A SEASON HIGH VIEWERSHIP OF OVER 26 MILLION WATCH GRISSOM EMBARK ON HIS "CSI" SABBATICAL

"CSI" Also Delivers Season Best Ratings in Adults 18-49, Adults 25-54and Adults 18-34

"Shark" Posts its Largest Lead Over a First-Run "ER" in Viewers and is in its Closest Competitive Position to the Veteran Medical Drama in Key Demos

CSI hit season high deliveries in viewers and all key demographics as over 26 million viewers watched Grissom (William Petersen) embark on his CSI sabbatical, according to final Nielsen Live Plus same-day ratings for Thursday, Jan. 4.

In the episode, Grissom stunned his CSI colleagues when he abruptly announces he is temporarily leaving the team for a teaching assignment on the East Coast.

CSI won its time period in households (15.8/24), viewers (26.12m), adults 25-54 (10.5/23), adults 18-49 (8.4/21) and adults 18-34 (6.1/17). These mark CSI's best deliveries this season in households, viewers, adults 18-34, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54.

At 10:00 PM, SHARK was first in households (9.1/15), viewers (14.42m) while averaging a 4.9/12 in adults 25-54 and 3.7/10 in adults 18-49. SHARK enjoyed its best competitive advantage to date over a first run "ER" in both households (+1.7 rtg pts) and viewers (+3.49m) and was in its closest competitive position in both adults 18-49 (-0.9 rtg pt) and adults 25-54 (-0.5 rtg pt) to "ER".

CSI 8:00 PM SPECIAL (R) (S) won its time slot in households (8.4/13) and viewers (13.02m) against first run programming on both NBC and ABC.

For the night, CBS was first in households (11.2/17), viewers (17.91m), adults 25-54 (6.7/16) and adults 18-49 (5.2/13).