Network Wins Five Nights in Viewers, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54

CBS Has 4 of the Top 5 Programs Led By Number One CSI...and 10 of the Top 20

The Ninth Season Premiere of "CSI" Attracts Television's Largest Prime Time Audience of the Season with 23.5 Million Viewers; Also Ranks Number One for the Week

in Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54

"CSI" Tops an Original "Grey's Anatomy" in Adults 18-49 for the First Time

"Big Bang Theory," "How I Met Your Mother" and "Two and a Half Men" Post Week-to-Week Increases in Viewers and Key Demos

"NCIS" Posts Its Highest Adult 18-49 Rating in Nearly a Year

All Four Wednesday Primetime Series Post Week-to-Week Gains

"CSI: NY" Has Largest Audience Since November 2006, Best Demos Since February 2007

"Ghost Whisperer" and "Numb3rs" Posts Week-to-Week Gains

            CBS placed first in viewers and key demographics for the second consecutive week, winning five nights in viewers, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for the week ending Oct. 12, week three of the 2008-2008 season.

            CBS had 4 of the Top 5 programs led by Number One CSI, whose ninth season premiere  attracted 23.5 million viewers-the largest primetime audience this season-and a 7.1 rating in adults 18-49, which gave the series its first ever win over an original "Grey's Anatomy" in that demo and a first place finish for the week in 18-49 and 25-54.  NCIS ranked #3, CRIMINAL MINDS ranked #4 and CSI: NY ranked #5.  CBS also had 10 of the top 20 shows for the week.

            Many of CBS's scripted programs posted increases versus the prior week including BIG BANG THEORY, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, TWO AND A HALF MEN, WORST WEEK, NCIS, THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE, freshman comedy GARY UNMARRIED, CRIMINAL MINDS, CSI: NY, GHOST WHISPERER and NUMB3RS.

            For the week in viewers:  CBS (10.96m), ABC (9.59m), FOX (7.96m) and NBC (7.00m).  Season-to-date, CBS is first in viewers (11.32m), ahead of ABC (10.58m), NBC (7.93m) and FOX (7.53m). 

            For the week in key demographics: For the second consecutive week, CBS was first in both adults 25-54 (4.0/10) and adults 18-49 (3.2/09).  Season-to-date, CBS is first in adults 25-54 and second in adults 18-49. 

            For the week in households:  CBS (6.9/11), ABC (6.3/10), NBC (5.0/08) and FOX (4.4/07). Season-to-date, CBS is first (7.1/12), +4% ahead of ABC (6.8/11), +42% ahead of NBC (5.0/08) and +51% ahead of FOX (4.7/08). 

CBS's Weekly Highlights: 

-- Monday, CBS was first in adults 25-54 (4.9/11), adults 18-49 (4.0/10), second in households (7.4/11) and viewers (11.51m).  CBS placed first in both adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 for three straight weeks. 

 BIG BANG THEORY was second in households (6.0/09), viewers (9.39m), adults 25-54 (4.4/11) and adults 18-49 (3.7/10).  This matches BIG BANG THEORY's best delivery ever in households, second best performance in both adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 and is the second best viewer performance.  Compared to last week, BIG BANG THEORY was up +11% in households (from 5.4/09), +10% in adults 25-54 (from 4.0/10), +12% in adults 18-49 (from 3.3/09) and added +790,000 viewers (from 8.60m, +9%). 

 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER was second in households (5.7/08), viewers (8.96m), adults 25-54 (4.6/11) and adults 18-49 (4.0/10).  Compared to last week, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER was up +6% in households (from 5.4/08), +7% in adults 25-54 (from 4.3/10), +8% in adults 18-49 (from 3.7/09) and added +240,000 viewers (from 8.72m, +7%). 

 TWO AND A HALF MEN was first in adults 25-54 (6.2/13), adults 18-49 (5.1/12), second in both households (8.8/13) and viewers (14.07m).  Compared to last week, TWO AND A HALF MEN was up +5% in households (from 8.4/12), +2% in adults 25-54 (from 6.1/13), +9% in adults 18-49 (from 4.7/11) and added +490,000 viewers (from 13.58m, +4%). 

