CBS is America’s Most-Watched Network for the Seventh Time in Eight Years
Network Also Places First in Adults 25-54 and Second in Adults 18-49
CBS Has the Season’s Top Three New Programs-“Undercover Boss,” “NCIS: Los Angeles” and “The Good Wife”
“NCIS” is #1 Scripted Program in Viewers
“The Big Bang Theory” is #1 Scripted Series in Adults 18-49
CBS Has More Time Period Winning Programs and More Top 25 Programs in Adults 18-49 Than Any Other Network
CBS Notches Seven of the Top 10 Dramas and the Top Two Comedies
With three nights remaining, CBS will win the 2009-2010 television season in viewers, it seventh victory in the past eight years, and also place first in adults 25-54 (projected tie with FOX), according to Nielsen most current ratings through Sunday, May 23.
CBS will also place second in adults 18-49 for the second straight year; however, in a sign of the network’s demographic strength across the schedule, CBS will finish the season with more time period-winning programs (10) and more top 25 programs (8) than any other network among adults 18-49.
CBS’s programming leadership cut across all genres. The Network had the season’s #1 drama/scripted program with NCIS; the #1 comedy in TWO AND A HALF MEN; the #1 scripted program in adults 18-49 with THE BIG BANG THEORY; the #1, #2 and #3 new series-UNDERCOVER BOSS, NCIS: LOS ANGELES and THE GOOD WIFE, respectively; and the #1 news magazine, 60 MINUTES.
CBS also dominated the season’s rankings in both drama and comedy. The Network has seven of the top 10 dramas: NCIS (#1); THE MENTALIST (#2); CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (#3); NCIS: LOS ANGELES (#4); CRIMINAL MINDS (#6); THE GOOD WIFE (#8) and CSI: MIAMI (#9).
Among comedies, CBS had the top two: TWO AND A HALF MEN (#1 in viewers, #2 in adults 18-49) and THE BIG BANG THEORY (#1 in adults 18-49 and #2 in viewers).
Among other CBS season highlights:
* More time period-winning programs than all of the other networks combined in viewers (12) and adults 25-54 (11) and more than any other network in adults 18-49 (10).
* Five of the top 10 programs of the season: NCIS (#5); UNDERCOVER BOSS (#6); THE MENTALIST (#7); CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (#8) and NCIS: LOS ANGELES (#9). The Network also had 12 of the top 20.
* CBS was #1 in viewers on four nights (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) and #1 in adults 25-54 on four nights (Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday)- more than all the other networks combined.
* CBS was #1 in viewers and key demographics in the Monday-Friday 10 PM hour leading into affiliates’ late local news.
* CBS has four of the top 10 programs (UNDERCOVER BOSS, THE MENTALIST, 60 MINUTES and THE BIG BANG THEORY) among adults with household incomes of $125,000 plus-more than any other network.
* CBS will win the May sweep in viewers for the eighth consecutive year and ninth in the last 10 years.
NATIONAL NIELSEN SUMMARY – PRIMETIME
SEASON-TO-DATE RATINGS REPORT (09/21/09-05/23/10)
2009-10
HOUSEHOLDS
Rtg Sh
CBS 7.2 12
NBC 5.1 8
ABC 5.4 9
FOX 5.8 9
VIEWERS
(000)
CBS 11,777
NBC 8,244
ABC 8,613
FOX 9,915
A25-54
Rtg Sh
CBS 4.1 10
NBC 3.2 8
ABC 3.2 8
FOX 4.1 10
A18-49
Rtg Sh
CBS 3.2 9
NBC 2.7 7
ABC 2.7 7
FOX 3.6 10
A18-34
Rtg Sh
CBS 2.2 7
NBC 2.2 7
ABC 2.2 7
FOX 3.2 10
Updated season ratings will be available on Thursday.