• by Wayne Friedman , December 9, 2005

Heading into 2006, the network prime-time ratings race is still an open field. That's not the case in daytime, where a clear leader has emerged, er make that leaders, depending on which audience break you look at. CBS is No. 1 among total viewers, ABC remains tops with women 18-49, and NBC, which has had little to crow about in prime-time this season, continues to tout its strong young women daytime viewers.

Just as with its prime-time shows, CBS claims overall victory in viewers for the November sweeps--it has an average 4.2 million viewers, according to Nielsen. ABC is in second place with 3.2 million, then NBC at 2.7 million.

For women 18-49, ABC is in first with a 1.7/11 rating. NBC is next, with a 1.6/10 share. CBS is close behind, with a 1.5/10.

For younger women 18-34, NBC shows continued strength with a 1.7/11--well ahead of ABC, which is next with a 1.3/9; then CBS at 1.2/8. NBC's "Days of Our Lives" has ranked number one among women 18-34 in every sweep since November 1995.

Season-to-date numbers are mostly in line with the November sweeps. In total viewers, CBS is at 4.1 million; ABC is at 3.1 million; and NBC is at 2.7 million. For women 18-49, it's ABC at 1.7/11; NBC at 1.6/10; and CBS, 1.4/9. For women 18-34, it's NBC at 1.8/12; ABC at 1.2/8; and CBS at 1.2/8.