ANOTHER TUESDAY ASSAULT BY "THE UNIT"

"The Unit" Retains 96% of Its Viewer and Adult 18-49 Premiere Ratings

"NCIS" Matches Its All-Time High Adult 18-49 Rating

"The Amazing Race" Sprints Forward With Week-to-Week Increases

In its second broadcast, CBS's new action drama THE UNIT retained nearly all of its premiere ratings in viewers and adults 18-49 while NCIS matched its all-time high adult 18-49 ratings, according to preliminary Nielsen affiliate ratings for Tuesday, March 14.

THE UNIT posted a 10.9/16 with 17.78m viewers, 6.6/14 in adults 25-54 and 4.9/11 in adults 18-49 -- second behind an extended episode of FOX's "American Idol." Compared to last week's premiere, THE UNIT retained 96% of its viewers (from 18.50m) and adults 18-49 (from 5.1/12) rating and 94% of its adult 25-54 rating (from 7.0/13).

NCIS was second in households (11.1/17), viewers (17.61m), adults 25-54 (6.0/14) and adults 18-49 (4.4/11). This is NCIS's best viewer delivery since 1/17/06; the second best adults 25-54 ever (-0.1 behind the 10/18/05 broadcast) and matches the best adults 18-49 delivery to date. Compared to last week, NCIS was up +2% in both households (from 10.9/17), +2% in viewers (from 17.21m), +9% in adults 25-54 (from 5.5/13) and +16% in adults 18-49 (from 3.8/10).

THE AMAZING RACE delivered a 6.1/10 with 9.59m viewers, 3.1/09 in adults 18-34, 4.0/10 in adults 18-49 and 4.8/10 in adults 25-54. THE AMAZING RACE was first in adults 25-54, second in adults 18-49 (-0.1 behind NBC) and adults 18-34. Compared to last week, THE AMAZING RACE was up +1% in viewers (from 9.45m), +2% in adults 25-54 (from 4.7/12), +5% in adults 18-49 (from 3.8/10) and +19% in adults 18-34 (from 2.6/08).

For the night, CBS was second in households (9.4/14), viewers (14.99m), adults 25-54 (5.8/13) and adults 18-49 (4.4/11) � all behind FOX's two hours of "American Idol".

Final Tuesday ratings will be available this afternoon.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: What follows is the afternoon update with the final national Nielsen ratings.]

ANOTHER TUESDAY ASSAULT BY "THE UNIT"

"The Unit" Retains 98% of Its Viewer and 96% of Its Adult 18-49 Premiere Ratings

"NCIS" Matches Its All-Time High Adult 18-49 and Adults 25-54 Ratings

"The Amazing Race" Sprints Forward With Week-to-Week Increases

CBS Has Its Best Tuesday With Regularly Scheduled Programming

In its second broadcast, CBS's new action drama THE UNIT retained nearly all of its premiere ratings in viewers and adults 18-49 while NCIS matched its all-time high adult 18-49 and adults 25-54 ratings, according to Live Plus Same Day National Nielsen ratings for Tuesday, March 14.

THE UNIT posted an 11.0/16 with 18.07m viewers, 6.7/14 in adults 25-54 and 4.9/11 in adults 18-49 -- second behind an extended episode of FOX's "American Idol". Compared to last week's premiere, THE UNIT retained 98% of its viewers (from 18.50m), 96% of both its adults 18-49 rating (from 5.1/12) and adult 25-54 rating (from 7.0/13).

NCIS was second in households (11.1/17), viewers (17.55m), adults 25-54 (6.1/14) and adults 18-49 (4.4/11). This is NCIS's best viewer delivery since 1/17/06 and matches the best adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 delivery to date. Compared to last week, NCIS was up +2% in both households (from 10.9/17) and viewers (from 17.21m), +11% in adults 25-54 (from 5.5/13) and +16% in adults 18-49 (from 3.8/10).

THE AMAZING RACE delivered a 6.1/10 with 9.67m viewers, 3.1/09 in adults 18-34, 4.0/10 in adults 18-49 and 4.8/10 in adults 25-54. THE AMAZING RACE was first in adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 (tied, with NBC) and second in adults 18-34. Compared to last week, THE AMAZING RACE was up +2% in both viewers (from 9.45m) and adults 25-54 (from 4.7/12), +5% in adults 18-49 (from 3.8/10) and +19% in adults 18-34 (from 2.6/08).

For the night, CBS was second in households (9.4/14), viewers (15.09m), adults 25-54 (5.9/13) and adults 18-49 (4.4/11) -- all behind FOX's two hours of "American Idol". This is CBS's best Tuesday delivery with a night of regularly scheduled programing this season in both viewers and adults 25-54.