CBS finishes season as Nielsen ratings king

Thu., May 27, 2004

David Bauder Associated Press

CBS officially ended the television season Wednesday as the nation’s most popular network, with Fox’s “American Idol” the favorite show.

The only network to show growth over last season, CBS has averaged 13.1 million viewers this season, up 4 percent over last year, according to Nielsen Media Research.

In terms of total viewers, its margin of victory this season was the largest of any network in 14 years, CBS Chairman Leslie Moonves said.

“The Tiffany Network is back at CBS,” Moonves said. “We have reclaimed that mantle.”

Meanwhile, NBC proclaimed a season victory in the only demographic it worries about: the advertiser-coveted 18- to 49-year-old viewer.

NBC was down 5 percent among total viewers, but President Jeff Zucker said the network made a “great comeback” after a rocky start, primarily behind the unexpected strength of “The Apprentice.”

“American Idol” was averaging 25.8 million viewers going into its third-season finale Wednesday. That gives it a split-decision win over CBS’ “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” which averaged 25.6 million viewers.

In actual Nielsen ratings — a measurement of how many TV sets are tuned into a particular show — “CSI” has the advantage. That’s because more people watch “Idol” in groups.

For the third consecutive year, the three most popular scripted series were “CSI,” “Friends” and “ER.” That will change next year, with NBC’s “Friends” going off the air.

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