CBS PRIMETIME SERIES GROW AN AVERAGE +54% IN FIRST EVER NIELSEN TOTAL CONTENT RATINGS

Viewing of CBS' Entertainment Series Exceeds Live Viewing of 15 Years Ago

Measurement of Online and Mobile Viewing To Be Added at a Later Date

CBS' primetime entertainment series grew an average of 54% from its live plus same day average, according to the first ever Nielsen Total Content Ratings (TCR) which measures the first 13 weeks of the 2016-2017 season. Nielsen's new TCR measures live plus 35 day viewing across multiple viewing platforms including VOD, TV and DVR. Measurement of online and mobile viewing is still in development and not included in this metric.

Based on TCR season to date data through week 13, CBS' entertainment series delivered an average of 13.39m viewers on a live plus 35 day basis, 54% more than its live plus same day average of 8.71m and 15% greater than its live plus 7 day average (11.62m). CBS' 2016 TCR audience during this period exceeds the Network's audience of 15 years ago (13.32m) during the same time period, when only live viewing was measured.

The CBS Television Network is already the most watched content platform in the world, and these new metrics demonstrate that, as people's viewing habits change, our position of strength only grows, said David Poltrack, Chief Research Officer, CBS Corporation and President, CBS VISION. This brand new data is a potentially very valuable media planning tool for our clients and their agencies. It certainly adds a new dimension to an advertiser's program selection process, as well as more clarity about the true incremental viewing that is of enormous and increasing value in today's changing landscape.

Television's #1 comedy, #1 drama and #1 new drama all grew substantially from their live plus same day averages:

THE BIG BANG THEORY grew 67% to 24.40 million viewers (from 14.62m).

NCIS was up 43% to 21.32m (from 14.86m).

Freshman drama BULL was up 56% to 19.47m (from 12.46m).

BLUE BLOODS added more than six million viewers in Nielsen's total content rating metric.

CRIMINAL MINDS, NCIS: NEW ORLEANS and SCORPION all added well over five million viewers.

Among adults 18-49, CBS entertainment series averaged 2.4 total content rating, a 71% jump over its live plus same day rating (1.4).

Poltrack added, Once digital measurement is added in the near future, we expect another bump in our viewership numbers, especially given the rapid growth and success of our digital platforms, including CBS.com, the CBS App and our subscription video on-demand and live streaming service, CBS All Access. Plus, these expanded metrics showcase the tremendous popularity and value of our content assets as they are increasingly licensed in the multi-platform global syndication marketplace.

CBS Primetime Entertainment Series 2016-2017 Season-to-date TCR Live 35 Days

TCR LIVE 35

TCR vs. NPM Live SD

TCR vs. NPM Live 7

Per 2 AA (000)

Percent Difference

(000) Difference

Percent Difference

(000) Difference

Rank

CBS AVERAGE

13,390

54%

4,682

15%

1,772

1

THE BIG BANG THEORY

24,399

67%

9,775

22%

4,438

2

NCIS

21,322

43%

6,460

14%

2,598

3

BULL

19,469

56%

7,008

17%

2,779

4

BLUE BLOODS

16,440

63%

6,375

16%

2,225

5

NCIS: NEW ORLEANS

15,516

59%

5,768

15%

1,982

6

NCIS: LOS ANGELES

14,989

39%

4,203

13%

1,736

7

HAWAII FIVE-0

14,100

48%

4,549

13%

1,649

8

CRIMINAL MINDS

13,550

73%

5,704

19%

2,185

9

MADAM SECRETARY

13,267

52%

4,556

14%

1,635

10

SCORPION

12,855

77%

5,590

19%

2,046

11

SURVIVOR

12,122

41%

3,530

13%

1,393

12

MACGYVER

11,825

46%

3,739

15%

1,583

13

KEVIN CAN WAIT

11,605

41%

3,389

15%

1,487

14

CODE BLACK

10,783

83%

4,896

17%

1,548

15

MOM

10,118

42%

2,969

13%

1,140

16

ELEMENTARY

9,470

84%

4,336

20%

1,565

17

LIFE IN PIECES

9,467

52%

3,249

14%

1,127

18

PURE GENIUS

9,463

75%

4,068

18%

1,440

19

THE GREAT INDOORS

9,269

25%

1,847

10%

836

20

MAN WITH A PLAN

8,426

32%

2,050

12%

907

21

2 BROKE GIRLS

7,992

41%

2,342

14%

952

22

THE ODD COUPLE

6,413

35%

1,677

10%

580

Source: Nielsen TCR, 9/19/16-12/18/16; Persons 2 AA (000), Primetime, originals only, excludes specials, repeats, news and sports programming. TCR Live 35 data include VOD, TV and DVR viewing; Digital data is excluded from this analysis. TCR data are based on program only minutes, while Nielsen's Live SD and Live 7 data are based on program and commercial minutes. Nielsen's C3 and C7 metrics are based on commercial minutes only. TCR data are based on Total U.S. Population, while NPM Live 7 data are based on U.S. TV Households.

* * *

Press Contacts:

Kelli Raftery 212-975-3161 kelli.raftery@cbs.com

Ed Harrison 818-655-1584 ed.harrison@cbs.com

LINK:	http://www.cbscorporation.com/2017/03/cbs-primetime-series-grow-an-ave...
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