Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2006

Another razor-thin margin separated ABC and CBS in the ratings Wednesday, with ABC coming out on top.

The Alphabet network averaged a 9.6 rating/15 share in primetime, just beating CBS' 9.5/15 (in total viewers, ABC's margin of victory was a scant 165,000). NBC took third with a 4.9/8. With the World Series rained out, FOX managed only a 3.8/6 and came in fourth. The CW trailed with a 3.0/5.

ABC also led among adults 18-49 with a 5.0 rating. CBS finished second in the ad-friendly demographic with a 4.3. NBC, 2.9, came in third, and The CW, 2.1, edged FOX, 2.0, for fourth.

"Dancing with the Stars," 13.2/21, dominated the 8 p.m. hour for ABC and was the night's most-watched show. CBS' "Jericho" was second at 6.8/11. "America's Next Top Model," 3.7/6, put The CW in a tie for third with NBC's "30 Rock" and "Twenty Good Years," though NBC had slightly more viewers. FOX trailed with coverage of the World Series rainout and a "War at Home" repeat.

At 9 p.m., CBS' "Criminal Minds" led in households with a 10.8/16, but "Lost," 10.3/15, brought a few more viewers to ABC (and a sizable 18-49 advantage). NBC took sole possession of third with "The Biggest Loser," 5.1/8. Two more reruns of "The War at Home" averaged 4.0/6 for FOX, good enough to beat The CW's "One Tree Hill."

"CSI: NY," 10.9/18, put CBS on top in a big way at 10 p.m. "Dateline," 6.0/10, was a distant second for NBC, while "The Nine" fell steeply from its lead-in to finish with a 5.2/8.

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