‘NCIS' cuffs ‘Idol' to again be the most-watched show

CBS had each of last week's seven most-watched scripted programs, helping it be the most-watched network for the ninth consecutive week and 26th time in the 33-week-old prime-time television season.

CBS averaged 10.09 million viewers for its prime-time programming between April 30-May 6, according live-plus-same-day figures released by Nielsen Tuesday.

The CBS military crime drama "NCIS" was the week's most-watched program, averaging 17.58 million viewers. Each of the last five original "NCIS" episodes has been the week's most-watched program.

ABC was second, averaging 7.7 million viewers, thanks to third- and seventh-place finishes by "Dancing with the Stars" and its results show, which averaged 16.20 million and 13.87 million viewers.

ABC also had the most-watched non-CBS scripted program, the crime drama "Castle," which was 13th, averaging 11.08 million viewers.

Fox was third, averaging 6.81 million viewers. The Wednesday and Thursday "American Idol" episodes were second and fourth for the week, averaging 16.66 million and 15.56 million viewers. Its next most-watched program was "Bones," which was 34th, averaging 7.16 million viewers.

NBC averaged 5.12 million viewers to finish fourth for the eighth consecutive week. Its most watched programs were "The Voice," which was 11th, averaging 10.31 million viewers, "The Voice" results show, 28th, averaging 8.90 million, and "Harry's Law," 31st, averaging 7.68 million.

CBS and Fox tied for first among viewers ages 18-49, the group ABC, Fox and NBC target and advertisers covet because it watches less television and is harder to reach.

The Wednesday "American Idol" episode and the CBS comedy "The Big Bang Theory" tied for first in the category, with the ABC comedy "Modern Family" placing third.

Fox led among viewers ages 12-17 and 18-34 while CBS was first among viewers ages 25-54 and 50 and older, a group it has long dominated.

ABC, CBS and NBC all broadcast 22 hours of prime-time programming, while Fox broadcast 15 hours, 10 minutes.

The first 60-minute segment of USA Network's professional wrestling program "WWE Raw" was the week's most-watched cable program, averaging 4.99 million viewers, putting it 57th among the week's prime-time broadcast and cable programs. The final 74-minute segment was second, averaging 4.77 million viewers.

NBA playoff coverage enabled TNT to be the most-watched cable network in prime-time, averaging 3.34 million viewers.

The Monday episode of the Univision telenovela "La Que No Podia Amar" ("The One That Could Not Love") was the week's most-watched Spanish-language program, averaging 4.79 million viewers, 64th among all prime-time broadcast and cable programs.

Univision was the most-watched Spanish-language network as usual, averaging 3.55 million viewers for its prime-time programming.

Telemundo was second, averaging 1.06 million viewers, followed by TeleFutura, which averaged 640,000, Estrella TV, which averaged 240,000, and Azteca America, which averaged 200,000.

The "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams" finished first among the network nightly newscasts for the 138th consecutive week and 185th time in the past 186 weeks, averaging 7.79 million viewers.

ABC's "World News with Diane Sawyer," was second, averaging 7.03 million viewers.

The "CBS Evening News" was third for the 293rd consecutive week and 48th since Scott Pelley became anchor, averaging 5.86 million viewers.

Prime-time television viewership numbers compiled by Nielsen for April 30-May 6. Listings include the week's ranking and viewership for the week.

1. "NCIS," CBS, 17.58 million viewers

2. "American Idol" (Wednesday), Fox, 16.66 million viewers

3. "Dancing with the Stars," ABC, 16.20 million viewers

4. "American Idol" (Thursday), Fox, 15.56 million viewers

5. "NCIS: Los Angeles," CBS, 15.21 million viewers

6. "The Big Bang Theory," CBS, 13.91 million viewers

7. "Dancing with the Stars Results Show," ABC, 13.87 million viewers

8. "Person of Interest," CBS, 13.27 million viewers

9. "The Mentalist," CBS, 12.94 million viewers

10. "60 Minutes," CBS, 11.73 million viewers

11. "Criminal Minds," CBS, 11.47 million viewers

12. "Two and a Half Men," CBS, 11.32 million viewers

13. "Castle," ABC, 11.08 million viewers

14. "Hawaii Five-0," CBS, 10.91 million viewers

15. "Unforgettable," CBS, 10.66 million viewers

16. "Blue Bloods," CBS, 10.36 million viewers

17. "Mike & Molly," CBS, 10.16 million viewers

18. "Modern Family," ABC, 10.06 million viewers

19. "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," CBS, 9.52 million viewers

20. "The Voice" (Monday), NBC, 9.52 million viewers