Date: 14th February 2001

Survivor Boosts CBS to 1st Place


Survivor: The Australian Outback helped CBS grab the ratings crown all to itself last week after tying with NBC a week earlier. CBS averaged a 9.2 rating and a 15 share for the week as Survivor produced a 17.4 rating and a 26 share, while companion show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation followed with a 13.8/20.

Analysts said that the two new shows helped lure millions of younger viewers to TV sets Thursday night. NBC's Must-See TV lineup also performed strongly, bringing to seven the number of Thursday shows included in the top-ten list. (Once again, in a ratings anomaly, Survivor drew the biggest audience of the week, 29,042,000 but NBC's E.R., which drew fewer viewers -- 28,204,000 -- received a higher rating.) NBC, which was hurt by plummeting ratings for XFL football, tied with ABC for second place with an 8.6/14, while Fox finished fourth with a 6.7/11.

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research: 1. E.R., NBC, 19.0/31; 2. Survivor II: The Australian Outback, CBS, 17.4/26; 3. The Practice, ABC, 14.6/23; 4. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Sunday), ABC, 14.3/21; 5. Friends, NBC, 13.9/21; 6. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 13.8/20; 7. Millionaire (Wednesday), ABC, 13.7/22; 8. Law and Order, NBC, 13.5/22; 9. Everybody Loves Raymond, CBS, 13.4/19; 10. 60 Minutes, CBS, 13.0/21.

Source: Studio Briefing