CBS Wins The Week In Viewers And Adults 25-54

CBS placed first in viewers for the ninth time in the last 10 weeks, first in adults 25-54 and a strong second in adults 18-49, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for the week ending May 16, week 34 of the 2009-2010 television season.

CBS had seven of the top 10 programs: NCIS, NCIS: LOS ANGELES, THE MENTALIST, TWO AND A HALF MEN, THE BIG BANG THEORY, SURVIVOR: HEROES VS. VILLAINS FINALE and CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION. NCIS was the week's top drama, TWO AND A HALF MEN was the week's top comedy and THE BIG BANG THEORY was the week's top scripted series in adults 25-54 and adults 18-49.

NCIS, NCIS: LOS ANGELES and THE GOOD WIFE all helped lead CBS to its first Tuesday viewer win against FOX's "American Idol" Tuesday since 2003. SURVIVOR: HEROES VS. VILLAINS was Thursday's top program in key demos while its FINALE was Sunday's top program in key measures.

For the week in viewers: CBS (10.48m), ABC (8.58m), FOX (7.99m) and NBC (5.11m). Season-to-date, CBS is first in viewers (11.80m), ahead of FOX (9.95m), ABC (8.58m) and NBC (8.29m).

For the week in key demographics, CBS was first in adults 25-54 (3.6/10) and a close second in adults 18-49 (2.7/08, -0.2 behind FOX). Season to-date, CBS is first in adults 25-54 (4.1/10, tie with FOX) and second in adults 18-49 (3.2/09).

For the week in households: CBS (6.4/11), ABC (5.5/10), FOX (4.7/08) and NBC (3.5/06). In households, season-to-date, CBS is first (7.2/12), ahead of FOX (5.8/09), ABC (5.4/09) and NBC (5.1/08).

For the first 18 days of the May 2010 sweep, CBS is first in households (6.2/11), viewers (10.02m), adults 25-54 (3.3/09) and second in adults 18-49 (2.4/07).

CBS Weekly Highlights:

TWO AND A HALF MEN was first in adults 25-54 (5.9/14), adults 18-49 (4.6/12), adults 18-34 (3.1/09) and second in both households (8.5/13) and viewers (13.86m). Compared to the last first-run episode (on April 12, 2010), TWO AND A HALF MEN was up +2% in both households (from 8.3/13) and adults 25-54 (from 5.8/14), +7% in adults 18-34 (from 2.9/09) and added +140,000 viewers (from 13.72m, +1%).

THE BIG BANG THEORY was first in adults 25-54 (6.3/14), adults 18-49 (5.3/13), adults 18-34 (3.7/10), second in both households (8.2/13) and viewers (13.73m). Compared to last week (at 9PM), THE BIG BANG THEORY was up +17% in both households (from 7.0/11) and adults 25-54 (from 5.4/13), +15% in adults 18-49 (from 4.6/12), +9% in adults 18-34 (from 3.4/10) and added +2.10m viewers (from 11.63m, +18%).

-- Tuesday, CBS was first in households (9.5/15) and viewers (15.37m); it was second in adults 25-54 (4.4/11) and adults 18-49 (3.2/09). This was CBS's first victory in viewers against FOX's all first-run programming on an "American Idol Tuesday" night since the 2002-03 television season (15.372m vs. 15.368m). CBS posted its best Tuesday deliveries in households, viewers and adults 25-54 since March 16, 2010 and its best adults 18-49 ratings since March 9, 2010.

NCIS was second in households (10.5/16), viewers (17.23m), adults 25-54 (5.0/12) and adults 18-49 (3.9/11). Compared to last week, NCIS was up +11% in households (from 9.5/16), +16% in adults 25-54 (from 4.3/11), +26% in adults 18-49 (from 3.1/09) and added +2.13m viewers (from 15.10m, +14%). NCIS posted its best deliveries in households, viewers and adults 25-54 since March 16, 2010 and its best adults 18-49 ratings since March 9, 2010. NCIS finished in its closest competitive position with "American Idol" for the third consecutive week in households (-0.2 rtg pts), viewers (-1.94m) and adults 18-49 (-2.9 rtg pts).

