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CBS WINS FEBRUARY SWEEP IN VIEWERS AND ADULTS 25-54

America's Most Watched Network Has Won 12th of the Last 14 Major Sweep Periods

"Rules of Engagement" Premieres in February and Emerges as the Season's No.1 Comedy in Viewers and Key Demographics

            CBS placed first in the February 2007 sweep in viewers and adults 25-54 and a strong second  in  adults 18-49, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for the period of Feb. 1-28.

            CBS's February victory in viewers is the Network's 12th out of the last 14 major sweep periods while the win in adults 25-54 marks CBS's first in that demographic in a February sweep since 1998.

           The Network's February victories were paced by SUPER BOWL XLI, which garnered the third largest audience in television history, THE 49TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS, which posted the award show's highest deliveries in three years, the premiere of the new comedy RULES OF ENGAGEMENT, which emerged as the season's No. 1 new comedy and season high deliveries in viewers and key demographics by TWO AND A HALF MEN and CSI: MIAMI.  CBS posted its three highest rated Mondays of the season during the month.

       Additionally, CSI: NY topped "Lost" in viewers in all four of their head-to-head matchups, SHARK continued to beat "ER" in viewers while narrowing the gap in key demographics to its closest margins ever; and NCIS and CRIMINAL MINDS maintained solid ratings opposite "American Idol."

CBS's February Sweep Highlights:

        CBS's coverage of SUPER BOWL XLI averaged 93.18 million viewers, ranking it third in broadcast history behind only the finale of "M*A*S*H" (105.97m) on Feb. 28, 1983 and the 1996 Super Bowl (94.08m).

        THE 49th ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS  posted a 12.1/19 in households with 20.06m viewers, 9.2/20 in adults 25-54, 8.3/20 in adults 18-49 and 7.6/19 in adults 18-34.  This is the GRAMMY AWARDS' best deliveries in households, viewers, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 since 2004. 

        The series premiere of CBS's new comedy RULES OF ENGAGEMENT  RULES OF ENGAGEMENT placed first in households (9.7/14) and viewers (14.84m) and second in adults 25-54 (6.3/13) and adults 18-49 (5.2/12).  These represent CBS's best deliveries in the 9:30-10:00 PM time period this season in viewers, households adults 18-49 and adults 25-54. 

       --The second episode of RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (8.6/12, 13.43m) held 100% of its TWO AND A HALF MEN lead-in among adults 18-49 (4.9/11) and 97% of adults 25-54 lead-in (6.0/13 from 6.2/13).  RULES OF ENGAGEMENT retained 90% of viewers (from 14.84m), 95% of adults 25-54 (from 6.3/13) and 94% on adults 18-49 (from 5.2/12) from its premiere. 

       --The third episode of RULES OF ENGAGEMENT was first in households (8.9/13), in a virtual tie for first in viewers (13.94m, -0.02m behind NBC), second in adults 25-54 (6.1/13) and posted a 4.9/11 in adults 18-49. Compared to second episode, RULES was up +3% in households, +2% in adults 25-54, retained 100% of the prior  week's adults 18-49 delivery and added +510,000 viewers. 

       --RULES OF ENGAGEMENT now ranks as the season's top new comedy in viewers and key demographics.

        On Feb. 5, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER posted season highs in viewers (10.61m), adults 18-34 (3.2/09) and adults 18-49 (3.9/10).

        Also on Feb. 5, TWO AND A HALF MEN achieved season high ratings in households (11.2/16), viewers (17.68m), adults 25-54 (7.1/15) and adults 18-49 (5.8/13).

        On Feb. 12, CSI: MIAMI achieved season highs in households (12.7/21), viewers (19.90m), adults 25-54 (8.0/19) and adults 18-49 (6.5/17).   

        CSI: NY topped "Lost" in viewers in their four head-to-head matchups this month.

        NCIS (10.0/15, 15.90m) and CRIMINAL MINDS (9.7/14, 15.20m) were strong second place performers opposite "American Idol."

        SURVIVOR: FIJI premiered with time period victories in households, viewers and key demographics opposite ABC's "Ugly Betty" and NBC comedies "Scrubs" and "30 Rock." The premiere was SURVIVOR's best Thursday viewer delivery and highest ratings in both adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 since Sept. 28. 

        The Feb. 15 episode of SHARK won its time period in viewers for the fifth consecutive week, matched its best first-run adults 18-49 delivery (4.4/12) and delivered its second largest audience (15.12m) to date.  On Feb. 22, SHARK finished in its closest competitive position to a first-run "ER" in adults 18-49 (-0.2 rtg pts).  SHARK started the season -2.7 rating points behind "ER" in adults 18-49.

                                     PRIMETIME

FEB 2007 SWEEP-TD: 28 DAYS

(02/1/07-2/27/07 plus fast affiliates 2/28/07)

                                              

HOUSEHOLDS                                                         

CBS                            9.4/15  #1                   

NBC                            5.6/09  #4                   

ABC                            6.5/10  #3                   

FOX                            7.5/11  #2                   

CW                            2.1/03  #5  

PERSONS 2+ (Millions)                                                         

CBS                            15.75   #1                   

NBC                            8.58     #4                   

ABC                            10.30   #3                   

FOX                            12.86   #2                   

CW                            3.37     #5

ADULTS 25-54

CBS                            6.1/14  #1                   

NBC                            3.4/08  #4                   

ABC                            4.2/10  #3                   

FOX                            5.5/12  #2                   

CW                             1.3/03  #5 

ADULTS 18-49                                                          

CBS                            5.0/13  #2                   

NBC                            2.9/08  #4                   

ABC                            3.9/10  #3                   

FOX                            5.2/13  #1                   

CW                             1.4/03  #5

                               

ADULTS 18-34                             

CBS                            3.7/11  #2                   

NBC                            2.4/07  #4                   

ABC                            3.4/10  #3                   

FOX                            4.9/13  #1                   

CW                             1.6/04  #5       

Editors Note:  Year-to-year comparisons are not applicable due to the Super Bowl and Winter Olympics last February.                       

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