CBS Wins the Week by Substantial Margins in Viewers, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54

NEW YORK, Oct. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

CBS Tops its Nearest Competitor(s) By 3.6 Million Viewers and +0.4 Rating Point in Adults 18-49; Tops Other Networks By Nearly 5 Million or More Viewers

Gap Between CBS and Rest of the Networks Widens Year Over Year

CBS Posts Year-to-Year Gains in Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49

CBS is First Season-to-Date in Viewers, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54

For the Second Consecutive Week, CBS Has More At Least Half the Programs in the Top 10 Among Adults 18-49

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 Two Weeks of the Season

CBS Has the Top Seven Dramas and Three of the Top Five in Adults 18--49

CBS Has Six of the Top 10 Programs in Viewers – More Than Other Networks Combined

"Person of Interest" and "Unforgettable" are the Week's Top Two New Programs

"2 Broke Girls" is the No. 1 New Comedy in Viewers and the No. 1 New Series in Adults 18-49

"Two and a Half Men" is the Week's No. 1 Program in Viewers, and No. 1 Scripted Program in Adults 18-49

"NCIS" is the No. 1 Drama in Viewers and Adults 18-49, Topping "Glee" in Adults By its Largest Margin To Date

CBS Places First  the 10:00 PM Time Period in Adults 18-49 Four Out of Five Weeknights; CBS Wins Monday Through Friday in Viewers and Key Demos

CBS dominated the second week of the season in viewers, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54, led by the Network's new and returning hit comedies and dramas, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for the week ending Oct. 2.

CBS won the week in viewers with an advantage of nearly 3.6 million viewers over its closest competitor (ABC), by +0.4 in adults 18-49 over FOX and by +1.0 in adults 25-54 over FOX, separating itself even further from its competitors compared to the same week last year when CBS led in viewers by +2.7m, in adults 18-49 by +0.3 and in adults 25-54 by +0.8.

The Network was up +3% in viewers and adults 18-49 and +2% in adults 25-54 compared to the same week last year.  Through the first two weeks of the season, CBS is first in viewers, adults 18-49 (tie) and adults 25-54.

For the second consecutive week, CBS had more programs in the top 10 among adults 18-49, than all the other networks combined with TWO AND A HALF MEN (#2), THE BIG BANG THEORY (#6), MIKE & MOLLY (#7), 2 BROKE  GIRLS (#8) and HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (#9) and NCIS (#10).

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 two weeks of the season.

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

Overall, CBS had six of the top 10 programs in viewers, more than all the other networks combined including TWO AND A HALF MEN (#1), NCIS (#2), 60 MINUTES (#4) NCIS: LOS ANGELES (# 5) THE BIG BANG THEORY (# 7) MIKE & MOLLY (# 10).

2 BROKE GIRLS was the week's No. 1 new comedy in viewers and is the No. 1 new series among adults 18-49. PERSON OF INTEREST and UNFORGETTABLE are the week's top two new dramas, delivering more viewers than "X-Factor."

"NCIS" was the week's top drama in viewers and adults 18-49, topped "Glee" in adults 18-49 by its largest margin to-date.

For the week in viewers:  CBS (12.24m), NBC (7.09m), ABC (8.67m) and FOX (7.34m).

For the week in key demographics CBS was first in adults 18-49 (3.2) and adults 25-54 (4.1).

For the week in households:  CBS (7.6), NBC (4.5), ABC (5.6) and FOX (4.3).

Note:  More detailed information to come including full 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.  This season, we expect DVR penetration to continue to increase and, as a result, we expect DVR playback audiences to grow to as well.

SOURCE CBS