• by Paul Gough , May 28, 2003

Led by the season finale of the immensely popular American Idol, Fox ran to an overwhelming victory in the final week of the 2002-03 TV season according to Nielsen Media Research data released Wednesday afternoon.

Fox's margin of victory in adults 18-49 was nearly double that of its nearest competitor, NBC, although the figures in total households and viewers weren't as high. In adults 18-49, Fox delivered a 5.7/17 with 7.3 million viewers, compared to NBC (3.4/10, 4.4 million), CBS (3.1/9, 4 million) and ABC (2.7/8, 3.5 million). The WB earned 1.6/5 with 2 million viewers 18-49 and UPN delivered 1.5/4 with 2 million viewers tuning in. In adults 25-54, Fox earned a 5.8/16 with 7 million viewers and NBC came in second with 4.2/11 with 5.1 million viewers. CBS came in third with 3.8/10 and 4.6 million viewers and ABC came in fourth with 3.1/8 with 3.7 million viewers.

In total viewers, Fox had a several million-viewer margin with a 4.9/14 and 13.2 million viewers for the week ended Sunday. CBS came in second with a 4.0/11 and 10.8 million viewers and NBC was in third place with 3.7/10 and 10.1 million viewers. ABC was in third place with a 2.8/8 and 7.6 million viewers.

It's not hard to see why Fox prevailed, taking the top three spots with three separate American Idol programs Tuesday and Wednesday. In 2+ viewers rankings, the American Idol Wednesday edition earned a 14 rating with 38 million people tuning in. Everybody Loves Raymond and CSI: Miami delivered the remainder of the top five in 2+ viewer rankings and another American Idol show - The Final Two - was number eight for the week.

The top 10 programs, ranked by 2+ viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research:

1. American Idol-Wednesday (Fox), 14 rating, 38 million viewers.

2. American Idol-Wednesday Special (Fox), 9.4 rating, 25.6 million viewers.

3. American Idol-Tuesday (Fox), 9.4 rating, 25 million viewers.

4. Everybody Loves Raymond (CBS), 8.3 rating, 22.6 million viewers.

5. CSI: Miami (CBS), 7.1 rating, 19.3 million viewers.

6. Law and Order (NBC), 7 rating, 19 million viewers.

7. CSI (CBS), 6.4 rating, 17.3 million viewers.

8. American Idol: Final Two (Fox), 6.2 rating, 16.8 million viewers.

9. Law and Order - May 21 (NBC), 5.9 rating, 16 million viewers.

10. Without a Trace (CBS), 5.5 rating, 15 million viewers.

    Highlights from the rest of the ratings were 24, in 11th place with a 5.2 rating and 14.2 million viewers; NBC's Movie of the Week in 12th place with 5.2 rating and 14 million viewers; Mr. Personality, tied for 22nd place (with Frasier and King of Queens) with a 4.2 rating and 11.47 million viewers.