"CRIMINAL MINDS" TOPS "LOST" IN VIEWERS

After Coming Close Last Week, "Criminal Minds" Surges Ahead of the ABC Series In Preliminary National Ratings

The Gap Between the Two Dramas In Adults 18-49 Is Narrowest Ever

After coming close last week, CBS's sophomore drama CRIMINAL MINDS overtook "Lost" in viewers for the first time and narrowed the gap in adults 18-49 to its smallest margin ever, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for Wednesday, Oct. 18.

CRIMINAL MINDS was first at 9:00 PM in households (10.6/16), viewers (16.10m, +30,000 viewers ahead of "Lost") and a strong second in adults 25-54 (6.0/13) and adults 18-49 (4.5/11).

If preliminary ratings hold, this is the second consecutive week a first run CRIMINAL MINDS beat a first run "Lost" in households and the first time CRIMINAL MINDS beat "Lost" in viewers.

Last night also marked the best competitive position for a first run episode of CRIMINAL MINDS against a first run "Lost" in adults 18-49 and matched the best competitive position in adults 25-54 (matching last week's difference).

At 8:00 PM, JERICHO was second in households (6.8/11), viewers (10.81m), adults 25-54 (4.2/11) and adults 18-49 (3.1/09).

At 10:00 PM, CSI: NY was first in households (10.3/17), viewers (15.68m), adults 25-54 (6.1/15) and adults 18-49 (5.0/13).

For the night, CBS was second in households (9.2/14, -0.2 behind ABC), viewers (14.20m, -0.41m behind ABC), adults 25-54 (5.5/13, -0.3 behind ABC) and adults 18-49 (4.2/11).

Final Wednesday ratings will be available this afternoon.

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

"CRIMINAL MINDS" BEATS "LOST" IN HOUSEHOLDS FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE WEEK

CBS's Sophomore Drama Comes Within 103,000 Viewers of the ABC Series and Surpasses It in the Second Half Hour

The Gap Between the Two Dramas In Adults 18-49 Is Narrowest Ever

CBS's sophomore drama CRIMINAL MINDS beat "Lost" in households for the second consecutive, finishing just over 100,000 viewers of the ABC series while actually overtaking it in viewers from 9:30-10:00 PM, according to final Nielsen live plus same day ratings for Wednesday, Oct. 18.

CRIMINAL MINDS was first at 9:00 PM in households (10.6/16), in a virtual tie for first in viewers (16.203m, -103,000 viewers behind "Lost") and a strong second in adults 25-54 (6.1/13) and adults 18-49 (4.5/11) for the second consecutive week.

For the second week in a row, CRIMINAL MINDS topped "Lost" from 9:30-10:00PM in viewers (16.89m vs. 15.78m, +7% or +1.11m viewers). Last week, the CBS advantage was +730,000 viewers. CRIMINAL MINDS was up at 9:30PM by +9% (from 15.52m at 9:00 PM) while "Lost" was down -6% (from 16.82m at 9:00PM).

CRIMINAL MINDS finished in its closest competitive position ever against a first-run episode of "Lost" in viewers and adults 18-49 for the second week in a row.

At 8:00 PM, JERICHO was second in households (6.9/11), viewers (10.88m), adults 25-54 (4.2/11) and adults 18-49 (3.1/09).

At 10:00 PM, CSI: NY was first in households (10.5/17), viewers (15.99m), adults 25-54 (6.3/15), adults 18-49 (5.2/14) and adults 18-34 (3.6/11).

For the night, CBS was second in households (9.3/15, -0.1 behind ABC), viewers (14.36m, -0.27m behind ABC), adults 25-54 (5.5/13) and adults 18-49 (4.3/11).