Click here to see CBS Upfronts. Do you think they can stay number one with this
schedule?

It's hard to say, but being entrentched in one style of programing (CSI/JAG) is not only bad, but for CBS could be a true apocalypse (hanging around ABC and Fox numbers for years). The reason it is going with so many CSIs is because they have found nothing better. Their only break out hits outside of those two shows are Joan of Arcadia, Survivor and King of Queens.

According to the Futon Critic on March 22, Survivor barely got a .08% raise from last season and King of Queens dropped just over 13% from last season. Joan of Arcadia when from a show that was doing numbers in the 7's (according to zap2it) to hitting 5.5, 5.5 and 5.7. I doubt Joan of Arcadia will make it past season 2, especially if the numbers keep dropping. This means that CBS does not have any back up hits to keep CBS #1 if the crime dramas fail. It also means that CBS can only really depend on crime drama clones to fill spots.

Expect 2 more CSI shows to appear the season after next if CBS does not get another drama off the ground.

CBS is seeing erosion like the other networks so even if they do come out number one overall and number 2 in the key demographics, expect them to have dropped 20% overall in the number of viewers.

Not nessecarely. You're not looking at the whole picture here. Without a Trace, Cold Case, Two and a Half Men, Everybody Loves Raymond, Navy NCIS, Judging Amy, & 60 Minutes are pulling in 'good' ratings. I'm not sure why you think CBS isn't doing good. They are way ahead of NBC in first place..........

also cbs has retained its audience for 5 yrs without erosion, while the other nets all fell. even with American Idol, friends/frasier finale's & the apprentice cbs is only off 2% in viewers and is up in the demos 5%. that spells a strong net with plenty of back-up. yes dear is being moved back to mid season due to ratings, but abc & fox would swallow those ratings whole, and if that show was on nbc it would have been the only returning comedy.

you are right about "if crime went out" but cbs is smart enough to plan. it is the only net that is moving ahead.

Just to correct neilson information in regards to Joan of Arcadia. According to Mediaweek.com, JoA received a 6.7/12 share for the week of May 17-21st. And this past weekend, JoA received a 7.2/13 (which was #1 in it's timeslot in viewers). Zap2it.com isn't all that reliable in reporting the actual numbers because it only accounts for a small sample of the overnights.

I believe Mediaweek.com report Primetime Metered Market Ratings, which are not final as well and in general are higher than Fast overnight ratings...

I'm totally confused with this whole ratings debacle LOL! Only because I read that Zap2it.com's ratings report only get a [i]small[/i] percentage sample from the over-all Nielson Family. Yet Mediaweek.com ratings are the final ratings report for that week/night/show or whatever from the Nielson ratings...

Here is a different ratings explanation from tvbarn.com:

Nielsen Media Research uses three methods to measure audience levels for television in America. The most immediate method is known as the overnight meter. This electronic device is installed in 53 of the nation's largest TV markets representing more than 65 percent of the total viewership in the country. The meters are installed on each TV in the participating household. In the wee hours of the morning, the readings from each of those sets are transmitted to Florida and compiled on Nielsen's computers. The results are then faxed to Nielsen customers — TV station managers, media buyers and companies that invest heavily in TV advertising.

Nielsen also compiles its national ratings, which differ significantly from overnights in two ways:

The national sample is comprised of about 5,000 homes in all 210 television markets, not just the metered markets. They are, by the way, 5,000 different homes from the ones who participate in the overnights.
For example, Primetime Metered Market Ratings reported for 5/13/2004 at 9 p.m. the series finale of Frasier (20.0/28, Viewers: 25.44 million), but final Nielson numbers were:

Rank*
Program Network
Household Rating**
Total Viewers***

1 Frasier Finale (S) NBC 16.3 25,249,000


read entire article on http://www.tvbarn.com/a/aboutratings.shtml

Actually the only reason CBS made a jump in viewers and in adults 18-49 is bcus of all those football games, the superbowl, and the grammys. Neilson ratings say that CBS actually would have made a decreased in the demo of 18-49 if they did not have the superbowl so there you go.

I think JAG will be a big hit this year like theres nothing else good on Fridays at 9:00PM.I also think both CBS and CH have to start advertising it