CBS, NBC Lead in Nielsen Ratings

In a week of reruns and reality, CBS won the network prime-time ratings race in total households by half a rating point and NBC edged CBS and Fox for the lead in adults 18-49, according to data released Tuesday afternoon by Nielsen Media Research.

For the week ended Sunday, CBS (5.5/10, 5.85 million) won in total households and persons with seven of the top 10 programs, mostly reruns. The other three of the top 10 programs came from NBC (5/9, 5.3 million), which in second place was far ahead of both ABC (3.9/7, 4.12 million) and Fox (3.8/7, 4.04 million). Only one ABC program, a repeat of My Wife and Kids, reached the top 25 in primetime households and persons; My Wife and Kids was locked in a four-way tie for 23rd place. No Fox show made it to the top 25 in the tally.

In adults 18-49, NBC (2.8/9, 3.57 million) came out ahead of both CBS (2.5/8, 3.17 million) and Fox (2.4/8, 3.05 million).

The top five programs, four CBS and one NBC, were all one-hour dramas. Three sitcom repeats - two CBS and NBC's Friends - were also in the top 10, along with a first-run 60 Minutes II and a lone unscripted program, NBC's Who Wants To Marry My Dad? Other unscripted shows in the top 25 included Big Brother 4 (CBS), For Love or Money 2 (NBC), Fear Factor (NBC), Amazing Race: 4 (CBS) and The Restaurant (NBC). Two news specials, a 48 Hour special on the life of Bob Hope and a two-hour edition of Dateline NBC, also made the top 25.

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The top 10 prime programs in households and persons for the week of July 28 through Aug. 3:

  1. 1. CSI (CBS), 8.9/15, 9.46 million.
  2. 2. Without a Trace (CBS), 8/14, 8.57 million.
  3. 3. 60 Minutes (CBS), 7.8/16, 8.35 million.
  4. 4. Law & Order (NBC), 7.6/14, 8.11 million.
  5. 5. CSI: Miami (CBS), 7.2/12, 7.63 million.
  6. 6. 60 Minutes II (CBS), 7/13, 7.51 million.
  7. 7. Everybody Loves Raymond (CBS), 7/12, 7.63 million.
  8. 8. King of Queens (CBS), 6.6/11, 7 million.
  9. 9. Friends (NBC), 6.5/12, 6.89 million.
  10. 10. Who Wants To Marry My Dad? (NBC), 6.5/11, 6.97 million.
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