CBS STARTS THE NEW YEAR WITH THE BIGGEST BANG EVER

"The Big Bang Theory" Delivers its Largest Audience Ever (18.98m) and Matches All-Time Best Adults 18-49 Rating (6.0)

"Person of Interest" Surges to a Series High in Viewers and Matches its All-Time Best Adults 18-49 Rating

"Two and a Half Men" Posts Season Highs in Viewers and Adults 18-49

"Elementary" Delivers its Largest Audience Since its Series Premiere and Matches Best Adults 18-49 Rating Since Premiere

CBS Tops Thursday Combined Competition in Viewers and Demos

THE BIG BANG THEORY delivered its largest audience ever and matched its series-high adults 18-49 rating and PERSON OF INTEREST surged to a series high in viewers while also matching its best ever adults 18-49 rating, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for Thursday, Jan. 3.

THE BIG BANG THEORY swept its time period, finishing first in households (11.2/17), viewers (18.98m), adults 25-54 (7.7/19), adults 18-49 (6.0/17) and adults 18-34 (4.0/13). THE BIG BANG THEORY posted series highs in households, viewers and adults 25-54 and matched its series high in adults 18-49.

TWO AND A HALF MEN was first in households (9.2/14), viewers (15.39m), adults 25-54 (6.0/12) and adults 18-49 (4.6/12) from 8:30-9:00 PM. TWO AND A HALF MEN posted its best deliveries in both households and adults 25-54 since Dec. 21, 2011, its best viewers total since Nov. 21, 2011 and its best adults 18-49 rating since Jan. 16, 2012 - all when the program was on Monday.

PERSON OF INTEREST was first in households (9.7/15), viewers (16.14m), adults 25-54 (4.8/11) and adults 18-49 (3.4/09) at 9:00 PM. PERSON OF INTEREST posted its best delivery ever in viewers, matched its series high in adults 18-49 and delivered its second- best adults 25-54 rating.

ELEMENTARY was first in households (7.1/12), viewers (11.36m), adults 25-54 (3.5/09) and adults 18-49 (2.5/07). ELEMENTARY posted its best viewer total since the series premiere on Sept. 27, 2012 and its best deliveries in both adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 since Oct. 4, 2012.

For the night, CBS was first in households (9.0/14), viewers (14.90m), adults 25-54 (5.1/12) and adults 18-49 (3.7/10) - all Thursday season highs. CBS beat NBC, ABC, FOX and CW combined by +54% in viewers (vs. 9.68m), +42% in adults 25-54 (vs. 3.6/08) and +19% in adults 18-49 (vs. 3.1/08).

Updated Thursday ratings will be available later today.