• by Paul Gough , May 7, 2003

NBC edged out Fox for this week's adults 18-49 demo and CBS won another week in total households, according to Nielsen Media Research.

NBC (4.3/12, 5.5 million households) bested Fox (4.2/12, 5.4 million households) to keep a less than half-point lead in season-to-date in adults 18-49. CBS delivered a 3.3/10 with 4.3 million households in the demo, just ahead of fourth-place ABC with 3.3/9, 4.2 million households. The WB earned a 1.8/5, 2.3 million households in adults 18-49, followed by UPN (1.5/4, 1.8 million households) and Pax (0.3/1, 340,000 households).

CBS remains in the lead in the dwindling weeks of the 2002-03 TV season, with this week's delivery of 8.0/13, 8.5 million households to NBC's 7.7/13, 8.24 million households. Fox came in third overall (5.9/10, 6.3 million households), edging out ABC (5.7/9, 6 million households). The WB, which doesn't market to total households, delivered a 2.6/4, 2.8 million households, ahead of UPN 2.2/4, 2.3 million households, and Pax (0.7/1, 800,000 households). Season-to-date, CBS (8.2/13, 8.7 million households) is ahead of NBC (7.7/13, 8.23 million households).

The top 10 programs for the week ended Sunday according to data from Nielsen Media Research:

1. CSI (CBS), 14.6/22, 15.6 million households.
2. ER (NBC), 13.1/22, 14 million households.
3. Friends (NBC), 12.8/21, 13.6 million households.
4. American Idol - Tuesday (Fox), 12.4/20, 13.1 million households.
5. Law & Order (NBC), 12.1/20, 12.9 million households.
6. Everybody Loves Raymond (CBS), 11.9/18, 12.6 million households.
7. American Idol - Wednesday (Fox), 11.8/19, 12 million households.
8. CSI: Miami (CBS), 11.6/19, 12.3 million households.
9. Friends Special 5/1 (NBC), 11.6/18, 12.3 million households.
10. Will & Grace (NBC), 11.2/17, 11.9 million households.

The remainder of the top 20 shows were Survivor: Amazon (CBS), Law & Order: Criminal Intent 10 p.m. Sunday (NBC); Law & Order: Criminal Intent 9 p.m. Sunday (NBC); Still Standing; Judging Amy; Law & Order: SVU; JAG; West Wing; The Bachelor; and Without a Trace.