	"GHOST IN THE MACHINE" IS #1

Release Date:

October 18, 2008

Press Release:

Tribune Media Services
and Nielsen Media Research

Avatar RULES!.....Ratings: Spirits Are with CBS Friday....'Ghost Whisperer' leads night, 'Crusoe' so-so for NBC.....

Fast National ratings for Friday, October 17, 2008

CBS kept its hold on the Friday-night ratings crown for another week, while NBC's new take on "Robinson Crusoe" washed up some OK numbers with its premiere.

CBS averaged a 5.3 rating/9 share for the night, a point better than NBC's 4.3/8. ABC took third with a 3.8/7, followed by FOX, 3.3/6, and The CW, 1.1/2.

The adults 18-49 title also went to CBS with a 2.2 rating. ABC finished second in the demographic with a 1.9, beating out NBC's 1.6. FOX averaged 1.4 and The CW 0.7.

"Ghost Whisperer," 5.8/11, grabbed the night's biggest audience for CBS at 8 p.m. The premiere of "Crusoe" on NBC drew a 4.3/8. "Wife Swap" was third in households for ABC, but FOX's "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?," 3.1/6, had a few more total viewers. The CW a veraged 1.2/2 with "Everybody Hates Chris" and "The Game."

NBC took the lead at 9 p.m. as "Crusoe" improved to 4.7/8. "The Ex List," 4.3/7, dropped CBS to second. ABC's "Supernanny," 3.6/6, kept ABC in third among households, but FOX once again had more viewers with a second hour of "Fifth Grader," 3.4/6. The CW aired an "America's Next Top Model" repeat.

CBS reclaimed the top spot at 10 p.m. with "Numb3rs," 5.7/10. ABC got a 4.5/8 from "20/20," while "Life" earned a 3.9/7 for NBC.

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

Story: © 2008 Tribune Media Services and Nielsen Media Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Image: © 2008 ABC Studios - a Walt Disney Company and CBS Studios Inc. - a CBS Corporation Company. All Rights Reserved.