KENNEDY CENTER HONORS LEAD TO STAR-STUDDED WEDNESDAY WIN

"The 35th Annual Kennedy Center Honors" Leads 9:00-11:00 PM by Large Margin, Posting Best Adults 25-54 Delivery Since 2009 and Best Adults 18-49 Delivery Since 2010

"Criminal Minds" Sweeps Time Period

CBS Wins Night In Viewers and Key Demographics

Led by THE 35th ANNUAL KENNEDY CENTER HONORS, CBS won Wednesday night across the board in key demographics, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for Dec. 26.

At 8:00 PM, CRIMINAL MINDS (R) (S) was first in households (5.4/09), viewers (8.54m), adults 25-54 (2.6/06) and adults 18-49 (1.7/08).

THE 35th ANNUAL KENNEDY CENTER HONORS (S) were first in households (5.2/09), viewers (8.15m), adults 25-54 (2.2/05) and adults 18-49 (1.4/04). THE KENNEDY CENTER HONORS beat its closest competitor by +68% in households (vs. NBC's 3.1/05), +69% in viewers (vs. NBC's 4.82m), +38% in adults 25-54 (vs. NBC's 1.6/04) and +17% in adults 18-49 (vs. NBC's 1.2/03).

Compared to the special last year (on Tuesday, Dec. 26), THE KENNEDY CENTER HONORS were up +38% in adults 25-54 (from 1.6/04) and +27% in adults 18-49 (from 1.1/03). THE KENNEDY CENTER HONORS posted its best delivery in adults 25-54 since 2009 and its best delivery in adults 18-49 since 2010.

For the night, CBS was first in households (5.2/09), viewers (8.28m), adults 25-54 (2.3/06) and adults 18-49 (1.5/04).

Updated Wednesday ratings will be available later in the week.