• by Paul Gough , April 2, 2003

Continuing with the strength of American Idol, Fox took another week in the battle for adults 18-49 and NBC beat CBS in the race for total viewers and households.

NBC delivered a 7.5/12 to win in total households/viewers for the week ended Sunday over CBS (7/11), Fox (5.7/9) and ABC (5.5/9). In adults 18-49, Fox (4.3/11) edged NBC (4.1/11) and outpaced the other networks, including CBS (3.5/11) and ABC (2.8/7). Season-to-date, NBC (4.5/12) is just ahead of Fox (4.2/11), ABC (4/11) and CBS (3.9/10) in the 18-49 demographic.

Fox took the top two spots in the Top 10, with the two weekly editions of American Idol besting other networks' programs by a nose. NBC had four shows in the top 10, as did CBS. Three Law & Orders were in the top 10. CBS' 60 Minutes was the only news related program to hit the top 10. CBS' 60 Minutes II was the only other news-related program in the top 25, when it delivered an 8.6/13 at 9 p.m. Wednesday.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the Top 10 programs for the week of March 24-30:

1. American Idol - Tuesday (Fox), 11.5/18.
2. American Idol - Wednesday (Fox), 10.8/16.
3. Law & Order (NBC), 10.7/18.
4. Friends (NBC), 10.5/17.
5. Law & Order: SVU (NBC), 10.5/19.
6. Survivor: Amazon Special (CBS), 10.1/16.
7. Everybody Loves Raymond (CBS), 10/15.
8. Law and Order: Criminal Intent (NBC), 9.6/14.
9. 60 Minutes (CBS), 9.1/15.
10. Celine in Las Vegas (CBS), 9.1/14.