Jackson, ‘CSI’ Lead CBS Win

Michael Jackson’s 30th anniversary special and the steadily building “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” helped CBS edge NBC last week, as broadcasters turned to specials in the stretch of the November rating sweeps, based on viewing estimates issued Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research.

Jackson’s two-hour concert delivered CBS’ biggest Tuesday-night audience since 1994, while “CSI” hit a new ratings high for the third time in the last four weeks. The CBS drama dominated its time slot against NBC’s “Will & Grace” and “Just Shoot Me,” Fox’s “Temptation Island 2”--which sank more than 20% from the previous week--and ABC’s “Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show,” which spurred protests from women’s groups but yielded the network’s highest rating in its time slot this season.

Good news remains in short supply at ABC, whose most-watched program last week, “Monday Night Football,” finished 15th. The network did draw respectable numbers with “A Facts of Life Reunion” movie Sunday and Barbara Walters’ interview with the “Ocean’s Eleven” cast Friday.

Fox is also struggling, as “The X-Files” and “Ally McBeal” both appear to be fading rapidly.

Brian Lowry

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National Nielsen Viewership

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