• by Ken Liebeskind , August 14, 2002

CBS again had the top three shows but was tied with NBC for the top prime average in this week's Nielsens. Both networks scored 10 shares/5.4 households, beating out ABC (8/4.2) and Fox (7/3.5).

CSI, 60 Minutes and Everybody Loves Raymond led the way for CBS, with CSI scoring a 17 share/9.5 household. 48 Hours Monday and Becker were the other CBS shows in the top 10. NBC had the rest -- Law and Order, Dateline NBC, Dateline Sunday, Dog Eat Dog and Law and Order: Criminal Intent.

Fox's American Idol again made the top 25, as did NBC's Meet My Folks, a sitcom that premiered July 17.

The top cable shows for the most recent week were WWE Entertainment (TNN), Anna Niclole Show (ENT), NFL Preseason Football (ESPN), Monk (USA) and Spongebob (NICK). WWE Entertainment scored a 3.2 household with 3.4 million households tuned in.

Syndicated leaders for the most recent week were Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, Seinfeld, The Oprah Winfrey Show and Entertainment Tonight with Friends scoring a 5.6 household with 3.6 million households watching.

Sports leaders for the most recent week were Brickyard 400 (NBC), Lincoln Financial Battle, the all star golf event starring Tiger Woods and others (ABC), Fox Saturday baseball, WWE Smackdown (UPN) and International (CBS). Brickyard scored a 16 share/6.3 household.

In other TV news, major league baseball players decided against setting a strike date Monday, suggesting an agreement will be reached, saving the season and especially the post season and World Series for Fox and ESPN. The news is good especially for Fox, which relies on the Series, not just for Series viewers, but to promote its prime time lineup for the new fall season.