 WORST WEEK (5.7/08, 8.85m) was up +2% in households (from 5.6/08) and +3% in adults 18-49 (3.0/07 from 2.9/07) compared to last week.

 CSI: MIAMI was first in households (9.2/15), viewers (13.88m), adults 25-54 (5.2/12) and adults 18-49 (4.0/10). 

 NCIS was won its time period in households (10.1/15), viewers (16.29m), adults 25-54 (5.0/12) and adults 18-49 (3.7/10).  This was NCIS's best adults 18-49 delivery since Nov. 13, 2007. 

--On  Wednesday, CBS was first in for the night households (8.4/14), viewers (13.17m), adults 25-54 (4.8/12) and adults 18-49 (3.6/10) for the third consecutive week. 

 THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE was second in households (5.0/08), viewers (7.53m), adults 25-54 (2.8/08) and adults 18-49 (2.2/07).  Compared to last week, OLD CHRISTINE was up +6% in households (from 4.7/08), +4% in adults 25-54 (from 2.7/07), +10% in adults 18-49 (from 2.0/06) and added +730,000 viewers (from 6.80m, +11%). 

 GARY UNMARRIED was second in households (4.9/08), viewers (7.36m), adults 25-54 (3.0/07) and tied for second in adults 18-49 (2.4/06, with NBC).  GARY UNMARRIED improved on its OLD CHRISTINE lead-in by +7% in adults 25-54 and +9% in adults 18-49.  Compared to last week, GARY UNMARRIED was up +7% in households (from 4.6/08), +3% in adults 25-54 (from 2.9/07), +9% in adults 18-49 (from 2.2/06) and added +440,000 viewers (from 6.92m, +6%). 

 CRIMINAL MINDS won its time slot in households (10.2/16), viewers (16.19m), adults 25-54 (5.9/14) and adults 18-49 (4.3/11) for the third consecutive week.  Compared to last week, CRIMINAL MINDS was up +7% in households (from 9.5/15), +9% in adults 25-54 (from 5.4/12), +10% in adults 18-49 (from 3.9/10) and added +1.41m viewers (from 14.78m, +10%). 

 CSI: NY won its time slot in households (10.1/17), viewers (15.87m), adults 25-54 (5.7/14) and adults 18-49 (4.3/12) for the third consecutive week.  CSI: NY scored its best households delivery since Dec.13, 2006, best viewers total since Nov. 29, 2006, best adults 25-54 since Feb. 7, 2007 and best adults 18-49 since Feb. 28, 2007.  Compared to last week, CSI:NY was up +5% in both households (from 9.6/16) and adults 18-49 (from 4.1/11), +6% in adults 25-54 (from 5.4/14) and added +990,000 viewers (from 14.88m, +7%). 

--On Thursday, CBS was first in households (9.6/15), viewers (16.11m), adults 25-54 (6.2/15) and adults 18-49 (4.9/13).   This is CBS's best Thursday delivery in both viewers and adults 25-54 since April 3, 2008 and best adults 18-49 Thursday performance since Dec. 13, 2007.  This is CBS's first Thursday sweep (wins in households, viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49) since April 3, 2008. 

 SURVIVOR: GABON was first in households (7.7/13), viewers (13.28m), adults 25-54 (5.4/14) and adults 18-49 (4.4/12). 

 The ninth season premiere of CSI (P) won its time period in households (13.9/21), viewers (23.49m), adults 25-54 (9.1/20) and adults 18-49 (7.1/17). This is the first time CSI topped a first run episode of "Grey's Anatomy" in adults 18-49 (vs. 5.6/13, +27%) and the largest margin of victory to date in households (vs. 9.8/15, +42%), viewers (vs. 14.80m, +59%) and adults 25-54 (from 6.2/14, +47%).  This is CSI's best delivery in households, viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 since September 27, 2007 (last year's season premiere).  CSI's premiere is the season's #1 prime program on any network in viewers and adults 25-54. 

