CBS PLACES FIRST IN VIEWERS FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN FIVE WEEKS AND 17 OF 21 THIS SEASON

CBS Up Significantly Over the Same Week Last Year and Remains the Only Network To Post Season-to-Date Increases in All Key Measures

Series High Viewer Delivery Makes "The Mentalist" the Week's No. 1 Scripted Program Followed By "NCIS" and "CSI"

Reality Premieres: "Survivor: Tocantins" and "The Amazing Race" Win Their Time Periods

"The Big Bang Theory" Hits Series Highs in all Key Measures

CBS placed first in viewers for the fourth time in five weeks and 17 of 21 weeks this season, posting significant gains over the same week last year while remaining the only network to post season-to-date increases in all key measures, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for the week ending Feb.15, week 21 of the 2008-2009 television season.

THE MENTALIST, the season's No. 1 new hit, was the week's top scripted program (No. 3 overall), followed by NCIS (No. 4) and CSI (No. 5). The premiere of SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS won its time period in viewers and key demographics while the premiere of THE AMAZING RACE 14 placed first in viewers and adults 25-54.

Compared to the same week last year, CBS was up +41% in viewers, +28% in adults 25-54 and +27% in adults 18-49. Season-to-date, CBS is the ONLY broadcast network to improve its deliveries in viewers (+7%), adults 25-54 (+2%) and adults 18-49 (+3%).

For the week in viewers: CBS (11.36m), FOX (10.04m), ABC (7.58m) and NBC (6.36m). Season-to-date, CBS is first in viewers (11.82m), ahead of FOX (9.04m), ABC (8.85m) and NBC (8.52m).

For the week in households: CBS (7.1/12), FOX (5.8/09), ABC (4.8/08) and NBC (4.1/07). In households, season-to-date, CBS is first (7.4/12), ahead of ABC (5.6/09), FOX (5.4/09) and NBC (5.2/08).

For the week in key demographics, CBS was second in adults 25-54 (3.7/09) and adults 18-49 (2.8/08). Season-to-date, CBS is first in adults 25-54 (4.1/10) and a close second in adults 18-49 (3.2/08, -0.1 behind FOX).

CBS Weekly Highlights:

-- CBS was first Monday in households (8.6/13), viewers (13.87m), adults 25-54 (5.4/12) and adults 18-49 (4.3/10) from 9:00-11:00PM.

? TWO AND A HALF MEN was first in households (9.2/13), viewers (15.00m), adults 25-54 (6.1/13) and adults 18-49 (4.8/11).

? At 9:30 PM, THE BIG BANG THEORY was first in households (7.8/11), viewers (12.72m), adults 25-54 (5.5/12) and adults 18-49 (4.5/10). These are all series highs for a first-run episode of THE BIG BANG THEORY.

-- On Tuesday, CBS was first in households (10.7/17), second in viewers (17.35m, -0.29m behind FOX), adults 25-54 (5.4/13) and tied for second in adults 18-49 (3.8/10, with NBC). This is the first time CBS beat FOX in household ratings on an "American Idol" Tuesday since February 25, 2003 and the smallest difference in viewers ever.

? NCIS was second in households (11.3/17), viewers (18.03m), adults 25-54 (5.4/13) and adults 18-49 (3.7/10).

? THE MENTALIST was first in households (12.0/18), viewers (19.70m), adults 25-54 (6.2/14) and second in adults 18-49 (4.2/10). This is THE MENTALIST's best delivery ever in viewers and adults 25-54, matches the show's best adults 18-49 and adults 18-34 performances. This is CBS's best viewer performance in this time slot with a regularly scheduled program at 9:00PM since February 28, 1995 (CBS Tuesday Movie "Children of the Dust"). THE MENTALIST beat "Fringe" in adults 18-49 for three consecutive first-run head-to-head match-ups, four of the last five.

? WITHOUT A TRACE was first in households (8.9/15), viewers (14.31m), tied for first in adults 25-54 (4.6/11, with NBC) and second in adults 18-49 (3.4/09). This is WITHOUT A TRACE's season high deliveries in adults 25-54 and adults 18-49.

? SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS (P) was first in households (8.0/13), viewers (13.63m), adults 25-54 (5.6/14) and adults 18-49 (4.4/13). This is SURVIVOR's best viewers delivery since last winter's debut of SURVIVOR: MICRONESIA and highest adult 18-49 rating since October 23, 2008 (SURVIVOR: MICRONESIA).

? CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION was first in households (10.8/17), viewers (17.94m), adults 25-54 (6.4/14) and second in adults 18-49 (4.9/12).

? THE AMAZING RACE 14 (P) was first in viewers (9.20m), adults 25-54 (3.4/08), tied for first in households (5.4/09, with NBC) and second in adults 18-49 (2.6/07).

CBS top programs of the week: #3 THE MENTALIST (an average of 19.70m viewers), #4 NCIS (18.03m), #5 CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (17.94m), #7 TWO AND A HALF MEN (15.00m), #8 WITHOUT A TRACE (14.31m), #11 CSI: MIAMI (13.81m), #12 SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS (P) (13.63m), #13 60 MINUTES (13.11m), #14 THE BIG BANG THEORY (12.72m), #15 CRIMINAL MINDS (12.48m), #16 CSI: NY (11.94m), #20 ELEVENTH HOUR (10.94m), #21 COLD CASE (10.89m), #23 GHOST WHISPERER (10.31m), #27 THE AMAZING RACE 14 (P) (9.20m) and #28 NUMB3RS (9.11m).

Prime averages are based on the following hours of rated broadcasts in Week #21:

CBS - 21 hours

NBC - 21 hours

ABC - 21 hours

FOX - 14 hours