FIRESTARTER IS #1

LOS ANGELES -- Fast National ratings for Friday, October 3, 2008

A night full of premieres clinched a victory for CBS on Friday, garnering the network a 5.3 rating/10 share for the night in households. ABC was a distant second with a 3.4/6, while FOX and NBC tied for third with a 3.3/6 each. The CW finished last with a 1.1/2.

Among 18 to 49-year-olds, CBS was also tops with a 2.2/7. ABC came in second with a 1.5/5. FOX and NBC again tied for third with a 1.4/4, while The CW brought up the rear with a .7/2.

The season premiere of "Ghost Whisperer" started the night for CBS with a 6.0/11 for the eight o'clock hour. "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" put FOX in second with a 3.8/7, while the season premiere of ABC's "Wife Swap," 2.5/5, edged out NBC's "America's Toughest Jobs" for third place. The season premieres of "Eveybody Hates Chris" and "The Game" averaged a 1.3/3 for The CW.

At 9 p.m., the series premiere of "The Ex List" dipped CBS to a 4.7/8 for the hour. NBC rose to second place on the back of "Deal or No Deal" while ABC held on to third with the season premiere of "Supernanny," 2.9/5. FOX slipped to fourth place with "Don't Forget the Lyrics," 2.8/5, and The CW aired an encore of this weeks "America's Next Top Model."

The season premiere of "Numb3rs" gained back some of CBS' audience at 10 p.m. with a 5.3/10. ABC finished the night in second place with "20/20" and NBC's "Life" dipped to a 3.6/7 in its regular Friday night home.

CBS had the highest-rated, most-watched show at 10 p.m. with the season finale of taking a 6.1/11. ABC stayed in second with "20/20," 4.2/8, while NBC had its best ratings of the evening with "Dateline NBC," 3.1/6.

Ratings information is taken from fast national data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change.

Season Four, Number One for the whole Friday night.....CBS' Wins Friday Despite 'Ex List' Falter.....The network also dominates the 18-to-49 demo.....