 The series premiere of ELEVENTH HOUR (P) won its time period in viewers (11.37m), second in households (7.2/12).     

-- Friday, CBS was first in households (5.1/09), viewers (7.77m), adults 25-54 (3.0/09) and adults 18-49 (2.2/07).  CBS matched last week's delivery in adults 18-49 and was up +3% in adults 25-54 (from 2.9/09).  CBS was first in every half-hour in both adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 for the second consecutive Friday.   

 GHOST WHISPERER was first in households (6.3/11), viewers (9.69m), adults 25-54 (3.6/11) and adults 18-49 (2.7/10).  This is GHOST WHISPERER's best delivery in viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 since Jan. 18, 2008 (the last first run broadcast before the WGA strike hiatus).  Compared to last week's season premiere, GHOST WHISPERER was up +3% in households (from 6.1/11), +6% in adults 25-54 (from 3.4/10), +8% in adults 18-49 (from 2.5/09) and added +240,000 viewers (from 9.45m, +3%). 

 THE EX LIST was first in adults 25-54 (2.4/07), adults 18-49 (1.9/06), second in households (3.9/07, -0.1 behind NBC) and viewers (5.60m). 

 NUMB3RS won its time period in households (5.3/10), viewers (8.01m), adults 25-54 (2.9/08) and tied with ABC for first in adults 18-49 (2.2/07).  Compared to last week, NUMB3RS was up +4% in adults 25-54 (from 2.8/08), +5% in adults 18-49 (from 2.1/07), even in households.

-- Saturday, CBS, with HOME DEPOT PRIME COLLEGE FOOTBALL "LSU at Florida" (S) was first in households (3.9/07), viewers (6.22m), adults 18-49 (2.1/07), adults 18-34 (2.1/08), men 18-49 (2.7/09) and men 18-34 (2.5/09), second in both adults 25-54 (2.2/06) and men 25-54 (2.8/08) from 8:00-11:00PM.  CBS was first in every half-hour from 8:00-11:00PM in adults 18-49, adults 18-34, men 18-49, men 18-34 and won every half-hour from 8:30-11:00PM in households and viewers.  This is CBS's best delivery in viewers and key men demos on a Saturday since April 5, 2008 (Final Four Saturday). 

 HOME DEPOT PRIME COLLEGE FOOTBALL " LSU at Florida" (S) (8:00PM-11:41PM) scored a 3.8/07 in households with 5.96m viewers and a 2.7/08 in men 25-54, 2.5/08 in men 18-49, 2.4/09 in men 18-34, 2.1/06 in adults 25-54, 2.0/07 in both adults 18-49 and adults 18-34. 

CBS top programs of the week:  #1 CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (an average of 23.49m viewers), #3 NCIS (16.29m), #4 CRIMINAL MINDS (16.19m), #5 CSI: NY (15.87m), #10 TWO AND A HALF MEN (14.07m), #11 CSI MIAMI (13.88m), #12 SURVIVOR: GABON (13.28m), #14 ELEVENTH HOUR (11.37m), #17 COLD CASE (10.99m), #19 60 MINUTES (10.75m), #24 GHOST WHISPERER (9.69m), #26 THE BIG BANG THEORY (9.39m), #29 THE UNIT (9.10m) and #30 THE AMAZING RACE (9.01m).

