• by Paul Gough , April 8, 2003

In a week of primetime viewing that started to return to normal after the first few weeks of the war in Iraq, CBS won in total households and NBC barely managed to keep Fox at bay in key adult demographics.

CSI led CBS to another ratings win in total households and the second season of American Idol brought Fox to within a tenth of a ratings point of first-place NBC in adults 18-49, although CBS remained firmly entrenched atop the total households ratings and shares. According to data released Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research, CBS delivered an 8/13 for the week ended Sunday. That was ahead of second-place NBC (7.3/12), third-place Fox (5.6/9) and fourth-place ABC (4.9/8). UPN, The WB and Pax were further behind in total households ratings.

In adults 18-49, NBC held on to the lead (and the season-to-date) by earning a 4.3/12 to Fox's 4.2/11 and CBS's 3.9/11. ABC delivered a 2.8/8. Season-to-date, NBC (4.5/12) is slightly ahead of Fox (4.2/11) and CBS and ABC are tied for third place with 3.9/10 each.

CBS and NBC each had four of the top primetime shows; Fox had two. Another Fox show, Wanda at Large, made the top 25 again this week and the only ABC program to hit the top 25 was Primetime Thursday. Three Law & Order franchises were the ninth, tenth and eleventh most popular shows on TV last week. The top 10 programs were:

1. CSI (CBS), 16.6/25.
2. Friends (NBC), 13/21.
3. American Idol - Tuesday (Fox), 12.6/19.
4. ER (NBC), 12.6/19.
5. American Idol - Wednesday (Fox), 11.8/18.
6. Everybody Loves Raymond (CBS), 11.8/17.
7. Survivor: Amazon (CBS), 11.6/18.
8. CSI: Miami (CBS), 11.4/19.
9. Law & Order (NBC), 10.5/18.
10. Law & Order: SVU (NBC), 10.4/18.