Network Overcomes Two Doses of Football, Two Editions of "Lost," Dancing Celebrity Specials and a Whole Bunch of Housewives to Claim Its Fourth Consecutive Premiere Week Win

The Sixth Season Premiere of "CSI" Is the Week's Most Watched Program

Special Preview of "Criminal Minds" Is CBS's Most Watched Newcomer Since "CSI: Miami" and Tops "ER" In Viewers and Key Demographics

"NCIS" Premieres With Its Most Watched Premiere Episode and Highest Rated in Key Demographics

Series Premiere of "Ghost Whisperer" Places First in Viewers and Demos and Improves the Year Ago Time Period By Double Digit Percentages

Despite tremendous atypical competition in the form of two "Monday Night Footballs," dancing celebrity specials, two editions of "Lost" and a whole bunch of housewives, CBS still managed to post its fourth consecutive premiere week victory, winning in households and viewers, and placing a strong in key demographics, according to Nielsen ratings for the week ending Sept. 25, the first week of the 2005-2006 television season.

In addition, CBS claimed the week's most watched program, CSI, as well as strong season premieres for its two new dramas CRIMINAL MINDS and GHOST WHISPERER. The Network also saw solid openings for its returning series NCIS, which logged its best premiere to date, CSI: MIAMI and TWO AND A HALF MEN.

For the week in viewers, CBS (12.85m) outpaced ABC (12.29m), NBC (9.90m) and FOX (6.48m) to claim its fourth consecutive premiere week win.

For the week in households, CBS (8.3/13) enjoyed a +4% advantage over ABC (8.0/13), +26% over NBC (6.6/11) and +102% over FOX (4.1/06).

In demographics, CBS was second in adults 25-54 (5.0/12, the demographic most important to advertisers*), adults 18-49 (4.1/11) and adults 18-34 (3.1/09).

TWO AND A HALF MEN (P) (9:00-9:30PM), against two "Monday Night Football" match-ups, was second in households (9.8/14), viewers (15.04m), adults 25-54 (6.3/13) and adults 18-49 (5.1/12).  CSI: MIAMI (P) (10:00-11:00 PM) was first in households (12.3/19), viewers (19.21m), adults 25-54 (8.1/18) and adults 18-49 (6.7/16).? CSI: Miami was Monday's most watched program and top rated in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54.

NCIS (P) (8:00-9:00PM) was first in households (9.7/15), viewers (15.48m), adults 25-54 (5.2/13) and adults 18-49 (3.8/11).  This is NCIS's most watched premiere and best households, adults 25-54, adults 18-49 and adults 18-34 (2.4/08) premiere delivery ever.  ROCK STAR: INXS TUESDAY (10:00-11:00PM) was second in viewers (7.83m), adults 25-54 (4.3/10), adults 18-49 (3.8/10), adults 18-34 (3.0/08) and tied for second in households (5.0/08, with ABC).  This is ROCK STAR: INXS' best delivery ever in households, viewers, adults 18-34, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 on any night.  CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION WEDNESDAY SPECIAL (S) (R) (9:00-11:00PM) was second in adults 25-54 (4.4/10), adults 18-49 (4.0/10) and adults 18-34 (3.6/10).

SURVIVOR GUATEMALA: THE MAYA EMPIRE (P) (8:00-9:00 PM) won its time period in households (10.3/16), viewers (16.98m), adults 25-54 (7.3/18), adults 18-49 (6.1/17) and adults 18-34 (4.4/14).  SURVIVOR beat "Joey" (one hour premiere) in the in households (vs. 5.5/09, +87%), adults 18-49 (vs. 3.3/09, +85%), adults 25-54 (vs. 3.7/09, +97%) and had a +9.17m viewer advantage (16.98m vs. 7.81m, +118%).
CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (P) (9:00-10:01PM) was first in households (17.3/26), viewers (29.01m), adults 25-54 (12.1/27), adults 18-49 (10.2/25) and adults 18-34 (8.1/22).  CSI: was the night's most watched and top rated program in households, adults 18-34, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54.  CSI beat NBC, ABC and FOX combined in viewers (29.02m vs. 24.14m, +20%), adults 25-54 (12.1 vs. 10.1, +20%) and adults 18-49 (10.2 vs. 9.2, +11%).  CRIMINAL MINDS SPECIAL (S) (10:01-11:00PM) was first in households (12.5/20), viewers (19.57m), adults 25-54 (7.8/18), adults 18-49 (6.5/17) and second in adults 18-34 (5.1/15, -0.3 behind NBC).  CRIMINAL MINDS beat the season premiere of "ER" by +34% in households (vs. 9.3/15), +2% in adults 18-49 (vs. 6.4/16), +7% in adults 25-54 (7.3/17) and by +5.20m viewers (from 14.37m, +36%).  This is the most watched CBS new series opener since CSI: MIAMI on 9/23/02.

