CBS: AMERICA'S NUMBER ONE NETWORK SINCE THE RETURN OF ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING

The Return of CBS's First-Run Series Lifts the Network Back into a Position of Leadership Among Viewers

CBS Has Four of the Top 10 Post-Strike Programs and 10 of the Top 20 (As Many As the Other Networks Combined)

CBS Also Has More Top 20 Programs Among Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 Than Any Other Network

CBS Has the Number One Scripted Program on Five Nights, Led By CSI, Television's Number One Scripted Series

The return of CBS's first-run scripted series following the conclusion of the writers' strike has lifted the Network back into its leadership position among viewers, according to most current Nielsen ratings for the period of March 31-May 4, 2008 when original programs on other networks started returning.

Among viewers since the return of original programming following the strike, CBS is Number One averaging 10.24 million viewers, followed by FOX, 9.72m, ABC, 8.56m and NBC, 6.89m.

CBS has four of the Top 10 post-strike programs led by CSI (#4), TWO AND A HALF MEN (#8), NCIS (#9) and CSI: MIAMI (#10). Among the Top 20 programs, CBS has 10, as many as the other networks combined with WITHOUT A TRACE (#11), CRIMINAL MINDS (#12), THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE (#13), SURVIVOR: MICRONESIA (#14), CSI: NY (#15) and COLD CASE (#17).

Among adults 25-54, CBS also commands 10 of the Top 20 programs, more than any other network: CSI (#5), TWO AND A HALF MEN (#6), THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE (#8), SURVIVOR: MICRONESIA (#10), CSI: MIAMI (#11, tie), RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (#13), CRIMINAL MINDS (#14, tie) and WITHOUT A TRACE, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER and CSI: NY all tied at #18.

Among adults 18-49, CBS has seven of the Top 20 programs, more than any other network: TWO AND A HALF MEN (#5, tie), CSI (#7), THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE (#8, tie), SURVIVOR: MICRONESIA (#12), CSI: MIAMI and RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (tied #13) and HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (#18).

CBS has the Number One scripted program on Monday (TWO AND A HALF MEN), Tuesday (NCIS), Wednesday (CRIMINAL MINDS), Thursday (CSI) and Friday (NUMB3RS).

Since the end of March, CSI ranks as television's Number One scripted series, averaging 17.98 million viewers, TWO AND A HALF MEN is the Number One comedy with an average of 14.24 million viewers and 60 MINUTES continues its reign as the No. 1 newsmagazine with an average of 10.71 million viewers.

Source: NTI, "most current" 3/31/2008-to-date