CBS OPENS THE MAY SWEEP WITH ITS MOST WATCHED AND HIGHEST RATED THURSDAY IN KEY DEMOGRAPHICS SINCE MARCH

"Survivor: Panama -- Exile Island's" 17.1 Million Viewers is the Most Since Mid-February

"CSI," With Nearly 27 Million Viewers, Tops NBC, ABC and FOX Combined While Delivering Its Best Demos Since Early March

"Without a Trace" Rolls Over the "ER"

CBS started the May sweep in dominating fashion, posting its most watched and highest rated Thursday in key demographics since March, according to preliminary Nielsen ratings for April 27.

SURVIVOR: PANAMA -- EXILE ISLAND opened the night winning its time period easily in households (10.2/17), viewers (17.14m), adults 18-34 (3.9/13), adults 18-49 (5.8/18) and adults 25-54 (7.1/20). This is SURVIVOR's best delivery in viewers since 2/16/06 and in key demos since 3/30/06.

CSI was first in households (16.9/26), viewers (26.88m), adults 18-34 (5.8/16), adults 18-49 (8.4/22) and adults 25-54 (10.8/25). This is CSI's best delivery in households, viewers, adults 18-34, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 since 3/9/06. CSI beat NBC, ABC and FOX combined in households (vs. 13.6/21, +24%), viewers (vs. 20.98m, +28%) and adults 25-54 (vs. 9.7/23, +11%) and topped NBC and ABC combined in adults 18-49 (vs. 6.9/18, +22%).

WITHOUT A TRACE at 10PM was first in households (12.2/20), viewers (17.91m), adults 18-49 (5.5/15) and adults 25-54 (6.8/17). WITHOUT A TRACE topped "ER" on NBC by +47% in households (vs. 8.3/14), +10% in adults 25-54 (vs. 6.2/15), +6% in adults 18-49 (vs. 5.2/14) and over 5.50 million viewers (vs. 12.36m, +5.55m or +45%).

For the night, CBS was first in households (13.1/21), viewers (20.64m), adults 18-34 (4.6/14), adults 18-49 (6.6/18) and adults 25-54 (8.2/21). This is CBS's best Thursday delivery in households and viewers since 3/9/06 and best adults 18-34, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 performance since 3/30/06.

Final Thursday ratings will be available this afternoon.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: What follows is the afternoon update with the final national Nielsen ratings.]

CBS OPENS THE MAY SWEEP WITH ITS MOST WATCHED AND HIGHEST RATED THURSDAY IN KEY DEMOGRAPHICS SINCE MARCH

"Survivor: Panama -- Exile Island's" 17.1 Million Viewers is the Most Since Mid-February

"CSI," With Over 27 Million Viewers, Tops the Other Five Broadcast Networks Combined While Delivering Its Best Demos Since Early March

"Without a Trace" Rolls Over the "ER"

CBS started the May sweep in dominating fashion, posting its most watched and highest rated Thursday in key demographics since March, according to Live Plus Same Day National Nielsen ratings for Thursday, April 27.

SURVIVOR: PANAMA -- EXILE ISLAND opened the night winning its time period easily in households (10.1/17), viewers (17.09m), adults 18-34 (4.0/13), adults 18-49 (5.9/18) and adults 25-54 (7.2/20). This is SURVIVOR's best delivery in viewers since 2/16/06 and in key demos since 3/30/06.

CSI was first at 9PM in households (17.1/27), viewers (27.37m), adults 18-34 (6.0/17), adults 18-49 (8.7/22) and adults 25-54 (11.1/26). This is CSI's best delivery in viewers, adults 18-34, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 since 3/9/06. CSI beat NBC, ABC and FOX, combined in viewers (vs. 26.24m, +4%), NBC, ABC and FOX combined in adults 25-54 (vs. 9.8/23, +13%) and topped NBC and ABC combined in adults 18-49 (vs. 7.0/18, +24%).

WITHOUT A TRACE was first in households (12.2/20), viewers (17.93m), adults 18-49 (5.5/15) and adults 25-54 (6.8/17). WITHOUT A TRACE topped "ER" on NBC by +47% in households (vs. 8.3/14), +10% in adults 25-54 (vs. 6.2/15), +6% in adults 18-49 (vs. 5.2/14) and over 5.50 million viewers (vs. 12.34m, +5.59m or +45%).

For the night, CBS was first in households (13.2/21), viewers (20.85m), adults 18-34 (4.6/14), adults 18-49 (6.7/19) and adults 25-54 (8.4/21). This is CBS's best Thursday delivery in viewers and adults 25-54 since 3/9/06 and best adults 18-34 and adults 18-49 performances since 3/30/06.