GHOST WHISPERER (P) (8:00-9:00 PM) won its time period in households (7.2/13), viewers (11.25m), adults 25-54 (4.1/12) and adults 18-49 (3.0/10).  THE GHOST WHISPERER ?beat "Dateline" (the time period's #2 program in households, viewers and key demos) by +16% in households (vs. 6.2/11), +33% in viewers (vs. 8.49m), +46% in adults 25-54 (vs. 2.8/08) and +43% in adults 18-49 (vs. 2.1/07).

 THRESHOLD (P) (9:00-10:00PM) was first in viewers (8.60m), adults 25-54 (3.4/09), and tied for first in adults 18-49 (2.5/08, with NBC).

NUMB3RS (P) (10:00-11:00PM) was first in households (7.2/12), viewers (11.18m), adults 25-54 (4.1/11) and adults 18-49 (3.0/09).  NUMB3RS was tied as the night's #1 program with GHOST WHISPERER in households, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 and #2 in viewers.  Compared to the same night last year (the premiere of "dr. vegas"), NUMB3RS was up +16% in households, +32% in adults 25-54 and +25% in adults 18-49.

48 HOURS MYSTERY (P) (10:00-11:00PM) was first in households (5.1/09), viewers (7.47m), second in both adults 25-54 (2.6/07) and adults 18-49 (2.0/06). 

60 MINUTES (P) (7:53-8:53 PM) posted a 10.8/17 with 16.35m viewers, 5.4/12 in adults 25-54 and 4.1/10 in adults 18-49.  From 8:00-9:00PM, 60 MINUTES was first in households, second in viewers and adults 25-54 and third in adults 18-49.  Compared to the same night last year, 60 MINUTES was up +44% in households, +100% in adults 25-54 and +95% in adults 18-49.

CBS top programs of the week: #1 CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (P) (an average of 29.02m viewers),#4 CRIMINAL MINDS PREVIEW SPECIAL (S) (19.57m), #5 CSI: MIAMI (P) (19.21m), #7 SURVIVOR: GUATEMALA: THE MAYA EMPIRE (P) (16.98m), #11 60 MINUTES (P) (16.35m), #13 NCIS (P) (15.48m), #16 TWO AND A HALF MEN (P) (15.04m), #19 COLD CASE (P) (13.68m), #21 OUT OF PRACTICE (P) (13.18m), #26 GHOST WHISPERER (P) (11.25m), #28 NUMB3RS (P) (11.18m) and #29 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (P) (10.94m).

NATIONAL NIELSEN SUMMARY - PRIMETIME Week #01 of 2005-06 Season (ending: 09/25/05)

2005-06 2004-05 HOUSEHOLDS

                Rtg     Sh              Rtg     Sh              Chg
CBS             8.3     13              8.9     15              -7%
NBC             6.6     11              7.1     12              -7%
ABC             8.0     13              6.6     11              +21%
FOX             4.1     6               3.5     6               +17%
WB              2.2     3               2.8     4               -21%
UPN             2.7     4               2.2     4               +23%

VIEWERS

                (000)                   (000)                   Chg
CBS             12,847                  13,581                  -5%
NBC             9,896                   10,607                  -7%
ABC             12,293                  9,989                   +23%
FOX             6,483                   5,300                   +22%
WB              3,282                   4,243                   -23%
UPN             4,145                   3,193                   +30%

A25-54 (30%)

