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[12/17/08 - 10:08 AM]
A Record-Setting Night for CBS as the Network Delivers Its Largest Tuesday Audience Since 1995
CBS spins the numbers for Tuesday, December 16.
[via press release from CBS]

A RECORD-SETTING NIGHT FOR CBS AS THE NETWORK DELIVERS ITS LARGEST TUESDAY AUDIENCE SINCE 1995

"NCIS" Soars To Another All-Time Best Viewer Delivery

"The Mentalist," the Season's Number One New Show, Shatters Its Previous Highs in All Measures

"Without a Trace" Posts Its Largest Audience and Best Demos of the Season

CBS posted its largest Tuesday audience (with regularly scheduled programming) since 1995 as NCIS reached another series best viewer delivery, THE MENTALIST soared past all of its previous series best ratings and WITHOUT A TRACE had its highest ratings of the season, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for Dec. 16.

At 8:00 PM, NCIS won its time slot in households (12.0/19), viewers (19.86m), adults 25-54 (5.6/14) and second in adults 18-49 (3.9/11, -0.1 behind NBC's finale of "The Biggest Loser"). NCIS posted its best ever delivery in households and viewers, matched the season high in adults 25-54 and posted its best adults 18-49 performance since Nov. 11, 2008.

At 9:00 PM, THE MENTALIST won its time slot in households (11.6/18), viewers (19.33m), adults 25-54 (6.0/14) and second in adults 18-49 (4.2/11). This is the best delivery ever for THE MENTALIST in viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49. This is the second consecutive first-run broadcast THE MENTALIST hit series highs in viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49. This is CBS's largest audience for a first run regularly scheduled program in this time period since Feb. 28, 1995 (CBS TUESDAY MOVIE: "Children of the Dust" Part 2).

At 10:00 PM, WITHOUT A TRACE won its time slot in households (9.2/16), viewers (14.49m), adults 25-54 (4.4/11) and adults 18-49 (3.2/09). If the ratings hold, this is WITHOUT A TRACE's best delivery in households, viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 this season.

CBS won the night in households (10.9/17), viewers (17.89m), adults 25-54 (5.3/13) and tied for first in adults 18-49 (3.8/10, with NBC). This is CBS's best delivery with all regularly scheduled programming on Tuesday since March 14, 2006 in adults 25-54 (NCIS/THE UNIT/THE AMAZING RACE), March 28, 2006 in adults 18-49 (NCIS/THE UNIT/THE AMAZING RACE) and Feb. 28, 1995 in viewers (RESCUE 911/CBS TUESDAY MOVIE: "Children of the Dust" Part 2).

Updated Tuesday ratings will be available this afternoon.





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· BIGGEST LOSER, THE (USA)
· MENTALIST, THE (CBS)
· NCIS (CBS)
· WITHOUT A TRACE (CBS)




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