CBS's CRIMINAL MINDS is Wednesday's Most-Watched Program

Criminal Minds was Wednesday's most watched program posting growth in viewers and key demos from last week's special 10PM broadcast and its last regularly scheduled 9PM telecast. It also finished in its closest competitive position to "American Idol" in adults 18-49, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for March 5.

At 9PM, Criminal Minds was first in viewers (11.37m) and second in adults 25-54 (3.5/08) and adults 18-49 (2.6/07, -0.1 behind FOX). Compared to last week at 10PM, Criminal Minds was up +17% in adults 25-54 (from 3.0/08), +18% in adults 18-49 (from 2.2/07) and added +1.95m viewers (from 9.42m, +21%). In their common hour, Criminal Minds topped "American Idol" in viewers for the second consecutive head to head match up and matched its closest competitive position in adults 18-49 (-0.1). Criminal Minds was the night's number one program in viewers.

Compared to its last regularly scheduled 9:00 PM broadcast, Criminal Minds was up +4% in adults 18-49 (from 2.5/07), +9% in adults 25-54 (from 3.2/08) and added +1.31m viewers (+13% from 10.06m).

At 8PM, Survivor was second in viewers (9.62m), adults 25-54 (3.3/09) and adults 18-49 (2.4/08). Compared to last week's two-hour season premiere, Survivor was up +3% in adults 25-54 (from 3.2/08), even in adults 18-49 and added +200,000 viewers (from 9.42m, +2%). Survivor finished in its closest competitive position with "American Idol Wednesday" in their common hour (-820,000) to date and by less than -1 million viewers for the first time ever.

At 10PM, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation was first in viewers (9.19m), adults 25-54 (2.4/06) and adults 18-49 (1.7/06).

For the night, CBS was second in viewers (10.06m, -0.45m behind FOX), adults 25-54 (3.0/08) and adults 18-49 (2.2/07).

Updated Wednesday ratings will be available later today.

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