BURBANK: CBS is declaring victory in total viewers for the 2009-2010 season—its seventh in the past eight years—while FOX continues to lead the 18-to-49 set, thanks to American Idol.
Based on ratings through Sunday, May 23, CBS has a 7.2 rating and 12 share, ahead of FOX’s 5.8/9, ABC’s 5.4/9 and NBC’s 5.1/8. In terms of viewers, CBS claims an average of 11.8 million, with 9.9 million for FOX, 8.6 million for ABC and 8.2 million for NBC. In adults 18 to 49, FOX rules with a 3.6/10, followed by CBS with 3.2/9. ABC, with 2.7/7 as of Sunday, will likely see its season rankings improve after the numbers are in for the Dancing with the Stars finale from last night.
Highlights of CBS’s season included seven of the top ten dramas: NCIS, The Mentalist, CSI, NCIS: Los Angeles, Criminal Minds, The Good Wife and CSI: Miami. Overall CBS had five of the top ten programs of the season and 12 of the top 20.
