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[02/24/09 - 12:53 PM]
The Mentalist Is the Top Scripted Program on Television for the Second Straight Week
CBS spins the numbers for the week of February 16-22.
[via press release from CBS]

"THE MENTALIST" IS THE TOP SCRIPTED PROGRAM ON TELEVISION FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT WEEK

"NCIS" and "CSI" Rank Second and Third Among Scripted Programs

"Survivor: Tocantins" Posts Gains in Adults 18-49 and Adults 18-34 Over Premiere

"The Amazing Race" Maintains All of its Premiere Adult 18-49 Rating Opposite "The Academy Awards"

CBS Continues to Be the Only Network to Post Season-to-Date Gains in Viewers, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54

CBS's freshman hit THE MENTALIST was the top scripted program for the second consecutive week, followed by NCIS and CSI, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for the week ending Feb. 22, week 22 of the 2008-2009 television season.

CBS continues to be the only network to post season-to-date increases in viewers (+8%), adults 18-49 (+3%) and adults 25-54 (+5%). Compared to the same week last year, CBS was up +28% in viewers, +14% in adults 25-54 and +18% in adults 25-54.

CBS's two reality stalwarts both followed their premieres with solid second episode performances. SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS won its time period in all key measures, posting increases in adults 18-49 and adults 18-34 over its premiere, while THE AMAZING RACE 14 maintained all of its adult 18-49 rating opposite "The Academy Awards."

For the week in viewers: CBS (10.19m), FOX (11.84m), ABC (11.14m) and NBC (6.15m). Season-to-date, CBS is first in viewers (11.77m), ahead of FOX (9.21m), ABC (8.99m) and NBC (8.44m).

For the week in households: CBS (6.4/10), FOX (6.9/11), ABC (6.8/11) and NBC (3.9/06). In households, season-to-date, CBS is first (7.3/12), ahead of ABC (5.7/09), FOX (5.5/09) and NBC (5.1/08).

For the week in key demographics, CBS averaged a 3.3/08 in adults 25-54 and 2.5/07 in adults 18-49. Season-to-date, CBS is first in adults 25-54 (4.1/10) and second in adults 18-49 (3.2/08, -0.2 behind FOX).

CBS's Weekly Highlights:

? NCIS was second in households (11.0/17), viewers (18.06m), adults 25-54 (5.3/12) and adults 18-49 (3.7/10). Compared to last week, NCIS was up +30,000 viewers (from 18.03m) and even in adults 18-49.

? THE MENTALIST was second in households (11.3/17), viewers (18.23m) and adults 25-54 (5.5/12). Compared to last week (when the program did not air against "American Idol"), THE MENTALIST retained 94% of its households delivery (from 12.0/18), 93% of viewers (from 19.70m), 89% of adults 25-54 (from 6.2/14) and 88% of adults 18-49 (3.7/09 from 4.2/10). Note: Last week's broadcast posted series highs in viewers, matched series highs in both adults 25-54 and adults 18-49.

? CRIMINAL MINDS was first in households (9.2/14), viewers (14.54m), second in adults 25-54 (4.7/11). CRIMINAL MINDS was up +15% in both households (from 8.0/12) and adults 25-54 (from 4.1/09), +17% in adults 18-49 (3.5/09 from 3.0/07) and added +2.06m viewers (from 12.48m, +17%) from last week.

? CSI: NY was first in households (8.0/13), viewers (12.33m), adults 25-54 (4.0/10) and adults 18-49 (3.0/08).

? SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS was first in households (7.8/12), viewers (13.59m), adults 25-54 (5.5/14), adults 18-49 (4.5/12) and adults 18-34 (2.6/08). Compared to last week's season premiere, SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS was up +2% in adults 18-49 (from 4.4/13), +4% in adults 18-34 (from 2.5/07) and on par in viewers (from 13.63m).

? CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION was first in households (10.4/16), viewers (16.92m), second in adults 25-54 (5.9/13) and adults 18-49 (4.4/11).

? ELEVENTH HOUR was first in viewers (11.17m), tied for first in households (7.3/12, with ABC), second in adults 25-54 (3.6/09) and third in adults 18-49 (2.6/07, -0.1 behind NBC). Compared to last week, ELEVENTH HOUR was up +6% in households (from 6.9/12), even in adults 25-54 and added +230,000 viewers (from 10.94m, +2%).

? THE AMAZING RACE 14 (4.4/07, 7.81m), compared to last week's season premiere (which did not air against Academy Awards related programming), was even in adults 18-49 (2.6/06), on par in both adults 25-54 (from 3.4/08, -3%) and adults 18-34 (from 1.9/06, -5%).

CBS top programs of the week: #5 THE MENTALIST (18.23m), #6 NCIS (18.06m), #7 CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (16.92m), #9 CRIMINAL MINDS (14.54m), #11 SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS (13.59m), #12 TWO AND A HALF MEN (R) (13.32m), #14 CSI: NY (12.33m), #15 WITHOUT A TRACE (12.10m), #19 ELEVENTH HOUR (11.17m), #22 CSI: MIAMI (R) (10.50m), #26 60 MINUTES (9.18m), #29 THE BIG BANG THEORY (R) (8.73m) and #30 WORST WEEK (8.70m).

Prime averages are based on the following hours of rated broadcasts in Week #22:

CBS - 22 hours

NBC - 22 hours

ABC - 22 hours

FOX - 15 hours





  [february 2009]  
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· 60 MINUTES (CBS)
· AMAZING RACE, THE (CBS)
· AMERICAN IDOL (ABC)
· BIG BANG THEORY, THE (CBS)
· CRIMINAL MINDS (CBS)
· CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (CBS)
· CSI: MIAMI (CBS)
· CSI: NEW YORK (CBS)
· ELEVENTH HOUR (CBS)
· MENTALIST, THE (CBS)
· NCIS (CBS)
· SURVIVOR (CBS)
· TWO AND A HALF MEN (CBS)
· WITHOUT A TRACE (CBS)
· WORST WEEK (CBS)




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