NCIS: LOS ANGELES was first in households (9.8/15) and viewers (16.04m), tied for second in adults 25-54 (4.7/11, with ABC) and averaged a 3.3/08 in adults 18-49. Compared to last week, NCIS: LOS ANGELES was up +9% in households (from 9.0/14), +12% in adult 25-54 (from 4.2/10), +18% in adults 18-49 (from 2.8/07) and added +1.70m viewers (from 14.34m, +12%). NCIS: LOS ANGELES posted its best viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 deliveries since March 9, 2010.

THE GOOD WIFE was first in households (8.3/14), viewers (12.85m) and adults 25-54 (3.6/09); it was second in adults 18-49 (2.4/07). Compared to last week, THE GOOD WIFE was up +4% in adults 18-49 (from 2.3/07) and even in adults 25-54. THE GOOD WIFE posted its best adults 18-49 ratings since March 16, 2010.

-- Thursday, CBS was first in households (8.4/14), viewers (13.85m), adults 25-54 (4.6/12) and adults 18-49 (3.4/10). CBS swept these measures for the 9th consecutive Thursday. CBS won every half-hour in viewers.

SURVIVOR: HEROES VS. VILLAINS was first in households (7.7/13), viewers (13.28m), adults 25-54 (5.4/16) and adults 18-49 (4.1/13). The penultimate episode of SURVIVOR: HEROES VS. VILLAINS matched last week's households, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 performances, added +220,000 viewers (from 13.06m, +2%). SURVIVOR: HEROES VS. VILLAINS was the night's #1 program in both adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 for the 5th consecutive week.

CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION was first in households (8.1/13), viewers (13.42m), second in adults 25-54 (4.0/10) and tied for second in adults 18-49 (3.0/08, with NBC).

THE MENTALIST was first in households (9.3/16), viewers (14.84m), adults 25-54 (4.4/12) and tied for first in adults 18-49 (3.2/09, with ABC). THE MENTALIST was the night's #1 program in viewers.

-- Sunday, CBS was first in households (6.9/12), viewers (12.33m), adults 25-54 (4.5/12) and adults 18-49 (3.4/10). CBS was first in viewers for the 10th consecutive Sunday, first in adults 25-54 for the 8th time in 10 Sundays and first in adults 18-49 for the 7th Sunday in 10 weeks.

SURVIVOR: HEROES VS. VILLAINS FINALE (S) (8:00-10:09PM) was first in households (7.2/12), viewers (13.46m), adults 25-54 (5.4/13) and adults 18-49 (4.2/12). SURVIVOR: HEROES VS. VILLAINS FINALE was the night's #1 program in viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49. Compared to last May's SURVIVOR finale, CBS was up +3% in households (from 7.0/11), +4% in adults 25-54 (from 5.2/12) and added +480,000 viewers (from 12.98m, +4%).

SURVIVOR: HEROES VS. VILLAINS REUNION (S) (10:09-11:00PM) was first in viewers (10.65m), adults 25-54 (4.5/11), adults 18-49 (3.6/10) and second in households (5.9/10) in the 10PM hour.

CBS top programs of the week: #4 NCIS (an average of 17.23m viewers), #5 NCIS: LOS ANGELES (16.04m), #6 THE MENTALIST (14.84m), #7 TWO AND A HALF MEN (13.86m), #8 THE BIG BANG THEORY (13.73m), #9 SURVIVOR: HEROES VS. VILLAINS FINALE (S) (13.46m), #10 CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (13.42m), #11 SURVIVOR: HEROES VS. VILLAINS (13.28m), #12 CRIMINAL MINDS (13.07m), #13 THE GOOD WIFE (12.85m), #17 CSI: NY (11.36m), #18 60 MINUTES (11.35m), #20 CSI: MIAMI (11.01m) and #22 SURVIVOR: HEROES VS. VILLAINS REUNION (10.65m).

Prime averages are based on the following hours of rated broadcasts in Week #34:

CBS - 22 hours

NBC - 22 hours

ABC - 22 hours

FOX - 15 hours

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