RETURN OF ORIGINAL EPISODE OF "CRIMINAL MINDS" RETAINS 89% OF ITS FIRST-RUN ADULT 18-49 AVERAGE AND 87% OF ITS VIEWER DELIVERY IN FIRST HEAD-TO-HEAD MATCH-UP THIS SEASON AGAINST "AMERICAN IDOL"

The Return of "CSI: NY" Tops the Combined Competition in Viewers and Key Demographics While Retaining 97% of its First-Run Adult 18-49 Average and 98% of Its Viewers

Original episodes of CRIMINAL MINDS and CSI: NY both posted strong ratings in their first-run return, according to preliminary Nielsen live plus day ratings for Wednesday, April 2.

Opposite "American Idol," the first-run return of CRIMINAL MINDS was second in households (8.2/13), viewers (12.81m), adults 25-54 (4.5/10) and adults 18-49 (3.4/09).

Compared to the program's live plus same day first-run average this season (when the program did not air against "American Idol"), CRIMINAL MINDS retained 88% of both its households (from 9.3/14) and adults 25-54 (from 5.1/12) performances, 89% of adults 18-49 (from 3.8/10) and 87% of viewers (from 14.67m).

CSI: NY's return with a first-run episode finished first in households (8.2/14), viewers (12.84m), adults 25-54 (4.7/12) and adults 18-49 (3.6/10). CSI: NY topped the combined competition in viewers, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54.

Compared to the program's live plus same day first-run average this season, CSI: NY was even in adults 25-54 and retained 98% of both its households (from 8.4/14) and viewers (from 13.09m) totals and 97% of adults 18-49 (from 3.7/10).

For the night, CBS was second in households (6.8/11), viewers (10.56m), adults 25-54 (3.9/10) and adults 18-49 (3.1/08).

Updated Wednesday ratings will be available this afternoon.