National Nielsen Rank for Demographic: PER2+    for    10/6/2008  -  10/12/2008                                          

                                                                                                            Persons 2+ (000)

1.         CSI                                                                              (P)       CBS     23485

2.         Dancing With The Stars                                                            ABC    18592

3.         NCIS                                                                                       CBS     16288

4.         CRIMINAL MINDS                                                               CBS     16185

5.         CSI: NY                                                                                  CBS     15873

6.         Desperate Housewives                                                 ABC    15505

7.         Dancing With The Stars Result Special              (S)       ABC    15065

8.         Grey's Anatomy-Thursday 9pm                                                ABC    14797

9.         OT, The                                                                                   FOX    14232

10.       TWO AND A HALF MEN                                                     CBS     14073

11.       CSI: MIAMI                                                                            CBS     13884

12.       SURVIVOR: GABON                                                 CBS     13278

13.       NBC Sunday Night Football            Patriots vs Chargers           NBC    13051

14.       ELEVENTH HOUR                                                    (P)       CBS     11373

15.       Extreme Makeover: Home Edition-8p                           ABC    11344

16.       Life On Mars                                                                (P)       ABC    11333

17.       COLD CASE                                                                          CBS     10994

18.       SNL: Weekend Update 10/9                                        (S)       NBC    10850

19.       60 MINUTES                                                                          CBS     10753

20.       Bones                                                                                       FOX    10559

National Nielsen Rank for Demographic: A2554    for    10/6/2008  -  10/12/2008                                          

                                                                                                            Adults 25-54 Rating

1.         CSI                                                                              (P)       CBS     9.1

2.         Desperate Housewives                                                 ABC    6.6

3.         TWO AND A HALF MEN                                                     CBS     6.2

3.         Grey's Anatomy-Thursday 9pm                                                ABC    6.2

5.         OT, The                                                                                   FOX    6.0

6.         CRIMINAL MINDS                                                               CBS     5.9

7.         CSI: NY                                                                                  CBS     5.7

8.         NBC Sunday Night Football            Patriots vs Chargers           NBC    5.6

9.         Dancing With The Stars                                                            ABC    5.5

10.       SURVIVOR: GABON                                                 CBS     5.4

10.       SNL: Weekend Update 10/9                                        (S)       NBC    5.4

12.       CSI: MIAMI                                                                            CBS     5.2

13.       NCIS                                                                                       CBS     5.0

14.       Life On Mars                                                                (P)       ABC    4.7

14.       Dancing With The Stars Result Special              (S)       ABC    4.7

16.       HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER                                              CBS     4.6

16.       Office                                                                                       NBC    4.6

18.       E.R.                                                                                         NBC    4.5

19.       Extreme Makeover: Home Edition-8p                           ABC    4.4

19.       BIG BANG THEORY, THE                                                    CBS     4.4

National Nielsen Rank for Demographic: A1849    for    10/6/2008  -  10/12/2008                                          

                                                                                                            Adults 18-49 Rating

1.         CSI                                                                              (P)       CBS     7.1

2.         Desperate Housewives                                                 ABC    5.9

3.         Grey's Anatomy-Thursday 9pm                                                ABC    5.6

4.         OT, The                                                                                   FOX    5.4

5.         NBC Sunday Night Football            Patriots vs Chargers           NBC    5.2

6.         TWO AND A HALF MEN                                                     CBS     5.1

6.         SNL: Weekend Update 10/9                                        (S)       NBC    5.1

8.         Office                                                                                       NBC    4.8

9.         SURVIVOR: GABON                                                 CBS     4.4

10.       Dancing With The Stars                                                            ABC    4.3

10.       CRIMINAL MINDS                                                               CBS     4.3

10.       CSI: NY                                                                                  CBS     4.3

13.       CSI: MIAMI                                                                            CBS     4.0

13.       HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER                                              CBS     4.0

13.       Heroes                                                                                     NBC    4.0

16.       E.R.                                                                                         NBC    3.9

17.       Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick                                                    NBC    3.8

17.       Extreme Makeover: Home Edition-8p                           ABC    3.8

19.       BIG BANG THEORY, THE                                                    CBS     3.7

19.       NCIS                                                                                       CBS     3.7

19.       Life On Mars                                                                (P)       ABC    3.7

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Press Contacts            

Ed Harrison                  323/575-4254              ed.harrison@cbs.com

Jeremy Murphy             212/975-4577              jeremy.murphy@cbs.com