EARLY EDITION

CBS #1 FOR THE WEEK IN VIEWERS AND ADULTS 18-49

CBS #1 FOR THE SEASON IN VIEWERS AND ADULTS 18-49

CBS #1 IN DVR PLAYBACK IN VIEWERS AND ADULTS 18-49

CBS Places  20 of the Top 30 Programs in Viewers Through the First Three Weeks, A First for Any Network in Television History  

"NCIS" is the Week and Season's #1 Drama in Viewers and Demos

"Two and a Half Men" is the Week and Season's #1 Comedy in Viewers and Demos

         CBS is #1 in viewers and adults 18-49, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for the week ending Oct. 9, and number one in both those categories through the first three weeks of the television season, according to Nielsen most current ratings through Oct. 9.

And, in a first for any network in television history, CBS has 20 of the season's top 30 programs in viewers through the first three weeks of the season.  (Regularly scheduled programming including sports events but excluding pre and post game shows).

THE WEEK

For the week in viewers:  CBS (11.32m), ABC (8.20m), NBC (7.27m) and FOX (7.10m).  

For the week in key demographics, CBS was first in adults 18-49 (2.9/08) and adults 25-54 (3.8/09).  

For the third consecutive week, CBS had more programs in the top 10 among adults 18-49, than all the other networks with TWO AND A HALF MEN (#2), THE BIG BANG THEORY, 2 BROKE GIRLS and HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (tied #6) and MIKE & MOLLY (#9).

           This marks the first time since 2003 that any network has dominated the Top 10 in adults 18-49 with entertainment programming during the first three weeks of the season.

           Among dramas, CBS had the top eight in viewers led by NCIS (#1), NCIS: LOS ANGELES (#2), CRIMINAL MINDS (#3), THE MENTALIST (#4), CSI (#5) UNFORGETTABLE (#6), PERSON OF INTEREST (#7) and BLUE BLOODS (#8).

Overall, CBS had six of the top 10 programs in viewers, more than all the other networks combined and 12 of the top 20 including  NCIS (#2), TWO AND A HALF MEN (#3), NCIS: LOS ANGELES (# 7), THE BIG BANG THEORY (# 8), CRIMINAL MINDS (#9) AND 60 MINUTES (#10).

THE SEASON

Season-to-date in viewers:  CBS is first (12.68m), followed by ABC (9.42m), FOX (8.05m) and NBC (7.59m).

Season-to-date in key demographics, CBS is first in adults 18-49 (3.4/09, up +3% from last year) and adults 25-54 (4.4/11, up +2%).

Through the first three weeks of the season, NCIS is the #1 drama in viewers and key demographics and TWO AND A HALF MEN is the #1 comedy in viewers and key demographics.

   DVR PLAYBACK

CBS is also first in 7-day playback lift in viewers (+2.10m), adults 18-49 (+0.7) and adults 25-54 (+0.9), according to Nielsen 7-day playback ratings for premiere week.  CBS

CBS had six of the top 10 programs in viewers based on 7-day lift, more than all the other networks combined.

CBS had four of the top 10 programs in adults 18-49 based on 7-day lift, more than any other network.

More detailed information to come including show highlights and charts.

Note:  DVR penetration is at 42%, up from 38% last year. Last Fall, Live+7 audiences for original entertainment series on CBS gained over 1.8 million viewers, on average, over Live+ Same Day ratings, more than any other network.  Thisseason, we expect DVR penetration to continue to increase and, as a result, we expect DVR playback audiences to grow to as well.

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Press Contacts:             Ed Harrison            818-655-1584       ed.harrison@cbs.com

                                      Jeremy Murphy      212-975-4577       jeremy.murphy@cbs.com