 9PM ABC 5.9
4. Private Practice ABC 5.7
5. Desperate Housewives ABC 4.9
5. CSI CBS 4.9
7. TWO AND A HALF MEN CBS 4.8
8. Office NBC 4.6
9. THE BIG BANG THEORY CBS 4.5
10. SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS (P) CBS 4.4
10. Lost ABC 4.4
12. THE MENTALIST CBS 4.2
12. The Bachelor ABC 4.2
14. Fringe FOX 4.1
15. Dateline NBC 2/10 (S) NBC 4.0
15. CSI: MIAMI CBS 4.0
17. Family Guy FOX 3.8
17. 30 Rock NBC 3.8
19. NCIS CBS 3.7
19. Biggest Loser 7 NBC 3.7