CRIMINAL MINDS: CBS WINS THE WEEK! NO SURPRISE!

02.21.07 - 02:34 PM]
CBS WINS THE WEEK IN VIEWERS
Released by CBS

In Its Second Week, "Rules of Engagement" Retains 100% of its "Two and a Half Men" Adult 18-49 Lead-In and Nearly All of its Premiere Adult 18-49 Delivery

"CSI: NY" Expands Its Viewer Lead Over "Lost" and Narrows the Gap in Key Demographics

"Shark" Matches Its Best Adult 18-49 Rating, Notches Its Second Largest Audience and Finishes in its Closest Competitive Position to "ER"

"CSI: Miami" Hits Season High Deliveries in Viewers and Demos

"Survivor: Fiji" Wins its Time Period in Viewers and Key Demographics

"NCIS" and "Criminal Minds" Enjoy Top 15 Rankings Opposite "American Idol"

The Premiere of "The Amazing Race: All-Stars" Posts an Increase in Viewers Versus its Fall Debut

CBS placed first in viewers for the 19th time in 22 weeks as the Network's new comedy RULES OF ENGAGEMENT maintained nearly all of its strong premiere week ratings, CSI: NY expanded its lead over "Lost," CSI: MIAMI hit season highs in viewers and key demographics and SHARK matched its best adult 18-49 of the season, according to Nielsen Live Plus same-day ratings for the week ending Feb. 18, week 22 of the 2006-2007 television season.

For the week in viewers, CBS (12.28m) finished ahead of FOX (12.22m), ABC (9.56m) and NBC (8.64m). Season-to-date in viewers, CBS (13.12m) is first, followed by ABC (9.99m), NBC (9.68m) and FOX (9.44m).

For the week in key demographics, CBS averaged a 4.5/11 in adults 25-54 and 3.5/09 in adults 18-49. Season-to-date, CBS is in sole possession of first place in both adults 18-49 (4.0/11) and adults 25-54 (5.0/12).

For the week in households, CBS (7.8/13) was +8% ahead of FOX (7.2/11), +28% ahead of ABC (6.1/10) and +39% ahead of NBC (5.6/09). Season-to-date, CBS is first in households (8.2/13), outpacing ABC by +28% (6.4/10), NBC by +32% (6.2/10) and FOX by +41% (5.8/09).

For the first 18 days of the February 2007 sweep, CBS is first in households (10.3/16), viewers (17.75m), adults 25-54 (6.9/16) and adults 18-49 (5.8/15).

CBS's Weekly Highlights:

? RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (8.6/12, 13.43m) maintained 100% of its TWO AND A HALF MEN lead-in among adults 18-49 (4.9/11) and 97% of adults 25-54 (6.0/13 from 6.2/13). RULES OF ENGAGEMENT retained 90% of viewers (from 14.84m), 95% of adults 25-54 (from 6.3/13) and 94% on adults 18-49 (from 5.2/12) from last week's premiere.

? CSI: MIAMI was first in households (12.7/21), viewers (19.90m), adults 25-54 (8.0/19) and adults 18-49 (6.5/17), all season highs.

? NCIS was second in households (9.6/14), viewers (15.36m), adults 25-54 (4.8/11) and adults 18-49 (3.6/08).

? CRIMINAL MINDS was second behind FOX's "American Idol" in households (9.4/14), viewers (15.16m), adults 25-54 (5.2/11) and adults 18-49 (3.9/09).

? CSI: NY was first in households (9.5/15), viewers (14.81m), second behind "Lost" in adults 25-54 (5.6/13), adults 18-49 (4.5/12) and adults 18-34 (3.1/09). Compared to last week, CSI: NY improved its lead over the ABC drama in both households (+1.9 rtg pts from +1.3 rtg pts) and viewers (+1.97m viewers from +480,000) and closed the gap in adults 25-54 (-0.6 from -1.0), adults 18-49 (-1.2 from -1.9) and adults 18-34 (-2.0 from -3.1).

? SURVIVOR: FIJI was first in households (9.4/14), viewers (16.08m), adults 25-54 (6.7/16) and adults 18-49 (5.6/15). SURVIVOR enjoyed a +3% advantage over second place ABC in households (vs. 9.1/14), +37% in adults 25-54 (vs. 4.9/12), +24% in adults 18-49 (vs. 4.5/12) and +18% in viewers (vs. 13.66m, +2.42m). SURVIVOR dominated NBC's sitcoms by +71% in households (vs. 5.5/08), +56% in adults 25-54 (vs. 4.3/10), +33% in adults 18-49 (vs. 4.2/11) and +79% in viewers (vs. 8.97m, +7.11m).

? CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION was second in households (13.8/20), viewers (22.71m), adults 25-54 (8.8/19), adults 18-49 (7.3/17) and adults 18-34 (5.1/13). This is CSI's best delivery in viewers and adults 25-54 since January 4, 2007.

? SHARK was first in households (9.8/16), viewers (15.12m), tied for first in adults 25-54 (5.4/13, with NBC) and second in adults 18-49 (4.4/12). SHARK has won its time slot in viewers for five consecutive weeks. This matches SHARK's best first-run adults 18-49 delivery and is the second largest audience delivery to date. SHARK finished in its closest competitive position to a first-run "ER" in adults 18-49 (-0.4 rtg pts, 4.4/12 vs. 4.8/13). SHARK started the season -2.7 rating points behind "ER" in adults 18-49.

? GHOST WHISPERER won its time period in households (7.6/13), viewers (11.35m), adults 25-54 (4.3/13) and adults 18-49 (3.2/10). This is GHOST WHISPERER's best viewer delivery since Nov. 10, 2006.

? NUMB3RS was first in households (6.9/12), viewers (10.69m), adults 25-54 (4.0/11) and adults 18-49 (3.1/09).

? The premiere of THE AMAZING RACE: ALL-STARS (8:27-9:27PM) was second from 8:30-9:30PM in households (6.2/10), viewers (10.29m) and adults 25-54 (3.9/09). Compared to the 90-minute first episode of THE AMAZING RACE on Sept. 17, 2006, the winter premiere added +160,000 viewers (from 10.13m, +2%).

CBS top programs of the week: #5 CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (an average of 22.71m viewers), #6 CSI: MIAMI (19.90m), #9 SURVIVOR: FIJI (16.08m), #11 TWO AND A HALF MEN (15.50m), #12 NCIS (15.36m), #13 CRIMINAL MINDS (15.16m), #14 SHARK (15.12m), #15 CSI: NY (14.81m), #20 RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (13.43m), #24 60 MINUTES (12.45m), #26 THE UNIT (11.87m), #27 COLD CASE (11.60m), #29 WITHOUT A TRACE (11.42m) and #30 GHOST WHISPERER (11.35m).