                Rtg     Sh              Rtg     Sh              Chg
CBS             5.0     12              5.4     14              -7%
NBC             4.1     10              4.7     12              -13%
ABC             5.4     13              4.3     11              +26%
FOX             2.8     7               2.4     6               +17%
WB              1.4     3               1.7     4               -18%
UPN             1.6     4               1.3     3               +23%

A18-49 (21%)

                Rtg     Sh              Rtg     Sh              Chg
CBS             4.1     11              4.5     13              -9%
NBC             3.4     9               4.1     11              -17%
ABC             4.7     12              3.9     11              +21%
FOX             2.8     7               2.3     7               +22%
WB              1.4     4               1.8     5               -22%
UPN             1.8     5               1.4     4               +29%

A18-34 (17%)

                Rtg     Sh              Rtg     Sh              Chg
CBS             3.1     9               3.3     10              -6%
NBC             2.8     8               3.6     11              -22%
ABC             3.9     12              3.1     10              +26%
FOX             3.0     9               2.3     8               +30%
WB              1.4     4               1.9     6               -26%
UPN             2.1     6               1.5     5               +40%

Note: ( ) = "Percent of Ad Target" based on an Insight Express/Mediapost on-line survey conducted in Summer 2003. Sample consisted of over 1,000 Advertisers, Advertisers and Ad Agency execs directly involved in network television buying and planning processes. (More)

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National Nielsen Ratings: PRIMETIME - WEEKLY RANK for Demographic: PER2+ for 09/19/05 - 09/25/05

                                                                                        Persons 2+ (000)
1       CSI                                                                     (P)     CBS     29,019
2       Desperate Housewives                                            (P)     ABC     28,357
3       Lost                                                                    (P)     ABC     23,469
4       CRIMINAL MINDS PREVIEW SPECIAL                          (S)     CBS     19,570
5       CSI: MIAMI                                                              (P)     CBS     19,208
6       Grey's Anatomy                                                  (P)     ABC     18,976
7       SURVIVOR: GUATEMALA                                             (P)     CBS     16,977
8       Law and Order: SVU                                                      (P)     NBC     16,822
9       Invasion                                                                (P)     ABC     16,429
10      Extreme Makeover: Home Edition                                  (P)     ABC     16,409
11      60 MINUTES                                                              (P)     CBS     16,346
12      NFL Monday Night Football               Special Doubleheader                    ABC     16,102
13      NCIS                                                                    (P)     CBS     15,475
14      Destination Lost                                                        (S)     ABC     15,271
15      My Name Is Earl                                                 (P)     NBC     15,249
16      TWO AND A HALF MEN                                              (P)     CBS     15,043
17      NFL Monday Pre-Kick                                                     ABC     14,829
18      E.R.                                                                    (P)     NBC     14,367
19      COLD CASE                                                               (P)     CBS     13,683
20      House                                                                           FOX     13,640

National Nielsen Ratings: PRIMETIME - WEEKLY RANK for Demographic: A2554 for 09/19/05 - 09/25/05

                                                                                        Adults 25-54 
1       Desperate Housewives                                            (P)     ABC     13.9
2       CSI                                                                     (P)     CBS     12.1
3       Lost                                                                    (P)     ABC     11.6
4       Grey's Anatomy                                                  (P)     ABC     9.4
5       CSI: MIAMI                                                              (P)     CBS     8.1
6       Invasion                                                                (P)     ABC     8.0
7       CRIMINAL MINDS PREVIEW SPECIAL                          (S)     CBS     7.8
8       Extreme Makeover: Home Edition                                  (P)     ABC     7.7
9       My Name Is Earl                                                 (P)     NBC     7.5
10      SURVIVOR: GUATEMALA                                             (P)     CBS     7.3
10      E.R.                                                                    (P)     NBC     7.3
12      NFL Monday Night Football               Special Doubleheader                    ABC     7.2
13      Destination Lost                                                        (S)     ABC     6.9
14      NFL Monday Pre-Kick                                                     ABC     6.7
15      Law and Order: SVU                                                      (P)     NBC     6.5
16      TWO AND A HALF MEN                                              (P)     CBS     6.3
17      House                                                                           FOX     5.8
18      Medium                                                          (P)     NBC     5.6
19      OUT OF PRACTICE                                                 (P)     CBS     5.4
19      60 MINUTES                                                              (P)     CBS     5.4