CBS HAS THE TOP FOUR SCRIPTED PROGRAMS OF THE WEEK

CSI Is The First Series In Nearly Two Years to Post a Larger Audience Than "American Idol" on Any Given Night

"Two and a Half Men" Delivers Its Highest Viewer and Adult 18-49 Ratings Since January

"Courting Alex" Scores Largest Audience and Highest Demo Ratings Since Its Premiere

The Premiere of "The Amazing Race 9" Wins Its Time Period in Adults 18-49

"Ghost Whisperer" Matches Its Highest Adult 18-49 Rating

"Numb3rs" Tops the Premiere of "Conviction" In Viewers and Key Demographics

CSI, WITHOUT A TRACE, CSI: MIAMI and TWO AND A HALF MEN were the top four most watched scripted programs of the week and CSI also became the first series in nearly two years to deliver a larger audience than "American Idol" on any night, according to Nielsen ratings for the week ending March 5, week 24 of the 2005-2006 television season.

For the week in viewers, CBS (12.28m) trailed FOX (13.47m) and ABC (12.61m) and was ahead of NBC (9.58m). Season-to-date, CBS (12.69m) leads, followed by ABC (11.61m), NBC (10.09m) and FOX (9.44m).

For the week in households, CBS (7.9/12) was -1% behind ABC (8.0/13), tied with FOX (7.9/12) and +27% ahead of NBC (6.2/10). Season-to-date, CBS is first in households (8.2/13), outpacing ABC by +12% (7.3/12), NBC by +24% (6.6/11) and FOX by +41% (5.8/09).

Season-to-date in demographics, CBS is tied for first in adults 25-54 (4.9/12, with ABC) and second in adults 18-49 (3.9/10).

� TWO AND A HALF MEN won its time period in households (10.8/16), viewers (17.04m), adults 25-54 (7.2/15) and adults 18-49 (5.6/13). This is TWO AND A HALF MEN's best delivery in viewers, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 since 1/23/06.

� COURTING ALEX was first in households (8.8/13) and second in viewers (13.78m) and adults 25-54 (5.9/12). This is COURTING ALEX's best delivery in households, viewers, adults 18-49 (4.6/10) and adults 25-54 since 1/23/06, the program's premiere.

� THE AMAZING RACE 9 (P) (9:00-11:00PM) won its time period in adults 25-54 (4.9/11) and adults 18-49 (4.1/10) and was second in households (6.6/10) and viewers (10.40m, -250,000 behind NBC) and adults 18-34 (3.1/10).

� SURVIVOR: PANAMA -- EXILE ISLAND was second in households (9.2/14), viewers (16.08m), adults 25-54 (6.9/16), adults 18-49 (5.5/14) and adults 18-34 (3.4/10) behind "American Idol".

� CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION was first in households (16.9/25), viewers (27.81m), adults 25-54 (11.4/24), adults 18-49 (9.0/21) and adults 18-34 (6.0/16). CSI becomes the first series to deliver more viewers and a better household rating than any edition of "American Idol" (15.2/23, 26.32m viewers last night) since 2004.

� WITHOUT A TRACE was first in households (13.1/21), viewers (19.78m), adults 25-54 (7.5/18) and adults 18-49 (5.9/16). WITHOUT A TRACE beat "ER" by +54% in households (vs. 8.5/14), +2% in adults 18-49 (vs. 5.8/15), +10% in adults 25-54 (vs. 6.8/16) and +6.85m viewers (vs. 12.93m, +53%).

� GHOST WHISPERER was first in viewers (12.40m) and adults 25-54 (4.8/14), tied for first in households (7.6/13, with NBC) and second in adults 18-49 (3.6/11). GHOST WHISPERER matched its best delivery in adults 18-49 and posted its second best delivery in both viewers and adults 25-54.

� CLOSE TO HOME was first in households (7.6/12) and viewers (11.52m) and second in adults 25-54 (4.3/11, -0.1 behind NBC) and adults 18-49 (3.1/09). This is CLOSE TO HOME's best delivery in adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 since 12/9/05.

� NUMB3RS was first in households (7.8/13), viewers (11.94m), adults 25-54 (4.9/13) and adults 18-49 (3.5/10). Compared to the premiere of "Conviction", NUMB3RS had a +16% advantage in both households (vs. 6.7/12) and viewers (vs. 10.31m), +14% advantage in adults 25-54 (vs. 4.3/11) and +3% advantage in adults 18-49 (vs. 3.4/10).

CBS top programs of the week: #4 CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (an average of 27.81m viewers), #6 WITHOUT A TRACE (19.78m), #7 CSI: MIAMI (18.44m), #8 TWO AND A HALF MEN (17.04m), #11 SURVIVOR: PANAMA -- EXILE ISLAND (16.08m), #12 NCIS (15.14m), #16 COURTING ALEX (13.78m), #17 CSI: NY (13.76m), #22 GHOST WHISPERER (12.40m), #25 NUMB3RS (11.94m), #26 CRIMINAL MINDS (11.72m) and #28 CLOSE TO HOME (11.52m).