'CSI' Leads CBS To Ratings Gold

CBS is poised to finish off an extremely successful season this week as the number one reigning network, due in no small part to CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and its spinoff CSI: Miami.

The Hollywood Reporter announced that CBS is predicting a final season win, estimating that the network drew an average of 13.1 million viewers. This would put CBS over two million viewers ahead of second place NBC, which estimates an average of 11 million viewers flocked to that network.

CBS CEO Les Moonves sees the networks impressive gains as one of CBS's biggest victories this season. "The greatest indicator of CBS' strength is our audience growth," he commented. "In viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49, we are up in all three categories, and all three other networks (NBC, ABC and Fox) are down in those categories. That's the most notable statistic."

CBS is also expected to be the champion once the final May sweeps numbers are calculated. CBS won the final week of May sweeps, according to the Associated Press (via Yahoo News). CSI: Crime Scene Investigation was the champ for the week of May 17-23; its fourth season finale "Bloodlines" drew an impressive 25.4 million viewers. CSI: Miami landed in third place that week with 23.1 million viewers. Without a Trace, Everybody Loves Raymond and Two and a Half Men were the other CBS shows that also placed in the top ten that week.

The complete stories are available at Yahoo News here and here.

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