CBS Ratings Extra�

CBS BOASTS THE SEASON'S TOP FRESHMAN CLASS

5 of 6 New Series Have Received Full Season Orders

4 New Series Delivering Impressive Time Period Gains

3 Are Time Period Winners

"Criminal Minds" Is The Season's Number Two New Series

CBS's freshman class heads into the Christmas break as the 2005-2006 Season's top rookie class.

Of the five (out of six) new series given full season orders, three win their respective time periods in viewers and key demographics (GHOST WHISPERER, CLOSE TO HOME, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER) while the other two (CRIMINAL MINDS, OUT OF PRACTICE) finish a solid second in very competitive time periods.

Additionally, GHOST WHISPERER, CLOSE TO HOME, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER and OUT OF PRACTICE are all delivering impressive year-to-year time period growth.

Here are the 11 week stats for CBS's freshman class:

? GHOST WHISPERER is first in its Friday (8:00-9:00 PM) time period in viewers (11.16m), adults 18-49 (3.0/10) and adults 25-54 (4.2/12). GHOST WHISPERER has improved the year ago time period by +32% in viewers, +30% in adults 18-49 and +40% in adults 25-54. ?

Since relocating to Friday (9:00-10:00 PM), CLOSE TO HOME is first in viewers (11.83m), adults 18-49 (3.1/09) and adults 25-54 (4.3/11). In its three Friday broadcasts, CLOSE TO HOME has improved the year-ago time period by +17% in viewers, +48% in adults 18-49 and +39% in adults 25-54. On Friday, Nov. 25, CLOSE TO HOME posted a series high viewer delivery (11.96m).

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER ranks first in its Monday (8:30-9:00 PM) time period in viewers (10.39m), adults 18-49 (3.7/09) and adults 25-54 (4.4/10). Last week (Nov. 28), the comedy posted across-the-board series high ratings. Compared to the time period last year, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER is up +9% in adults 18-49 and +7% in adults 25-54.

CRIMINAL MINDS has established itself as a solid number two program in a very competitive Wednesday (9:00-10:00 PM) time period opposite "Lost." CRIMINAL MINDS, which ranks as the season's second most watched new program, is averaging 13.59 million viewers, 4.0/10 in adults 18-49 and 5.2/11 in adults 25-54. Compared to the year ago time period, CRIMINAL MINDS is up +28% in viewers and +11% in adults 25-54.

Last week (Nov. 30), CRIMINAL MINDS matched its most competitive position against a first-run episode of "Lost" in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 while posting its best ever delivery in adults 18-34 and matching its best adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 performance. ?

OUT OF PRACTICE ranks as the season's second most watched new comedy, averaging 12.22 million viewers opposite "Monday Night Football" and "Prison Break." Last week's episode (Nov. 28) delivered the program's series best delivery in adults 18-49 (4.5/10).