CBS WINS TUESDAY IN VIEWERS FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE WEEK

Network Grows Audience from Premiere Tuesday and Soars to Its Best Tuesday Delivery in Viewers Since March 2006

CBS Dramas Win Every Half Hour

"NCIS" (17.2 Million Viewers) Is the Night's Number One Program

The Second Episode of "The Mentalist" Retains Nearly All of its Strong Premiere Week Ratings and Wins Time Period in Viewers and Adults 25-54

"Without a Trace" Posts Significant Week-to-Week Gains

CBS won Tuesday in viewers for the second consecutive week of the new season, scoring its largest audience on the night since March 2006, according to preliminary Nielsen live plus same day ratings for Sept. 30.

CBS's drama trio-NCIS, THE MENTALIST and WITHOUT A TRACE-won every half hour in viewers. NCIS was the night's Number One program with 17.2 million viewers, freshman drama THE MENTALIST retained nearly all of its strong premiere ratings and WITHOUT A TRACE posted significant week-to-week growth.

NCIS won its time period in households (10.9/17), viewers (17.24m), finished second in adults 25-54 (5.0/13) and adults 18-49 (3.5/10).

THE MENTALIST (9.7/15, 15.27m) was first in viewers, adults 25-54 (4.9/11), and averaged 3.5/09 in adults 18-49. THE MENTALIST retained 100% of its NCIS lead-in in adults 18-49 and 98% of NCIS's adults 25-54. Compared to last week's series premiere, THE MENTALIST retained 100% of its adult 18-49 delivery and 98% each in viewers and adults 25-54.

WITHOUT A TRACE was first in households (8.5/14), viewers (12.65m), second in adults 25-54 (3.8/10) and adults 18-49 (2.8/08). Compared to last week's season premiere, WITHOUT A TRACE was up +15% in households (from 7.4/12), +3% in adults 25-54 (from 3.7/09), even in adults 18-49 and added +1.37m viewers (from 11.28m, +12%).

For the night, CBS was first in households (9.7/15), viewers (15.05m), second in adults 25-54 (4.6/11) and tied for second in adults 18-49 (3.2/09, with NBC). Versus the same night a year ago, CBS was up +22% in viewers (+22%), +3% in adults 18-49 and +7% in adults 25-54.

Updated Tuesday ratings will be available this afternoon.