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[05/20/09 - 10:05 AM]
CBS Wins the 2008-2009 Television Season in Viewers and Places First in Adults 25-54
CBS spins the numbers for the May sweeps period and the season to date.
[via press release from CBS]

CBS WINS THE 2008-2009 TELEVISION SEASON IN VIEWERS AND PLACES FIRST IN ADULTS 25-54

CBS Is America's Most-Watched Network for the 6th Time in the Last 7 Years

CBS Is the Only Network To Post Yearly Gains in all Key Measures

"The Mentalist" Is Season's Only New Breakout Hit

In Season Six, "NCIS" Climbs to the #2 Drama of the Season (Only Behind "CSI")

CBS Has 7 of the Top 10 Dramas

CBS Dominates Comedy with Its #1 Monday Block

18 New and Returning Programs Post Time Period Increases in Adults 18-49 and in Adults 25-54

CBS Has More Time Period Winning Programs Than all the Other Networks Combined

CBS Wins the Monday-Friday 10:00 PM Time Period in Viewers, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54 Leading into Affiliate Late Local News

CBS Tops May Sweep in Viewers for the Seventh Consecutive Year

With one night remaining, CBS will win the 2008-2009 television season in viewers, its sixth victory in the past seven years, and also place first in adults 25-54 (projected tie with FOX), according to Nielsen most current ratings through Sunday, May 17.

On the strength of its new and returning comedies and dramas, as well as the continued success of its two reality staples, CBS is the ONLY network to post ratings gains over last season in all key measures: +12% in viewers, +3% in adults 18-49 and +8% in adults 25-54.

CBS also jumped from third to #1 in women 25-54 (4.6/11 from 4.3/10, +7%) and is the only network up in women 18-49 (3.5/09 from 3.3/09, +6%).

2008-2009 TELEVISION SEASON

(September 22, 2008-May 17, 2009)

08-09 07-08 % Change

Persons 2+

CBS 11.75m 10.52m +12%

NBC 7.88m 8.14m -3%

ABC 8.93m 9.25m -3%

FOX 9.70m 11.13m -13%

Adults 18-49

CBS 3.1/08 3.0/08 +3%

NBC 2.8/08 2.8/08 nc

ABC 2.9/08 3.0/08 -3%

FOX 3.6/10 4.2/10 -14%

Adults 25-54

CBS 4.1/10 3.8/09 +8%

NBC 3.2/08 3.3/08 -3%

ABC 3.4/08 3.6/09 -6%

FOX 4.1/10 4.6/11 -11%

CBS had the season's #1 drama/scripted program-CSI; #1 comedy-TWO AND A HALF MEN, #1 new series-THE MENTALIST and the #1 news magazine-60 MINUTES.

CBS dominated the season's rankings in both drama and comedy. The Network has seven of the Top 10 dramas-CSI (#1), NCIS (#2), THE MENTALIST (#3), CRIMINAL MINDS (#5), CSI: MIAMI (#7), CSI: NY (#9) and WITHOUT A TRACE (#10), all of which registered year-to-year gains and/or improved the time period.

Among comedies, CBS had five of the top six comedies-TWO AND A HALF MEN (#1), RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (#2), THE BIG BANG THEORY (#4), WORST WEEK (#5) and HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (#6).

CBS has 18 new and returning programs that have posted time period increases in adults 18-49 and in adults 25-54 vs. last year.

Among other CBS season highlights:

�More time period-winning programs than all the other networks combined in viewers (13) and more than any other network in adults 25-54 (10) and adults 18-49 (8).

�Four of the Top 10 programs of the season: CSI (#4), NCIS (#5), THE MENTALIST (#6) and TWO AND A HALF MEN (#10) and 11 of the Top 20.

�#1 in viewers on 3 nights (Thursday, Friday and Sunday) and #1 in A18-49 and A25-54 on 3 nights (Monday, Thursday and Friday).

