CBS's NCIS was back on top of the Nielsen ratings chart again last week, beating out such formidable competitors as ABC's Dancing With The Stars, Fox's American Idol and NBC's The Voice . Its margin of victory was slight -- and insignificant statistically. It drew 19.06 million viewers (an 11.9 rating and a 19 share) to Dancing 's 18.79 million (11.9/18). The Wednesday edition of American Idol, ordinarily the dominant show when it's competing, placed third with 17.21 million viewers. Fourth place went to NCIS Los Angeles with 16.17 million, while the Thursday (results) edition of Idol could do no better than fifth place with 15.58 million viewers. Ratings were down sharply among the evening newscasts, although NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams remained in the lead with 8.3 million viewers. ABC World News with Diane Sawyer placed second with 7.1 million, while The CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley placed third with 6.0 million viewers. (It aired only on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday due to coverage of NCAA basketball on Thursday and Friday.) CBS once again finished the week at the head of the class among total adults and among the 18-49 age group, averaging a 6.2 household rating and a 10 share. ABC placed second with a 4.4/7, followed by Fox with a 4.1/7 and NBC with a 3.4/6.

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research 1. NCIS , CBS, 11.9/19; 2. Dancing with the Stars (Monday), ABC, 11.9/18; 3. American Idol (Wednesday), Fox, 10.4/17; 4. NCIS Los Angeles , CBS, 10.2/16; 5. American Idol (Thursday), Fox, 9.3/15; 6. Criminal Minds , CBS, 7.9/12; 7. Castle , ABC, 7.5/12; 8. Csi Crime Scene Investigation , CBS, 7.3/12; 8. Unforgettable , CBS, 7.3/12; 10. 60 Minutes, CBS, 7.2/12.

28/03/2012