CBS taking Thursday from NBC

[wx247]

NEW YORK (AP) -- Finally, some good news for a television network -- at least one of them.

Just under 30 million people saw "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" on CBS Thursday night, making it the most-watched TV program so far in what has been a lackluster fall season, Nielsen Media Research said Friday. That's more than any baseball game in a memorable postseason or special.

The "CSI" episode, a particularly suspenseful one where a dog found a severed head, spearheaded a memorable evening for CBS on television's most competitive night.

By a narrow margin, CBS' "Survivor: Pearl Islands" also beat NBC's "Friends" in the ratings, Nielsen said.

Until a couple of years ago, NBC owned Thursday nights. But the emergence of "CSI" and "Survivor" has made CBS much more competitive, and the network frequently has more viewers now on Thursdays.

More importantly, CBS beat NBC this Thursday -- and for the second time in three weeks -- among the 18-to-49-year-old demographic most sought be advertisers. This is the first time in memory that this has happened.

If that trend continues, it could have profound financial implications for the TV industry. Thursday is generally the most lucrative night for network advertisers, and it's particularly important for studios that want to reach young people with ads for upcoming movies.

"Thursday has been the premium dollar night in the advertising market and, up until a few years ago, it was totally controlled by NBC," said David Poltrack, chief researcher for CBS.

Some more good news for CBS: At 10 p.m., "Without a Trace" was 1.6 million viewers behind NBC's long-running champ, "ER," the closest the two dramas have been on a night of original episodes.

NBC has once again had trouble establishing a new program on Thursday. The highly touted comedy, "Coupling," has already been canceled.

More puzzling has been a ratings decline for "Friends" in its last season. Executives expects the series to rebound as it approaches its farewell episode in May, but "Friends" will be competing next spring with a "Survivor" edition that features favorite players from past games.

[TexasStooge]

My mom and I usually watch CBS on Thursdfay nights mainly for "Survivor: Pearl Islands" and "CSI".

[Miss Mary]

Well, I'm still hanging in there with Friends and ER. I've watched both from minute one and would never miss either show. Once Friends ends it won't be the same on Thursday nights over at NBC. My kids were asking me what popular shows were on NBC on Thursday nights. And the list goes waaaaay back! Cosby, Family Ties, Cheers, etc. Way back!

Now my husband and one daughter watch Survivor faithfully. But we tape Friends for them. The silly thing about ratings is you can watch both shows!!!! You just tape one, watching the other. If I had to choose which one - Survivor or Friends - oh yeah, it would be Friends! Have to have my weekly dose of Friends.

ER has gone downhill ever since the highly popular character Mark Greene died a few years back. It's still the same ole ER but his character is sorely missed. Still, I'll continue to watch right up until the end.

That Coupling show was awful! Glad it got cancelled.

Mary

[GalvestonDuck]

I have a major spoiler for next week's ER. Major shocker....but I don't want to ruin it for anyone.

[stormchazer]

Score 1 for the Commie Broadcast System!

[Miss Mary]

Duck - please don't say Carter dies? Please, God no.......Noah Wyle does want to do other things I've read. Makes sense to me. But if he goes, I'll miss him.

Do you still miss Carol and Doug? I do. But I'll always miss Mark. He was the core of that show and when it started, you just never would have imagined he'd emerge as the center of it all. But his quiet ways sure captured center stage. Wish they hadn't killed him off.

I wish they'd kill off Romano! Or have the entire staff get so fed up they gang up on him. He needs a swift kick in the butt. OMG, there has to be nasty docs out there just like him, that's why he's portrayed this way I've heard, but he is so unlikeable you just want to reach into your TV set and strangle the man. Or the very least, slap the man silly - can't you be human on some level?

Mary

[GalvestonDuck]

I miss Carol, Doug, Lucy, Dr. Morgenstern (William H. Macy rocks!), Kim Legaspi, and definitely Mark! I wish Chen would leave. I can't stand her!

You would have thought after Romano had the fist fight with the helicopter blade and lost, he would have changed his perspective on life, but it only made him more bitter. I do love the zingers that he gets to throw out every once in a while. And when he and Kerry get into it with each other! Sometimes they're so funny!

As for what happens, I can't say. I'm actually a little bummed that I found out. I would have preferred to be shocked.

As for Carter, remember, he's still in Africa.

[GulfBreezer]

Thursday night is my TV night!! The only night during the week where I take the time to sit on the couch and vegetate!! 24 is a favorite of mine but I usually tape it on Tuesdays. Survivor, CSI and Without a Trace is my Thursday line up!!