Schedule changes pay off for CBS, not so much for NBC

LOS ANGELES -- Fast National ratings for Friday, Oct. 31, 2008

It was television trick-or-treat for viewers on Halloween as the networks beging to tinker with their Friday night schedules. CBS won the night in households with a 6.7 rating/13 share, more than double the audience of ABC for the night, 3.3/6. FOX came in third with a 2.9/6, followed by NBC, 2.7/5, and The CW, 0.8/1.

CBS also drew in the 18 to 49-year-olds with a 2.2. ABC came in second with a 1.4. FOX mustered a 1.1, while NBC and The CW mustered a 0.9 and 0.5, respectively.

" Ghost Whisperer" started the evening strong for CBS, averaging a 6.1/12 for the hour. NBC started the evening in second place with "Deal or No Deal" edging out FOX's game show " Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" ABC went with " Wife Swap," 2.5/5, while The CW offered up " Everybody Hates Chris," 1.0/2, and " The Game," 0.9/2.

At 9 p.m., CBS replaced freshly canceled drama "The Ex List" with a repeat of "NCIS" and scored the best ratings of the night, 7.2/13. " Supernanny" improved ABC's numbers for the night and kept the network in second place with a 3.0/5. FOX rose to third place with " Don't Forget the Lyrics," 2.8/5, while NBC slipped to third with " Crusoe," 2.6/5. The CW's encore of "America's Next Top Model" managed a 0.8/1.

CBS finished the evening at 10 p.m. in first place courtesy of " Numb3rs," 6.8/13. ABC had its best numbers of the night from " 20/20," 4.6/9, while NBC's decision to do some schedule-swapping did not favors for the ladies of " Lipstick Jungle," for 2.3/4.

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