�The #1 new series of the season-THE MENTALIST

�Every comedy in CBS's #1 comedy block posted year-to-year increases: THE BIG BANG THEORY (+19% in viewers, +12% in A18-49); HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (+15% in viewers, +18% in A18-49); TWO AND A HALF MEN (+10% in viewers, +6% in A18-49) and RULES OF ENGAGMENT (+5% in viewers and +2% in A18-49).

�In its sixth season, NCIS was up +26% in viewers and +27% in A18-49 and ranked as the No. 2 drama (second only to CSI).

�#1 in viewers and key demographics in the Monday-Friday 10:00 PM hour leading into affiliate late local news

�CBS won the May sweep in viewers for the 7th consecutive year and 8th in the last 9 years.

PRIMETIME

MAY 2009 SWEEP-TD: 25 DAYS

(4/23/09-5/17/09 vs. 4/24/08-5/18/08)

2009 2008 Chg

Persons 2+ (Millions)

CBS 10.64 #1 10.15 #1 +5%

NBC 6.21 #4 5.91 #4 +5%

ABC 8.57 #2 9.29 #2 -8%

FOX 8.25 #3 8.69 #3 -5%

Adults 25-54

CBS 3.5/09 #1T 3.5/09 #3 n.c.

NBC 2.4/06 #4 2.3/06 #4 +4%

ABC 3.2/08 #3 3.6/09 #1T -11%

FOX 3.5/09 #1T 3.6/10 #1T -3%

Adults 18-49

CBS 2.6/08 #2T 2.6/08 #3 n.c.

NBC 2.0/06 #4 1.9/05 #4 +5%

ABC 2.6/08 #2T 3.0/09 #2 -13%

FOX 3.0/09 #1 3.2/10 #1 -6%

Final 2008-2009 season and May sweep ratings will be released on Thursday.

IT'S OFFICIAL! CBS WINS THE 2008-2009 TELEVISION SEASON IN VIEWERS AND PLACES FIRST IN ADULTS 25-54

CBS Is America's Most-Watched Network for the 6th Time in the Last 7 Years

CBS Is the Only Network To Post Yearly Gains in All Key Measures

"The Mentalist" Is the Season's Only New Breakout Hit

In Season Six, "NCIS" Climbs to the #2 Drama of the Season (Only Behind "CSI")

CBS Has 7 of the Top 10 Dramas

CBS Dominates Comedy with Its #1 Monday Block

18 New and Returning Programs Post Time Period Increases in Adults 18-49 and in Adults 25-54

CBS Has More Time Period Winning Programs Than all the Other Networks Combined

CBS Wins the Monday-Friday 10:00 PM Time Period in Viewers, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54 Leading into Affiliate Late Local News

CBS Tops May Sweep in Viewers for the Seventh Consecutive Year

CBS won the 2008-2009 television season in viewers, its sixth victory in the past seven years, and also placed first in adults 25-54 (tie with FOX), according to Nielsen most current ratings for the 2008-2009 television season (9/22/08-5/20/09).

On the strength of its new and returning comedies and dramas, as well as the continued success of its two reality staples, CBS is the ONLY network to post ratings gains over last season in all key measures: +11% in viewers, +3% in adults 18-49 and +8% in adults 25-54.

CBS also jumped from third to #1 in women 25-54 (4.6/11 from 4.3/10, +7%), was the only network up in women 18-49 (3.6/09 from 3.4/09, +6%) and adults 18-34 (2.1/06 from 2.0/06, +5%).

