CBS PLACES FIRST IN VIEWERS FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE WEEK AND FOR THE 20TH TIME IN 26 WEEKS THIS SEASON

CBS Continues as the Only Network Posting Year-to-Year Gains in Viewers, Adults 18-49, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-34

"60 Minutes," with 17 Million Viewers, is CBS's Number One Show of the Week

"NCIS" and "The Mentalist" are the Week's Top Two Scripted Series

"The Amazing Race" Delivers its Largest Audience Since November 2007 Helping Lead CBS to its Fourth Straight Sunday Win

CBS placed first in viewers for the third consecutive week and for the 20th time in 26 weeks this season led by 60 MINUTES, NCIS, THE MENTALIST, THE AMAZING RACE and CBS Sports' coverage of the NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for the week ending March 22, week 26 of the 2008-2009 television season.

60 MINUTES, featuring Steve Kroft's interview with President Obama delivered 17.04 million viewers, its largest audience since Dec. 14, 2008. NCIS (15.84m) and NCIS (15.49m) were the top scripted programs of the week and THE AMAZING RACE 14 had 12.42 million viewers, its largest audience since November 2007. CBS weekly win was also driven by CBS Sports' four night coverage of the NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

CBS continues as the only network to post year-to-year gains in all key measures: +12% in viewers, +7% in adults 18-49, +8% in adults 25-54 and +5% in adults 18-34.

For the week in viewers: CBS (11.49m), FOX (10.28m), ABC (9.17m) and NBC (5.74m). Season-to-date, CBS is first in viewers (11.80m), ahead of FOX (9.59m), ABC (8.95m) and NBC (8.15m).

For the week in key demographics, CBS was second in adults 25-54 (4.1/11) and adults 18-49 (3.4/10). Compared to the same week last year, CBS was up +29% in households, +30% in viewers, +17% in adults 25-54 and +13% 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).

For the week in households: CBS (7.1/12), FOX (6.0/10), ABC (5.9/10) and NBC (3.7/06). In households, season-to-date, CBS is first (7.3/12), ABC and FOX (5.7/09, each) and NBC (5.0/08).

CBS's Weekly Highlights:

? THE BIG BANG THEORY (5.7/09, 9.69m) was up compared to last week by +3% in adults 18-49 (3.7/11 from 3.6/10), +8% in adults 18-34 (2.7/09 from 2.5/08), even in adults 25-54 (4.4/11) and added +220,000 viewers (from 9.47m, +2%).

? HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (5.4/08m 9.29m) was up +2% in both households (from 5.3/08) and adults 25-54 (4.3/10 from 4.2/10), +8% in adults 18-49 (3.9/10 from 3.6/09), +23% in adults 18-34 (3.7/11 from 3.0/09) and added +610,000 viewers (from 8.68m, +7%) compared to last week.

? TWO AND A HALF MEN was second in households (8.5/13), viewers (14.12m), adults 25-54 (5.9/13) and adults 18-49 (4.8/12). Compared to last week, TWO AND A HALF MEN was up +5% in households (from 8.1/12), +2% in adults 25-54 (5.8/13), even in adults 18-49 and added +680,000 viewers (from 13.44m, +5%).

? RULES OF ENGAGEMENT was second in households (6.9/10), viewers (11.42m), adults 25-54 (5.0/11) and adults 18-49 (4.0/10). Compared to last week, RULES OF ENGAGEMENT was up +11% in both households (from 6.2/09) and adults 25-54 (from 4.5/10), +8% in adults 18-49 (from 3.7/09) and added +1.47m viewers (from 9.95m, +15%).

? CSI MIAMI was first in households (8.6/15), viewers (13.61m), adults 25-54 (4.9/12) and adults 18-49 (3.8/10).

? NCIS was second in households (9.8/16), viewers (15.84m), adults 25-54 (4.5/12) and adults 18-49 (3.1/09).

? THE MENTALIST was second in households (9.8/15), viewers (15.49m), adults 25-54 (4.8/11) and averaged a 3.3/06 in adults 18-49. THE MENTALIST topped the premiere of "Dancing with the Stars Results Show" by +18% in both households (vs. 8.3/13) and adults 18-49 (vs. 2.7/07), +37% in adults 25-54 (vs. 3.5/08) and by +2.75m viewers (vs. 12.74m, +22%).

? WITHOUT A TRACE was first in households (7.6/13), viewers (11.88m), second in adults 25-54 (3.6/09) and adults 18-49 (2.5/07).

? CSI: NY was first in households (8.2/14), viewers (12.79m), adults 25-54 (4.3/11) and adults 18-49 (3.3/09).

-- Sunday, CBS was first in households (8.3/14), viewers (13.65m), adults 25-54 (4.5/11) and adults 18-49 (3.6/10). CBS won four consecutive Sundays in viewers.

? 60 MINUTES (7:52-8:52PM) delivered a 10.4/17 with 17.04m viewers, 5.0/13 in adults 25-54 and 3.9/11 in adults 18-49. CBS was first in these measure 8:00-9:00PM. 60 MINUTES delivered its best household ratings since February 8, 2008, best viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 performances since December 14, 2008.

? THE AMAZING RACE 14 (8:52-9:52PM) posted a 7.2/11 with 12.42m viewers, 4.5/10 in adults 25-54 and 3.6/09 in adults 18-49. CBS was second 9:00-10:00PM in households, viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49. This is THE AMAZING RACE's best delivery in households and adults 25-54 since November 16, 2008 (THE AMAZING RACE 13), best viewers delivery since November 4, 2007 (premiere of THE AMAZING RACE 12) and best adults 18-49 performance since November 30, 2008 (THE AMAZING RACE 13).

? COLD CASE (9:52-10:52PM) delivered a 7.2/11 with 11.41m viewers, 3.4/08 in adults 25-54 and 2.4/06 in adults 18-49. From 10:00-11:00PM, CBS was first in households and viewers.

CBS top programs of the week: #4 60 MINUTES (an average of 17.04m viewers), #5 NCIS (15.84m), #6 THE MENTALIST (15.49m), #9 TWO AND A HALF MEN (14.12m), #10 CRIMINAL MINDS (13.74m), #11 CSI: MIAMI (13.61m), #13 CSI: NY (12.79m), #15 THE AMAZING RACE 14 (12.42m), #16 WITHOUT A TRACE (11.87m), #17 RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (11.42m), #18 COLD CASE (11.41m), #21 CBS NCAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY 4 (S) (10.78m) and #28 THE BIG BANG THEORY (9.69m).

Prime averages are based on the following hours of rated broadcasts in Week #26:

CBS - 22 hours

NBC - 22 hours

ABC - 22 hours

FOX - 15 hours