CBS's PERSON OF INTEREST Delivers Largest Audience Since Series Premiere

CBS's PERSON OF INTEREST delivered its largest audience since its series premiere and a rebroadcast of THE BIG BANG THEORY out-rated "The X-Factor" at 8:00 PM, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for Thursday, Dec. 15.

THE BIG BANG THEORY (R) was first in households (6.4/11), viewers (10.15m), adults 25-54 (3.8/10) and adults 18-49 (2.8/09), beating a first-run "X Factor" (8.98m, 2.6/08 in adults 18-49) from 8:00-8:30 PM.

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT was second in households (6.0/10), viewers (9.71m), adults 25-54 (3.8/09, -0.1 behind FOX) and adults 18-49 (2.7/08).

PERSON OF INTEREST was first in households (8.0/12), viewers (12.78m), adults 25-54 (3.9/09) and adults 18-49 (2.8/08). Compared to last week, PERSON OF INTEREST was up +1% in households (from 7.9/12), even in both adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 and added +120,000 viewers (from 12.66m, +1%). PERSON OF INTEREST posted its largest audience since the series premiere for the second consecutive week.

THE MENTALIST was first in households (8.1/13), viewers (12.98m), adults 25-54 (3.8/09) and adults 18-49 (2.7/07). Compared to last week, THE MENTALIST was up +3% in adults 25-54 (from 3.7/09) and even in adults 18-49.

For the night, CBS was first in households (7.4/12), viewers (11.90m), adults 25-54 (3.8/10) and adults 18-49 (2.8/08). CBS swept Thursday for the fourth time in five weeks and was first every night this week through Thursday in viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49.