2008-2009 TELEVISION SEASON

(September 22, 2008-May 20, 2009)

08-09 07-08 % Change

Persons 2+

CBS 11.76m 10.56m +11%

NBC 7.84m 8.11m -3%

ABC 8.95m 9.28m -3%

FOX 9.80m 11.26m -13%

Adults 18-49

CBS 3.1/08 3.0/08 +3%

NBC 2.8/07 2.8/08 nc

ABC 2.9/08 3.0/08 -3%

FOX 3.6/10 4.3/10 -16%

Adults 25-54

CBS 4.1/10 3.8/09 +8%

NBC 3.2/08 3.3/08 -3%

ABC 3.4/08 3.6/09 -6%

FOX 4.1/10 4.7/11 -13%

CBS had the season's #1 drama/scripted program-CSI; #1 comedy-TWO AND A HALF MEN, #1 new series-THE MENTALIST and the #1 news magazine-60 MINUTES.

CBS dominated the season's rankings in both drama and comedy. The Network has seven of the Top 10 dramas-CSI (#1), NCIS (#2), THE MENTALIST (#3), CRIMINAL MINDS (#5), CSI: MIAMI (#7), CSI: NY (#9) and WITHOUT A TRACE (#10), all of which registered year-to-year gains and/or improved the time period.

Among comedies, CBS had five of the top six comedies-TWO AND A HALF MEN (#1), RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (#2), THE BIG BANG THEORY (#4), WORST WEEK (#5) and HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (#6).

CBS has 18 new and returning programs that have posted time period increases in adults 18-49 and in adults 25-54 vs. last year.

Among other CBS season highlights:

�More time period-winning programs than all the other networks combined in viewers (13) and more than any other network in adults 25-54 (10) and adults 18-49 (8).

�Four of the Top 10 programs of the season: CSI (#4), NCIS (#5), THE MENTALIST (#6) and TWO AND A HALF MEN (#10) and 11 of the Top 20.

�#1 in viewers on 3 nights (Thursday, Friday and Sunday) and #1 in A18-49 and A25-54 on 3 nights (Monday, Thursday and Friday).

�The #1 new series of the season-THE MENTALIST

�Every comedy in CBS's #1 comedy block posted year-to-year increases: THE BIG BANG THEORY (+19% in viewers, +12% in A18-49); HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (+15% in viewers, +18% in A18-49); TWO AND A HALF MEN (+10% in viewers, +6% in A18-49) and RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (+5% in viewers and +2% in A18-49).

�In its sixth season, NCIS was up +26% in viewers and +27% in A18-49 and ranked as the No. 2 drama (second only to CSI).

�#1 in viewers and key demographics in the Monday-Friday 10:00 PM hour leading into affiliate late local news

�CBS won the May sweep in viewers for the 7th consecutive year and 8th in the last 9 years.

PRIMETIME

MAY 2009 SWEEP: 28 DAYS - FULL SWEEP

(4/23/09-5/20/09 vs. 4/24/08-5/21/08)

2009 2008 Chg

PERSONS 2+ (Millions)

CBS 10.86 #1 10.41 #1 +4%

NBC 6.10 #4 5.85 #4 +4%

ABC 8.78 #3 9.45 #3 -7%

FOX 9.28 #2 9.97 #2 -7%

ADULTS 25-54

CBS 3.6/10 #2 3.6/09 #2T n.c.

NBC 2.4/06 #4 2.2/06 #4 +9%

ABC 3.2/09 #3 3.6/09 #2T -11%

FOX 3.9/11 #1 4.2/11 #1 -7%

ADULTS 18-49

CBS 2.7/08 #2T 2.7/08 #3 n.c.

NBC 1.9/06 #4 1.9/05 #4 n.c.

ABC 2.7/08 #2T 3.0/09 #2 -10%

FOX 3.3/10 #1 3.7/11 #1 -11%





  [may 2009]  
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· BIG BANG THEORY, THE (CBS)
· CRIMINAL MINDS (CBS)
· CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (CBS)
· CSI: MIAMI (CBS)
· CSI: NEW YORK (CBS)
· HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (CBS)
· MENTALIST, THE (CBS)
· NCIS (CBS)
· RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (CBS)
· TWO AND A HALF MEN (CBS)
· WITHOUT A TRACE (CBS)
· WORST WEEK (CBS)




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